According to the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Storm Francine is expected to strengthen into a hurricane early Tuesday morning before making landfall in Louisiana on Wednesday.
The storm’s wind speed remained at about 65 mph until just after midnight, the center said in its 1 a.m. CT update Tuesday.
“Francine is likely to become a hurricane today and is expected to strengthen significantly before reaching the coast,” the update said.
Shoppers in suburban New Orleans stock up on food supplies at a grocery store on Monday, September 9, 2024.
Jack Brook/AP
Weather services issued a series of hurricane warnings and watches for coastal areas as the storm raged in the Gulf of Mexico, with strong winds extending about 140 miles (225 kilometers) from the storm.
Francine is expected to make landfall in southwest Louisiana on Wednesday afternoon as a Category 2 storm with winds of 100 mph.
A storm surge warning was in effect for High Island, Texas, to the mouth of the Mississippi River and Vermilion Bay in Louisiana. A hurricane warning was in effect for the Louisiana coast from Sabine Pass east to Morgan City, authorities said.
The storm is expected to bring rain to much of the coast, from northeastern Mexico through Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Most areas in the storm’s path will see between 4 and 8 inches of rain, with some areas seeing as much as 12 inches.
“This rainfall could cause significant flash flooding and urban flooding,” weather officials said.
