The origins of Barry can be traced to a mesoscale convective vortex that formed over southwestern Kansas on July 2.
On July 5, the Climate Prediction Center noted the possibility for this disturbance to interact with a trough of low pressure over the Southeastern United States, eventually triggering a low pressure area over the Gulf of Mexico.
The following day, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) highlighted a low likelihood of tropical cyclogenesis while the initial disturbance was still centered well-inland over Tennessee, anticipating that the weather system would track into the northern Gulf of Mexico.
Over the next few days, the system drifted southeastward towards Georgia, steered by a ridge to its west.
By July 8, the NHC assessed a high probability of a tropical cyclone developing.
On July 9, a broad low pressure area exited from the Florida Panhandle into the northeastern Gulf of Mexico, accompanied by scattered thunderstorms.
It moved southwestward and curved to the west.
On July 10, the NHC initiated advisories on the weather system as Potential Tropical Cyclone Two, due to its threat of producing tropical storm force winds over the United States within a few days.
At that time, the low pressure area was experiencing some northerly wind shear, which was expected to decrease.
The NHC described the atmospheric conditions, including water temperatures of over 86 °F (30 °C), as "ideal for intensification".

Early on July 11, a tropical depression developed in the northern Gulf of Mexico, about 200 mi (320 km) south of Mobile, Alabama.
The depression quickly intensified into Tropical Storm Barry.
By that time, the thunderstorms had increased to the south of the circulation.
The storm's convection organized into a large rainband south of an elongated circulation, with few thunderstorms near the center.
This was due to northerly wind shear and dry air near the center.
Despite the asymmetric structure of the storm, Barry gradually intensified.
By the morning of July 13, the thunderstorms moved closer to the center of circulation, as upper-level outflow expanded in all directions.
The NHC estimated that Barry attained Category 1 hurricane status by 12:00 UTC that day, concluding that Barry was producing a small area of hurricane-force winds.
This was based on observations from the Hurricane Hunters, Doppler weather radar wind estimates of 75 mph (121 km/h), and recorded sustained winds of 72 mph (116 km/h) at Eugene Island oil field.
Simultaneously, the storm reached its peak intensity, with a minimum central pressure of 993 millibars (29.3 inHg).

At 15:00 UTC that day, Barry made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane on Marsh Island, Louisiana.
This made Barry the fourth tropical cyclone recorded making landfall as a hurricane on Louisiana in the month of July.
The hurricane quickly weakened to tropical storm status.
 Barry progressed farther inland over the next day, weakening into a tropical depression at 21:00 UTC on July 14 over northwestern Louisiana.
At that time, the NHC passed on the responsibility for issuing advisories on the storm to the Weather Prediction Center (WPC).
At 21:00 UTC on July 15, Barry degenerated into a remnant low over northern Arkansas, which degenerated into a trough a day later over southern Missouri.
During the next several days, Barry's remnant moved eastward while gradually weakening, with the WPC issuing their final advisory on the storm at 21:00 UTC on July 17.
Early on July 19, Barry's remnant was absorbed into another frontal system off the coast of New Jersey.

Barry was one of four hurricanes to hit Louisiana at that intensity in the month of July, the others being Bob in 1979, Danny in 1997, and Cindy in 2005.
The origins of Barry can be traced to a mesoscale convective vortex that formed over southwestern Kansas on July 2. On July 5, the Climate Prediction Center noted the possibility for this disturbance to interact with a trough of low pressure over the Southeastern United States, eventually triggering a low pressure area over the Gulf of Mexico. The following day, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) highlighted a low likelihood of tropical cyclogenesis while the initial disturbance was still centered well-inland over Tennessee, anticipating that the weather system would track into the northern Gulf of Mexico. Over the next few days, the system drifted southeastward towards Georgia, steered by a ridge to its west. By July 8, the NHC assessed a high probability of a tropical cyclone developing. On July 9, a broad low pressure area exited from the Florida Panhandle into the northeastern Gulf of Mexico, accompanied by scattered thunderstorms. It moved southwestward and curved to the west. On July 10, the NHC initiated advisories on the weather system as Potential Tropical Cyclone Two, due to its threat of producing tropical storm force winds over the United States within a few days. At that time, the low pressure area was experiencing some northerly wind shear, which was expected to decrease. The NHC described the atmospheric conditions, including water temperatures of over 86 °F (30 °C), as "ideal for intensification".
Early on July 11, a tropical depression developed in the northern Gulf of Mexico, about 200 mi (320 km) south of Mobile, Alabama. The depression quickly intensified into Tropical Storm Barry. By that time, the thunderstorms had increased to the south of the circulation. The storm's convection organized into a large rainband south of an elongated circulation, with few thunderstorms near the center. This was due to northerly wind shear and dry air near the center. Despite the asymmetric structure of the storm, Barry gradually intensified. By the morning of July 13, the thunderstorms moved closer to the center of circulation, as upper-level outflow expanded in all directions. The NHC estimated that Barry attained Category 1 hurricane status by 12:00 UTC that day, concluding that Barry was producing a small area of hurricane-force winds. This was based on observations from the Hurricane Hunters, Doppler weather radar wind estimates of 75 mph (121 km/h), and recorded sustained winds of 72 mph (116 km/h) at Eugene Island oil field. Simultaneously, the storm reached its peak intensity, with a minimum central pressure of 993 millibars (29.3 inHg).
At 15:00 UTC that day, Barry made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane on Marsh Island, Louisiana. This made Barry the fourth tropical cyclone recorded making landfall as a hurricane on Louisiana in the month of July. The hurricane quickly weakened to tropical storm status.  Barry progressed farther inland over the next day, weakening into a tropical depression at 21:00 UTC on July 14 over northwestern Louisiana. At that time, the NHC passed on the responsibility for issuing advisories on the storm to the Weather Prediction Center (WPC). At 21:00 UTC on July 15, Barry degenerated into a remnant low over northern Arkansas, which degenerated into a trough a day later over southern Missouri. During the next several days, Barry's remnant moved eastward while gradually weakening, with the WPC issuing their final advisory on the storm at 21:00 UTC on July 17. Early on July 19, Barry's remnant was absorbed into another frontal system off the coast of New Jersey.
Barry was one of four hurricanes to hit Louisiana at that intensity in the month of July, the others being Bob in 1979, Danny in 1997, and Cindy in 2005.
Hurricane Barry (2019)