Barry Could Hit the Gulf Coast With 'Unprecedented' Flooding. Climate Change Is Likely to Blame

The Mississippi River is already bursting as a result of months of flooding in the midwest and south — and Tropical Storm Barry is about to make the situation more dire.

Although the storm is not expected to directly make landfall in New Orleans, and is instead projected to hit at least 85 miles to the city's west, its impact could still be devastating to a city where memories of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 still loom large.

The Mississippi River is already bursting as a result of months of flooding in the midwest and south — and Tropical Storm Barry is about to make the situation more dire. Although the storm is not expected to directly make landfall in New Orleans, and is instead projected to hit at least 85 miles to the city's west, its impact could still be devastating to a city where memories of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 still loom large.