Barry began life over the
southeastern Gulf of Mexico, from a cluster of strong thunderstorms associated
with a trough of low pressure moving through the area.
Air Force
Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft found a weak circulation embedded within the
thunderstorm activity on August 2. For the next several days, Barry made a slow
northwest track toward New Orleans, barely holding tropical storm strength.
By Saturday, August 4, Barry had become nearly stationary
approximately 250 miles south of Destin. That evening, Barry starting making a distinct northward drift. This
pattern continued through Sunday as Barry steadily intensified in an area of
warm Gulf waters and light winds aloft.
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| Satellite imagery from Monday, August 6, 2001,
around 9 a.m. C.D.T. By this time, Barry had become considerably weaker as it
made its way north-northwest through southern Alabama. Heavy rainfall was still
falling over southeastern Alabama, however. |
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www.srh.weather.gov 
