National Hurricane Center (NHC) meteorologists have issued an urgent warning for residents in Louisiana and Mississippi to rush any preparations before Tropical Storm Francine makes landfall on Wednesday.
Francine became the sixth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season on Monday. It formed after an unexpected lull in tropical activity that followed Hurricane Ernesto, which never made U.S. landfall. However, it created a life-threatening risk of rip currents along the East Coast. Meteorologists predicted an exceptionally active Atlantic hurricane season this year, citing the El Niño weather pattern and uncommonly warm sea surface temperatures.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Francine’s maximum sustained winds were documented at 65 miles per hour. The storm is expected to strengthen into a hurricane before it makes landfall along the Louisiana coastline on Wednesday.
Meteorologists are urging people in the affected areas to rush preparations and finish them by Tuesday night, according to a recent NHC post on X, formerly Twitter.
“4pm CDT Tuesday Tropical Storm #Francine Key Messages: Life-threatening #hurricane force winds and storm surge expected for portions of southern Louisiana Wednesday and Wednesday night,” the post said. “Preparations to protect life & property should be rushed to completion by tonight. A tropical storm warning and storm surge warning is also in effect for portions of southern #Mississippi.”
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A tropical storm warning is also in place for parts of Texas, Alabama and Florida. A previous post from the NHC said that meteorologists anticipate Francine strengthening into a hurricane by Tuesday night.
In addition to life-threatening winds and storm surges, multiple states are expecting heavy rainfall, flooding, deadly rip currents and even tornadoes, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Jonathan Howell.
Howell previously told Newsweek that the tornado threat will be greatest for states to the northeast of the storm, such as the Alabama coastline and the Florida panhandle. Although tornadoes spawned from hurricanes are generally weaker, residents in those areas are urged to remain vigilant. Tornadoes will be most likely from Wednesday night into Thursday.
Southern Louisiana is most at risk for heavy rainfall, with widespread amounts of 8 to 12 inches forecast. Up to 8 inches of rain will also affect parts of Mississippi.
A tropical storm warning is also in place for parts of Texas, Alabama and Florida.
In addition to Francine, the NHC is monitoring two other Atlantic disturbances. One disturbance in the central tropical Atlantic Ocean has a 30 percent chance of forming into a cyclone in the next two days. The second system, further east, has a 40 percent chance of forming into a cyclone in the next two days.
