An urgent warning has been issued for Americans to prepare for a severe tropical storm heading toward southeast Texas and parts of Louisiana.
Tropical Storm Francine has formed off the southwestern coast of the Gulf of Mexico and is increasing in intensity as it approaches the coast due to the very warm Gulf waters.
A hurricane warning was issued for parts of the Louisiana coast on Tuesday morning. Wind speeds of up to 82 mph are forecast in New Iberia, according to the National Hurricane Center. Heavy rainfall of between 4 and 8 inches is expected.
Sudden flash flooding and urban flooding are expected in parts of northeastern Mexico and southern Texas.
The storm is expected to make landfall near Louisiana on Wednesday.
A hurricane warning was issued for parts of coastal Louisiana on Tuesday morning. Winds of up to 82 miles per hour were forecast in New Iberia, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The weather is starting to form offshore as Tropical Storm Francine is expected to make landfall in Louisiana on Wednesday
Flash flooding and urban flooding are likely in parts of northeastern Mexico and southern Texas. Tropical storm force winds may reach up to 250 km near the storm center.
Tropical storm winds can extend up to 257 kilometers from the storm center.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is working closely with both states to ensure they are prepared for heavy rains, flooding and life-threatening storm surge.
Residents in the path of the storm scrambled to stock up on gas and supplies and secure their homes in advance.
Steve Pete filled gasoline cans in Violet, Louisiana, on Monday to distribute to neighbors and the elderly as needed ahead of Tropical Storm Francine.
Crabbers move their traps into the levee protection system in lower St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, on Monday
Tips for your safety during the storm
Make sure you have a plan in place in case the storm escalates. Every family should have the necessary medical supplies, food and water.
Evacuate when instructed to do so. If you are unable to do so, be sure to seek refuge in a room that can withstand strong winds or go to the highest floor if you are trapped by flooding.
Driving through flooded areas can be extremely dangerous, especially during flash floods. Half of all flash flood deaths are due to this hazard.
When power lines collapse, it can be dangerous to stand in floodwater. Human and animal excrement mixed with water can cause disease.
In the event of a power outage, you should avoid using candles and incendiary devices as there is a risk of fire.
Residents of St. Bernard Parish fill sandbags in a Kmart and Sears parking lot ahead of Tropical Storm Francine in Chalmette, Louisiana, on Monday
James C. McKenzie (left) and Kelly Blanchard (right) cover an electronic sign with plywood on Monday in Chalmette, Louisiana
Bubby Longo fills sandbags in a Kmart and Sears parking lot in Chalmette, Louisiana on Monday
Two months since Hurricane Beryl
Tropical Storm Francine arrived two months after Hurricane Beryl strengthened, becoming a hurricane on its way to South Texas, where the outer parts of the storm made landfall with rain and increasing winds.
Beryl was considered a life-threatening storm; as it moved inland, more than two million residents were without power.
The tornadoes caused by the storm reached Texas and Louisiana as it moved steadily northeast from East Texas.
Darin Carroll, senior vice president at CenterPoint Energy in Texas, promised in a press conference broadcast on KRPC2 Houston that the company would improve its performance compared to the Beryl phase.
“We are ready to show everyone that we have improved.”
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted an above-average Atlantic hurricane season this year due to record-breaking high Atlantic water temperatures, La Niña conditions in the Pacific, and weaker Atlantic winds.
They forecast 17 to 25 named storms, of which eight to 13 are expected to become hurricanes.
