The Gulf of Mexico is currently witnessing Tropical Storm Francine and is supposed to grow bigger into a hurricane that will affect Louisiana in the coming days of this week, as reported by the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
The Tropical Storm Francine had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph as of 10 a.m. It is also expected to pass through north-northwestward in the next one day, tilt toward eastward, and intensify of Francine.
Forecasters also revealed that Francine will also travel across very warm Gulf waters which could cause a rapid intensification. Storm surge watches have been released for the Gulf Coast, from High Island, Texas, to the Mississippi/Alabama border. Another hurricane watch has also been issued for the Louisiana coast from Cameron to Grand Isle.
Forecasters have also revealed that it is too early to say what Francine’s exact impact—the risk of life-threatening storm surges and damaging winds is increasing for parts of the Louisiana and Upper Texas coastlines—will be. A very bad effect may occur as early as tomorrow.
It is also expected that this storm will bring heavy rainfall and flooding to northeast Mexico, Texas, southern Louisiana, and southern Mississippi through Thursday morning.
It is possible that the storm surge of 7 to 10 feet along coastal areas, with parts of Louisiana, including Cameron to Port Fourchon and Vermilion Bay, potentially experiencing 5 to 10 feet of surge.