Early this week, Tropical Storm Francine formed near the coast of Mexico. It is now moving towards Louisiana. The National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said on Monday that Francine was about 480 miles south-southeast of Cameron, Louisiana, and 245 miles southeast of the mouth of the Rio Grande. The storm is getting stronger, and before it hits land, it’s likely to turn into a hurricane.
Current situation and planned course
The National Hurricane Centre released its fourth warning about Francine on Monday. It said that the storm would likely turn into a hurricane by the time it gets to the northwest Gulf Coast on Wednesday or Wednesday night. Along parts of the coastlines in Upper Texas and Louisiana, there is a growing chance that storm surges will flood and kill people. Local officials have advised residents in these areas to follow their instructions, as the situation could rapidly escalate.
Francescone is now the sixth named storm of this year’s hurricane season. It began as Potential Tropical Cyclone Six. It comes after Alberto, Beryl, Chris, Debby, and Ernesto. Three of them became hurricanes. The most recent predictions say that Francine could hit the coast of Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane by Wednesday night, with winds of up to 100 mph.
Watches and warnings are in place.
In preparation for Francine’s effects, the NHC has issued a number of warnings and watches. These are the most important warnings:
You should be aware of a storm surge from High Island, Texas, to the mouth of the Mississippi River, which includes Vermilion Bay.
Louisiana’s coast from Sabine Pass east to Morgan City is under a hurricane watch.
When there is a storm surge watch, the Mississippi River mouth to the border with Alabama, Lake Maurepas, and Lake Pontchartrain are all high-risk areas.
Watch out for hurricanes along Louisiana’s coast, from Morgan City to Grand Isle in the east.
A tropical storm alert is in effect from Morgan City to Grand Isle and from High Island to Sabine Pass.
Tropical Storm Watch:
from Barra del Turdo, Mexico, to the mouth of the Rio Grande; from the mouth of the Rio Grande to High Island, Texas; from east of Grand Isle to the mouth of the Pearl River, which includes New Orleans and the surrounding area; and from Lake Pontchartrain to Lake Maurepas.
Along the Gulf Coast, especially in Louisiana, these warnings mean that strong winds, heavy rain, and a big storm surge are likely.
Tropical Storm Francine’s Possible Effects
Francine is currently bringing 65 mph winds that aren’t going away but are getting stronger. Philippe Papin, a forecaster for the NHC, said that the storm’s structure kept getting better through Monday afternoon. An Air Force reconnaissance team saw a developing inner core and a partial eyewall. Based on these observations, it appears that Francine is about to get a lot worse in the near future.
Because the Gulf of Mexico has warm sea surface temperatures, a lot of water, and low vertical wind shear, Francine should become a hurricane by Monday night or early Tuesday morning. But Papin also said that shear is likely to get a lot stronger 12 to 18 hours before landfall, which could stop the storm from getting stronger.
Changes to the track and forecast
As of Monday afternoon, the NHC had slightly changed Francine’s predicted path westward. Initially, people expected the storm to make landfall on the Louisiana coast early Wednesday afternoon. However, an update later said that it would now hit land around 7 p.m. Wednesday. Most models predict Francine will hit Louisiana on Wednesday, but no one knows when or where.
There is a storm surge and a chance of flooding
Storm surges along parts of the coastlines in Upper Texas and Louisiana could be life-threatening. We are warning people in these areas about storm surges and urging them to exercise caution. South Louisiana is likely to have hurricane-force winds by Wednesday, and the area is likely to have heavy rains and flash flooding through Thursday. The coast of Louisiana, from Sabine Pass to Morgan City, has received a hurricane warning.
The NHC also said that it is too early to say exactly where and how severe the effects will be, but starting Tuesday night, the risk of life-threatening storm surges and damaging winds is rising along parts of the coastlines in Louisiana and Upper Texas.
What steps should people take to prepare?
Because of how serious the situation is, people who live in the affected areas should get ready to leave and take all the necessary safety measures. Here are some things to think about:
Keep Up to Date: Get the latest warnings from the National Hurricane Centre and local weather stations. Pay close attention to what the local government says you should do.
Get your house ready: Protect outdoor doors, shutters, and furniture. Make sure your house can handle high winds and possible flooding.
Get an emergency kit ready. Bring important things with you, like water, food that won’t go bad, medicines, flashlights, batteries, important papers, and a first aid kit.
Plan to Leave: Be aware of your escape routes and prepare a plan in case you need to evacuate. Make plans for your pets, and make sure your car is full of gas and ready to go.
How to Stay Safe During a Storm: If you’re inside, stay away from windows and in a small room on the lowest level that won’t flood. If you find yourself in a potentially flooded or storm-surge-prone area, it’s advisable to evacuate.
Other Trouble in the Atlantic
There are other disturbances in the Atlantic Ocean that could turn into tropical storms or hurricanes, but Francine is the most important one right now. Weather forecasters are monitoring a low-pressure area over the central tropical Atlantic. This area has a 60% chance of turning into a tropical depression or storm later this week. A strong tropical wave is merging with another low-pressure trough a few hundred miles southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands. This has a 70% chance of becoming a tropical system within the next week.
What Will Happen Next?
It looks like Tropical Storm Francine will keep moving northwest towards Louisiana. The worst effects are expected to occur on Wednesday and Wednesday night. The storm’s exact path is still unknown, but it is expected to bring heavy rain, strong winds, and big storm surges to Southeast Louisiana and maybe even some parts of Texas. These effects are likely to occur all day on Wednesday, with the worst weather occurring in the evenings and nights.
No matter its path or strength, Francine will affect the area greatly. To stay safe, residents should stay alert, learn what’s going on, and take all the necessary precautions.
In conclusion
It looks like Tropical Storm Francine will be a big weather event along the Gulf Coast, especially in Louisiana and some parts of Texas. People who live in the storm’s path need to stay informed and ready because storm surges, hurricane-force winds, and heavy rain could be life-threatening. Always do what the National Hurricane Centre and local officials tell you to do to stay safe during this dangerous weather event.
