u.s. & world

Sand swallows car on Alabama coast as Tropical Storm Barry approaches

Friday, July 12, 2019
The worst of Tropical Storm Barry is yet to come, but one Alabama resident is already dealing with a mess after the rising tide swallowed a car parked near the beach.
DAUPHIN ISLAND, Ala. -- The worst of Tropical Storm Barry is yet to come, but one Alabama resident is already dealing with a mess after the rising tide swallowed a car parked near the beach.

Footage from Dauphin Island, Alabama, showed the grey Dodge sedan submerged up to its wheel wells in sand as the tide continued to rise around it.
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It's not clear why the car was left parked so close to the shore as the storm approached.

Dauphin Island, a community about 30 miles south of Mobile, is under flood and high surf advisories and a flash flood watch and could see dangerous rip currents, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters said slow-moving Barry could unload 10 to 20 inches of rain through Sunday across a swath of Louisiana that includes New Orleans and Baton Rouge, as well as southwestern Mississippi, with pockets in Louisiana getting 25 inches.

This photo shows the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway West Closure Complex, Saturday, July 13, 2019 in Belle Chasse, La.AP
Tyler Holland guides his bike through the water as winds from Tropical Storm Barry push water from Lake Pontchartrain over the seawall Saturday, July 13, 2019, in Mandeville, La.AP
Two men are pushed over by waves as winds from Tropical Storm Barry push water from Lake Pontchartrain over the seawall Saturday, July 13, 2019, in Mandeville, La.AP
As the Atchafalaya River continues to rise due to the rains of Tropical Storm Barry, it becomes harder to see the Morgan City name on the sea wall, Saturday, July 13, 2019.AP
Joni Giandelone rakes in the pine needles and branches deposited from Tropical Storm Barry in front of her house in Morgan City, La., Saturday, July 13, 2019.AP
Barry Williams wades through storm surge from Lake Pontchartrain on Lakeshore Drive in Mandeville, La., as Hurricane Barry approaches Saturday, July 13, 2019.AP
A vehicle passes the toppled gas pump canopy in Berwick, La., following an early morning severe weather assault from Tropical Storm Barry, Saturday, July 13, 2019.AP
Aimee Cutter, the owner of Beach House restaurant, walks through water surge from Lake Pontchartrain on Lakeshore Drive in Mandeville, La., ahead of Tropical Storm Barry.AP
There is very little flooding from Lake Pontchartrain on Lakeshore Drive in New Orleans, La., Saturday, July 13, 2019, ahead of landfall of Tropical Storm Barry.AP
A public works dump truck blocks the Morgan City, La., access to the Long-Allen Bridge in the background, ahead of Tropical Storm Barry, Saturday, July 13, 2019.AP
There is very little flooding from Lake Pontchartrain on Lakeshore Drive in New Orleans, La., Saturday, July 13, 2019, ahead of landfall of Tropical Storm Barry.AP
Aimee Cutter the owner of Beach House restaurant walks through water surge from Lake Pontchartrain on Lakeshore Drive in Mandeville, La., Saturday, July 13, 2019.AP
Aimee Cutter the owner of Beach House restaurant walks through water surge from Lake Pontchartrain on Lakeshore Drive in Mandeville, La., Saturday, July 13, 2019.AP
Visitors walk past a puddle in Jackson Square Saturday, July 13, 2019, in New Orleans, as Tropical Storm Barry nears landfall.AP
People check out the waves on Lakeshore Drive in New Orleans, La., Friday, July 12, 2019, as water moves in from Lake Pontchartrain from the storm surge from Tropical Storm Barry.AP
Ray Leon walks up steps after swimming in the Mississippi River Friday, July 12, 2019, in New Orleans, ahead of Tropical Storm Barry.AP
The flood wall near the Long-Allen Bridge in Morgan City, La., continues to protect residents and area businesses as the waters rise in the Atchafalaya River, July 12, 2019.AP
Blockades full of sand block a road ahead of the arrival of Tropical Storm Barry on July 12, 2019, in Venice, Louisiana.Creative Content
Vehicles make their way on I-10 as bands of rain from Tropical Storm Barry from the Gulf of Mexico move into New Orleans, La., Friday, July 12, 2019.AP
Tiffany Favre, right, and her son, Brandon, use blocks to raise their couch off the floor Friday, July 12, 2019, in Baton Rouge, La., ahead of Tropical Storm Barry.AP
Tiffany Favre, left, and her son, Brandon, use blocks to raise their couch off the floor Friday, July 12, 2019, in Baton Rouge, La., ahead of Tropical Storm Barry.AP
People walk past Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter before landfall of Tropical Storm Barry from the Gulf of Mexico in New Orleans, La.AP
Crescent City Steaks Chef Frank Turner, left, and dishwasher Keith Brooks screw in storm protectors over the windows before landfall of Tropical Storm Barry.AP
A Lucky Dogs vendor makes his way through the French Quarter before landfall of Tropical Storm Barry from the Gulf of Mexico in New Orleans, La., Friday, July 12, 2019.AP
Crescent City Steaks Chef Frank Turner, left, and dishwasher Keith Brooks screw in storm protectors over the windows before landfall of Tropical Storm Barry.AP
This satellite image provided by NASA on Thursday, July 11, 2019, from the International Space Station, shows Tropical Storm Barry as it bears down on the Gulf of Mexico.AP
Resident fill sandbags Friday, July 12, 2019, in Baton Rouge, La., ahead of Tropical Storm Barry.AP
Chris John with Brennan's restaurant in the French Quarter moves sandbags as bands of rain from Tropical Storm Barry from the Gulf of Mexico move into New Orleans.AP
Resident fill sandbags Friday, July 12, 2019, in Baton Rouge, La., ahead of Tropical Storm Barry.AP
Ashley Boudreaux ties sandbags Friday, July 12, 2019, in Baton Rouge, La., ahead of Tropical Storm Barry.AP

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The storm's leading edges lashed the state with bands of rain for most of the day, and some coastal roads were already under water Friday morning.

Barry was expected to arrive as a weak hurricane, just barely over the 74 mph windspeed threshold. But authorities warned people not to be fooled by that.



"Nobody should take this storm lightly just because it's supposed to be a Category 1 when it makes landfall," Gov. John Bel Edwards said. "The real danger in this storm was never about the wind anyway. It's always been about the rain."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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