Forming from a tropical wave on August 11 in the southern Bahamas, Barbara moved northward and attained hurricane status the next day.

The hurricane left several injuries, some traffic accidents, as well as seven fatalities in the eastern United States; at least two were due to electrocution from downed power lines.

[1] The wave was initially weak as it tracked toward Cuba, but on August 10, there were indications of a closed circulation center over the eastern portion of the island.

The low deepened a bit as it moved northward to a position near Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas on August 11,[2] at which time the disturbance organized into a tropical storm.

[1] The storm intensified throughout the day,[3] and on the morning of August 12, reconnaissance aircraft found winds of about 75 mph (120 km/h) in the northeastern section of the circulation, although the southwestern portion was still weak and disorganized.

[3] The cyclone moved over the Outer Banks of North Carolina overnight,[1] crossing the shore between Morehead City and Ocracoke.

[3] However, the Canadian Hurricane Centre assessed Barbara as remaining tropical until after it turned northward and struck eastern Nova Scotia on August 16.

A new low formed in association with the trough, and as Barbara rapidly headed northward, the developing center moved more slowly.

[5] Evacuations were ordered for a few islands in the Outer Banks, and several thousand tourists voluntarily left the coastline for safer areas.

Torrential rainfall, unofficially exceeding 9 in (230 mm) at Nags Head, fell across the state and extending northward into Virginia.