Tropical Storm Francine has formed in the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to strengthen into a hurricane as it approaches the Texas-Louisiana coast by midweek. As the storm intensifies, hurricane warnings have been issued, and landfall is projected as a Category 2 hurricane.
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HOUSTON — Tropical Storm Francine has developed in the western Gulf of Mexico and is anticipated to intensify into a hurricane as it advances toward the Texas-Louisiana coast. Francine is expected to make landfall as a Category 2 hurricane by midweek, prompting the issuance of a hurricane warning for some areas of Louisiana.
KPHC website
According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Francine is expected to land on Sept. 11 at approximately 1 p.m., with maximum sustained winds of 100 miles per hour. The storm's eye is anticipated to strike the Louisiana coastline near the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge before moving north-northeast toward the Mississippi River, affecting communities such as Alexandria, Lake Charles, and Lafayette. The cyclone is expected to weaken into a tropical storm within 12 hours of landfall, with sustained winds decreasing to approximately 50 miles per hour.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued a hurricane warning for the region extending from Sabine Pass, near the Texas-Louisiana border, to Morgan City, Louisiana. Furthermore, a tropical storm warning has been issued for Sabine Pass to High Island, Texas, and Morgan City to Grand Isle, Louisiana. A Tropical Storm Watch is currently in effect for the entire Texas littoral from Port Mansfield to High Island, as well as for Metropolitan New Orleans.
The storm surge warnings encompass the region surrounding Vermilion Bay and extend from the eastern edge of High Island, Texas, to the entrance of the Mississippi River. As the storm approaches, these warnings suggest a substantial risk of coastal inundation.
Francine was 150 miles south-southeast of the Rio Grande estuary at the time of the most recent NHC advisory, issued at 4 p.m. Central time on September 9. The maximum sustained winds were measured at 65 miles per hour. The potential for extensive impacts along the Gulf Coast is heightened by the fact that tropical-storm-force winds extend up to 160 miles from the storm's center.
Residents in Texas and Louisiana are advised by local authorities to prepare for potential evacuations and implement the requisite measures to protect their homes and families. The storm's early arrival and rapid intensification have prompted officials to accelerate preparations throughout the region.
Emergency management teams in Texas and Louisiana coordinate evacuation plans, particularly focusing on low-lying coastal regions susceptible to storm surges. Governor John Bel Edwards of Louisiana has activated the state's emergency response teams and warned residents to be vigilant for high winds and flash inundation.
Residents are advised to monitor updates from the National Hurricane Center and local officials as the storm approaches landfall, as Francine's precise trajectory remains uncertain.
