Article first published: Tuesday, Sep. 10, 2024, 4 a.m. ET

Article last updated: Tuesday, Sep. 10, 2024, 10 a.m. ET

The National Hurricane Center’s 10 am Tuesday advisory reported that Tropical Storm Francine is 120 miles southeast of Mouth of the Rio Grande and 425 miles southwest of Morgan City Louisiana, with maximum sustained wind of 65 mph. It’s moving 8 mph to the north-northeast.

“A turn to the northeast with an increase in forward speed is expected later today or tonight. On the forecast track, Francine is anticipated to be just offshore of the coasts of northeastern Mexico and southern Texas through this afternoon, and then move across the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, making landfall in Louisiana on Wednesday. After landfall, the center is expected to move into Mississippi on Wednesday night or Thursday.” according to analysts. “Strengthening is expected through Wednesday morning, and Francine will likely become a hurricane later today or tonight.” They also said “Francine is expected to weaken quickly after landfall.”

YESTERDAY (Monday):

Yesterday, the system, now named Francine, became a tropical storm with sustained winds of 50 mph after undergoing intensification from a potential tropical cyclone.

Forecasters alert: a storm surge warning and a hurricane warning in effect for parts of the Louisiana coast.

CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

A Storm Surge Warning has been issued from the Mouth of the Mississippi River, Louisiana, eastward to the

Mississippi/Alabama Border, including Lake Maurepas and Lake Pontchartrain.

A Storm Surge Watch has been issued from the

Mississippi/Alabama Border to the Alabama/Florida Border,

Including Mobile Bay.

A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for the Mississippi coast east of the mouth of the Pearl River to the

Mississippi/Alabama border.

A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for the Alabama coast from the Mississippi/Alabama border to the Alabama/Florida border.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for:

– High Island Texas to the Mississippi/Alabama Border

– Vermilion Bay

– Lake Maurepas

– Lake Pontchartrain

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:

– The Louisiana coast from Sabine Pass eastward to Grand Isle

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for:

– Mississippi/Alabama Border to the Alabama/Florida Border

– Mobile Bay

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:

– High Island to Sabine Pass

– Mouth of the Rio Grande to Port Mansfield

– La Pesca Mexico to the Mouth of the Rio Grande

– East of Grand Isle Louisiana to the Mississippi/Alabama border, including metropolitan New Orleans

– Lake Pontchartrain

– Lake Maurepas

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:

– Barra del Tordo to La Pesca Mexico

– Port Mansfield to High Island Texas

– The Alabama coast from the Mississippi/Alabama border to the Alabama/Florida border

A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, during the next 36 hours in the indicated locations. A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours.

For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov. This is a life-threatening situation. Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions. Promptly follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials.

A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND:

WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected within the hurricane warning area on Wednesday. with tropical storm conditions arriving in the warning area by early Wednesday.

Tropical storm conditions are expected in the warning area in Mexico and south Texas for the next several hours. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area along the northeastern coast of Mexico for the next few hours. Tropical Storm conditions are expected in the warning area along the Louisiana and Mississippi coasts Wednesday and Wednesday night. Tropical storm conditions are also possible along portions of the Texas coast in the watch area today and tonight, and are possible in the watch area on the Alabama coast on Wednesday and Wednesday night.

RAINFALL: Francine is expected to bring storm total rainfall of 4 to 8 inches, with local amounts to 12 inches across much of Louisiana and Mississippi through Friday morning. This rainfall could lead to considerable flash and urban flooding.

For a complete depiction of forecast rainfall associated with Francine, please see the National Weather Service Storm Total Rainfall Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at1.shtml? Rainqpf and the Flash Flood Risk graphic at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at1.shtml? Ero.

STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide…

Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge, LA to Port Fourchon, LA…5-10 ft Vermilion Bay…5-10 ft Port Fourchon, LA to Mouth of the Mississippi River, LA…4-7 ft Sabine Pass, TX to Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge, LA…3-5 ft Pointe a la Hache, LA to MS/AL Border…3-5 ft Lake Pontchartrain…3-5 ft

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the east of the landfall location, where the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances. Storm surge is not expected to pose a threat to the risk reduction system levees. However, there may be some overtopping of local levees.

Minor coastal flooding is possible along the coast of Mexico in areas of onshore winds.

For a complete depiction of areas at risk of storm surge inundation, please see the National Weather Service Peak Storm Surge Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at1.shtml? PeakSurge.

TORNADOES: A few tornadoes are possible Wednesday morning through Wednesday night over near-coastal areas of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle.

SURF: Swells generated by Francine are affecting portions of the coast of northeastern Mexico and southern Texas. These swells are expected to spread across the northwestern and northern Gulf of Mexico coastline during the next day or so. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Source: National Hurricane Center