Tropical Storm Francine forecast to strengthen into hurricane 'soon' as it aims for U.S. Gulf Coast
A strengthening Tropical Storm Francine is expected to become a hurricane long before it reaches the Louisiana coast Wednesday, federal forecasters said on Monday.
A strengthening Tropical Storm Francine is expected to become a hurricane long before it reaches the Louisiana coast Wednesday, federal forecasters said on Monday.
On Monday evening, the storm was in the Gulf of Mexico, about 145 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Rio Grande with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph and higher gusts, according to the National Hurricane Center.
It was moving north-northwest at 7 mph as it will brush the adjacent shores of Mexico and Texas through Tuesday, the center said in a public advisory Monday evening. It is forecast to take a right turn toward the northeast before approaching Texas' Gulf Coast east of Galveston and Louisiana's coastline on Wednesday, it said.
Track Tropical Storm Francine’s path, forecast and hurricane status
The hurricane center's latest forecast cone has the storm making landfall in Louisiana between the Texas border and New Orleans about 1 p.m. Wednesday.
Rating: 5