Barry Becomes Tropical Storm as It Takes Aim for Eastern Mexico
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Tropical Storm Barry has formed in the Gulf's Bay of Campeche, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) confirmed on Sunday morning.
Barry was centered about 90 miles east-southeast of Tuxpan, Mexico, about 665 miles south of San Antonio, Texas. The storm has maximum sustained winds close to 40 miles per hour as it tracked northwest at 6 mph as of 10 a.m. local time Sunday.
"On the forecast track, the storm is expected to make landfall and then move inland over eastern Mexico later today or tonight," the NHC said Sunday.
The storm is forecast to make landfall between 6 and 9 p.m. CDT, delivering significant rainfall and the potential for flooding across the region.
Why It Matters
Barry's formation marked the Gulf's second named tropical event of the 2025 hurricane season, following short-lived Tropical Storm Andrea in the central Atlantic.
The season's early activity underscores the region's vulnerability and the need for disaster planning as the peak of hurricane season approaches in late summer.
What To Know
Heavy rainfall, strong winds, and localized flooding are concerns for eastern Mexico, particularly with the expectation of up to 45 mph winds at landfall.
The NHC first designated the tropical system as a depression on Saturday afternoon, with winds measured at 30 mph. By Sunday morning, data collected by Air Force reconnaissance indicated a rise in maximum sustained winds to 40 mph, prompting the official upgrade to a tropical storm.
"Rapid weakening is expected after the system moves inland," the NHC said.
Although the system's projected path indicated no direct threats to Texas, meteorologists noted the possibility of scattered showers across the Texas Gulf Coast, especially in south Texas and the Houston area, as Barry's remnant moisture moves northward midweek.
Residents in eastern Mexico have been advised to prepare for potential flooding, with the NHC urging local authorities and individuals to monitor updates at hurricanes.gov and stay alert for emergency notices.
Tropical Storm Barry has developed out of a depression.
Tropical Storm Barry has developed out of a depression.
NOAA NWS National Hurricane Center
What People Are Saying
Meteorologist Anthony Franze wrote for the Houston Chronicle: "The state of Texas is not expected to see a direct effect from Barry. However, leftover moisture from the storm may help to produce scattered showers and thunderstorms across parts of South Texas during the middle of the week. Some of this tropical moisture could reach the Houston area in the form of scattered showers and storms by the middle to later part of the week, but big impacts are not expected."
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) wrote in its post Sunday: "Air Force Reconnaissance data indicates that maximum sustained winds have increase to near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts. A little more intensification is forecast before the system reaches the coast of eastern Mexico. Rapid weakening is expected after the system moves inland. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km) from the center."
What Happens Next?
Tropical Storm Barry is forecast to make landfall in eastern Mexico on Sunday evening where it will then rapidly weaken as it moves inland.
Forecasters will continue to monitor Barry's remnants for any effect on Texas.
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