Tropical Storm Francine is currently moving along the Texas Gulf Coast. It is anticipated that the storm will intensify and potentially reach hurricane status later today, making landfall along the Louisiana coastline on Wednesday.

According to AccuWeather hurricane specialist Alex Dasilva, the storm is gaining organization, with warm water temperatures in the Gulf acting as “rocket fuel” for its development.

Francine is making progress to the northeast at a speed of 9 mph away from the Texas coastline while sustaining wind speeds of 65 mph; this is about 10 mph shy of being classified as a hurricane, as noted by the National Hurricane Center.

By late Wednesday afternoon, Francine is expected to hit the central Louisiana coast, bringing with it a potentially hazardous storm surge and up to a foot of rain, before it continues into Mississippi and moves northward into the Mississippi valley on Thursday.

Forecasters cautioned that regardless of its wind strength upon landfall, Francine remains a large storm with considerable risks of life-threatening storm surges and flooding.

As Francine travels over the warm waters, it is expected to strengthen. However, as it approaches a frontal system along the coast on Wednesday, strong winds could hinder its growth by shearing off its cloud tops, the hurricane center indicated. Sustained winds of 90-95 mph are predicted at landfall, with gusts potentially reaching up to 115 mph.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, who has already declared a state of emergency, urged residents to formulate a plan, heed local authorities’ advice, and stay informed through local news to help minimize the storm’s impact. Depending on the region, some areas of the state could experience storm surges of 5-10 feet, along with widespread flooding and up to a foot of rain in localized spots.

Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in certain coastal regions of Texas and Louisiana. Schools are closing, and sandbags are being distributed in anticipation of extensive flooding.

As of 2 p.m. ET on Tuesday, the storm was situated 130 miles east-southeast of the mouth of the Rio Grande and 380 miles southwest of Morgan City, Louisiana, heading northeast at 9 mph.

Latest Updates:

∎ In Louisiana, a shelter for residents of LaFourche Parish is set to open at 5 p.m. local time. Residents are advised to bring enough food, water, medications, and bedding for at least two days.

∎ The National Weather Service has indicated that tornadoes could form on Wednesday in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle.

∎ A considerable storm surge is anticipated, and water levels are expected to begin rising along the coast by Wednesday morning.

∎ Swells produced by Francine are likely to affect the northwestern and northern Gulf of Mexico coastline on Tuesday and Wednesday.

∎ Energy companies have started evacuating workers from offshore drilling platforms and have reduced production ahead of the storm.

∎ Inbound traffic has been suspended at the Port of Galveston, and the Port of New Orleans is expected to close on Wednesday.

Tropical Storm Francine: Storm approaching the US

Local Resident Prepared for Impact

Rick Momin, who works at Bayaks Country Store in coastal Cameron Parish—an area that faced two hurricanes just four years ago—is bracing for the storm. Despite the threat, he cherishes the fishing and lifestyle of the area.

“I know that someone gets hit every year, so we take what comes,” Momin, 49, stated. “It’s Mother Nature. We live on the coast, and it’s on its way.”

Preparation for Coastal Residents in Louisiana

The hurricane center offers the following recommendations:

• Secure your home by covering windows, locking doors, and securing loose outdoor items.
• Consider your shelter options and take your pets into account.
• Prepare your go-bags, medications, and necessary supplies.
• Stock up on several days’ worth of non-perishable food, water, and medication.
• Charge your phone and ensure your vehicles are filled up or charged.
• Assist your neighbors, particularly those who are elderly or vulnerable.
• Heed any evacuation orders.

“Conditions along the Louisiana coastline and in areas under storm surge and hurricane warnings will deteriorate rapidly on Wednesday morning,” warned Michael Brennan, director of the hurricane center. “Water levels will begin to rise, and tropical storm-force winds will commence.”

Brennan urges residents and visitors to find a safe place to stay by Tuesday night, with a recommendation to shelter in place on Wednesday and potentially into Thursday.

