Tropical Storm Barry is strengthening Friday as it makes its way toward the Gulf Coast — and it could intensify to a hurricane just before it makes landfall along the Louisiana coast, forecasters predict.

The storm, packing maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour, is relatively slow-moving, heading west-northwest across the northern Gulf of Mexico at 5 mph, according to Accuweather.

It is expected to make landfall along the Louisiana coast Friday night or Saturday morning as a potent tropical storm, but forecasters aren’t ruling out the possibility of it intensifying into a hurricane just before making landfall.

“The key to whether Barry becomes a hurricane before landfall or not will depend on the amount of time it is able to spend over the warm water of the Gulf of Mexico,” said Dan Kottlowski, a hurricane expert with Accuweather.

If the storm system turns northward quickly and makes landfall Friday night, there may not be enough time for it to strengthen into a hurricane, according to Accuweather. But if it tracks to the northwest for a longer period, it’s possible it may not reach land until later Saturday — and could strengthen during that time.

By late afternoon Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center had already issued a hurricane warning for the coast of Louisiana from Intracoastal City to Grand Isle.

Accuweather has already designated Barry a level 2 storm on its RealImpact Scale for Hurricanes — which ranges from “less than 1” to 5, with 5 having the most projected impact.

The biggest worry at the moment, experts say, is the flooding.

“Our greatest concern is for torrential rain that would result in life-threatening flooding,” Kottlowski said. “Heavy, flooding rainfall is expected over a large area, especially over much of eastern Louisiana into parts of southern and central Mississippi and parts of southeastern Arkansas.”

An average of 10 to 18 inches of rainfall is expected.

President Trump advised Gulf Coast residents Wednesday to take all necessary precautions.

“To everyone on the Gulf Coast: As you make preparations to protect your homes & loved ones from flooding & the coming storm, it is imperative that you heed the directions of @FEMA, State & Local Officials,” he tweeted. “We are working closely w/ them. Please be prepared, be careful, & be SAFE!”