Tropical Storm Francine is on a path to become a hurricane, posing a threat to Louisiana’s coast. The National Hurricane Center predicts that the storm will strengthen significantly before making landfall on Wednesday afternoon as a Category 2 hurricane, packing winds of up to 100 mph.
Francine is currently churning in the Gulf of Mexico, with its winds reaching approximately 65 mph as of early Tuesday morning. Weather officials have issued a series of warnings and watches for coastal areas in anticipation of the storm’s arrival. A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the Louisiana coast stretching from Sabine Pass eastward to Morgan City. Additionally, a Storm Surge Warning is in place for the coastline from High Island, Texas, to the mouth of the Mississippi River and Vermilion Bay in Louisiana.
The storm is expected to bring heavy rainfall to a wide swathe of the coastline, stretching from northeastern Mexico to Mississippi. Forecasters predict that most areas in the storm’s path will receive between 4 and 8 inches of rain, with some regions potentially experiencing up to 12 inches. This heavy rainfall could lead to significant flash and urban flooding, posing a serious threat to communities in the storm’s path.
With Francine’s intensification into a hurricane anticipated, officials are urging residents in affected areas to take necessary precautions and remain vigilant as the storm approaches.
