- Up to 6 inches of rain, gusty winds, and possible tornadoes expected
- 145 miles from Rio Grande, with 65 mph winds, moving north-northwest.
- Flooding caused school closures.
- Storm to reach upper Texas and Louisiana coast by Wednesday
Hurricane warnings have been issued for much of the Louisiana coastline as heavy rain, strong winds, and a severe storm surge are forecasted, with landfall expected on Wednesday. The US National Hurricane Center announced on Monday that Tropical Storm Francine is “expected to become a hurricane soon.”
Tropical Storm Francine intensified on Monday as it moved through the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to make landfall as a hurricane in Louisiana this week. Coastal communities are under evacuation orders, and residents have begun preparing with sandbags to mitigate heavy rains and potential flooding.
Francine, the sixth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane soon, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. The storm has already impacted Mexico, causing school closures due to heavy rains.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry advised residents to “be prepared” and follow evacuation warnings. Forecasters predict Francine will hit south Louisiana on Wednesday afternoon as a Category 2 hurricane, with winds ranging from 96 to 110 mph (155-175 kph).
Francine is targeting a Louisiana coastline still recovering from hurricanes Laura, Delta, and Ida. The storm surge could reach up to 10 feet (3 meters) from Cameron to Port Fourchon and into Vermilion Bay. Michael Brennan from the hurricane center warned of “significantly dangerous, life-threatening inundation” and damaging winds potentially affecting areas far inland.
In preparation, residents of Baton Rouge have been stocking up on gas, groceries, and sandbags. A mandatory evacuation has been issued for seven coastal communities, including Holly Beach and Grand Isle, with flooding and high winds expected from Tuesday afternoon through Thursday.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell urged residents to finalize their storm plans and prepare to shelter in place.
City officials anticipate up to 6 inches (15 centimeters) of rain, gusty winds, and potential isolated tornadoes, with the worst weather expected to hit New Orleans on Wednesday and Thursday.
The hurricane center reported that Tropical Storm Francine was approximately 145 miles (235 kilometers) south-southeast of the mouth of the Rio Grande and about 425 miles (690 kilometers) south-southwest of Cameron, with sustained winds of around 65 mph (100 kph). The storm is moving north-northwest at 7 mph (11 kph).
In northern Mexico, heavy rain caused flooding in more than a dozen neighborhoods in Matamoros, leading to school closures on Monday and Tuesday. Marco Antonio Hernandez Acosta from the Matamoros Water and Drainage Board said they are awaiting federal assistance to provide pumps for drainage.
The storm is expected to continue moving north-northeast through Monday evening and then accelerate northeast, approaching the upper Texas and Louisiana coastlines by Wednesday.
