Hurricane Francine forecast to form, make landfall near Louisiana/Texas state line
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The system was in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico as of Sunday afternoon. Image: NOAA
A tropical disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico is expected to strengthen into Hurricane Francine and dump up to 12 inches of rain in Louisiana and Texas through Thursday, the National Hurricane Center said.
Why it matters: The storm is forecast to make landfall Wednesday near the Louisiana-Texas state line as a Category 1 hurricane.
The big picture: The system currently has winds of 50mph, the National Hurricane Center said Sunday afternoon, and is forecast to organize into a tropical storm Monday, at which point it will be named Francine.
- Life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds are possible across the coasts of Louisiana and Texas, along with flooding rain and isolated tornadoes, the National Weather Service in Slidell says.
- Francine is also expected to bring life-threatening rip tides and surf conditions to across the Gulf Coast this week, NHC says.
- The bulk of the rain is expected to stay offshore, according to the Weather Prediction Center.
Zoom in: New Orleans is forecast to get 4-6 inches, mainly on Wednesday and Thursday.
- "We've got a lot of wet weather ahead," NWS meteorologist Kevin Gilmore said Sunday afternoon.
- The soil is saturated from recent rain, he said, so runoff and flash flooding is more likely.
- Minor coastal flooding is also possible in metro New Orleans, Gilmore said.
Threat level: A tropical storm watch is in effect for parts of Mexico's coast.
- Additional watches and warnings may be issued for Texas and Louisiana later Sunday or Monday, the National Hurricane Center.
What's next: It is too soon to pinpoint the exact location of landfall and magnitude of impacts, NHC says. The track could move east or west. (Latest track)
- Meteorologists advise residents to prepare now and make a plan.