Winds of Francine Could Reach 100 mph

Due to the unusually warm seawater present in the Gulf of Mexico, Francine has the potential for what meteorologists refer to as “rapid intensification.” This phenomenon can cause a storm to increase its wind speed by at least 35 mph within a 24-hour period. The latest forecast from the hurricane center suggests that sustained winds near the storm could reach 90-95 mph.

The hurricane center is warning residents to prepare for conditions that could be one category higher than initially predicted, potentially bringing wind speeds of 100 mph along the coastline.

Although there is ample warm water that could lead to strengthening, the meteorological forecast suggests that increasing strong winds at higher altitudes may limit further intensification of the hurricane. “This environmental factor will likely restrict Francine’s intensification,” the hurricane center stated in a forecast released online on Tuesday morning.

Nevertheless, Francine is anticipated to deliver a significant amount of rainfall in Louisiana and Mississippi, with projections of 4 to 8 inches, and in some locations, a foot of rain could accumulate by Friday morning, raising concerns about considerable flash and urban flooding.

New Orleans to Experience the Brunt of Francine Wednesday Evening

Forecasts indicate that Francine will land to the west of New Orleans, potentially affecting Lake Pontchartrain and unleashing tropical storm conditions along with up to eight inches of rain in the region, according to the hurricane center. The most severe weather conditions are expected in New Orleans on Wednesday afternoon and evening.

Tropical storm force winds may begin affecting the area as early as late Wednesday morning and will continue to pick up, indicated meteorologist Lauren Nash from the local weather service. The intensity of the winds is expected to decrease after midnight, she noted.

AccuWeather has issued warnings for wind gusts reaching up to 60 mph along with a potential for “more than a month’s worth of rain.” They also mentioned that up to 5 feet of storm surge could lead to flooding around Lake Pontchartrain.

Residents are urged to finalize their preparations by Tuesday night.

“The weather conditions will deteriorate overnight and become increasingly severe through Wednesday,” the office tweeted, though they pointed out that conditions should improve by Thursday.

Storm Surge May Lead to Significant Flooding

The hurricane center’s advisory warned of potentially life-threatening storm surges impacting parts of the Upper Texas and Louisiana coastlines, suggesting that evacuation measures might be enforced. “Destructive and potentially lethal hurricane-force winds are anticipated in certain areas of southern Louisiana,” it stated.

Louisiana is preparing for intense rainfall and strong winds. The weather service cautioned that storm surge in combination with high tides could elevate water levels in some regions by up to 10 feet.

Louisiana Rebounding from Past Hurricanes Laura and Delta

Many areas in southwest Louisiana are still in recovery mode from the devastation caused by Hurricanes Laura and Delta in 2020. The two storms resulted in the deaths of at least 49 individuals in the U.S. and Caribbean and inflicted over $20 billion in damages, primarily in Louisiana. Laura initially made landfall near Cameron, the location where forecasters predict Francine may also hit land.

Recently, in Lake Charles, located 50 miles north of Cameron, a tower that had suffered severe damage from the hurricanes was demolished as part of a planned operation. This tower was the tallest building in the city.

Safety Tips for Power Outages

During a briefing on Tuesday, Brennan shared some vital safety information:

• Use flashlights instead of candles.
• Turn on flashlights before entering a building to avoid creating sparks that could ignite any gas leaks.
• Only use portable generators outside, positioned at least 20 feet away from windows, doors, and garages to minimize the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Ensure that portable generators are safely grounded and not overloaded.
• For drinking, stick to bottled or boiled water, as water purification systems may malfunction.

Francine Marks the Sixth Storm of This Season

Francine has become the sixth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season and is the first one since Ernesto, which dissipated on August 20.

This system is one among three being monitored by the hurricane center. Another system located in the central tropical Atlantic has a 40% chance of morphing into a tropical storm within the next 48 hours. Furthermore, a storm further to the east carries a 70% chance of developing over the following week.

Contributing: Doyle Rice, YSL News; Reuters