Millions of residents along the U.S. Gulf Coast, from Texas to Louisiana, are bracing for a potentially fatal hurricane strike this week as Tropical Storm Francine forms in the Gulf of Mexico.
As of right now, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) is predicting that on Wednesday night, a Category 1 hurricane will make landfall in Louisiana.
Francine, formerly named Potential Tropical Cyclone Six, is expected to make landfall in the Atlantic hurricane season of 2024. Forecasters are monitoring a number of regions of concern for possible development this week, just on schedule.
“Although the precise location and extent of the impacts cannot yet be determined, parts of Louisiana are increasingly at risk from deadly storm surges and destructive winds.”
A Hurricane Watch has been issued from Cameron eastward to Grand Isle, Louisiana, due to Francine’s threat. When there is a hurricane watch in effect, hurricane conditions could develop there. Usually, a watch is issued 48 hours ahead of the first predicted occurrence of tropical storm force winds, which make outside preparations hazardous or difficult.
From east of High Island, Texas, eastward to the boundary between Mississippi and Alabama, which includes Vermilion Bay, Lake Maurepas, and Lake Pontchartrain, a storm surge watch has been issued.
East of High Island, Texas, to Cameron, Louisiana, and from Grand Isle, Louisiana, to the Mouth of the Pearl River, which includes Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas, a Tropical Storm Watch has been issued.
According to the NHC, Tropical Storm Francine is predicted to pass close to Mexico’s northern Gulf Coast through Tuesday before making landfall on the coasts of upper Texas and Louisiana on Wednesday.
Prior to reaching the northwest Gulf Coast of the United States, Tropical Storm Francine is expected to strengthen through Wednesday and probably become a hurricane.
From the coast of far northeastern Mexico northward along parts of the southern Texas coast, to southern Louisiana and southern Mississippi, and into Thursday morning, Francine is forecast to drop 4–8 inches of rain, with localized amounts up to 12 inches. There would be a significant risk of flash and urban floods from this rainfall.