Get Ready for Tropical Storm Francine! Tropical Storm Francine has formed and is expected to make landfall as a hurricane, bringing heavy rain and potentially life-threatening conditions to the Gulf Coast.
The storm is forecasted to drench the Texas coast with up to a foot of rain before reaching Louisiana, where it could bring storm surge inundation and hurricane force winds. Michael Brennan, from the National Hurricane Center, warned of a dangerous situation developing along the coast.
Francine’s path is a cause for concern as it targets an area that has yet to fully recover from past hurricanes, including Laura and Delta, which devastated Lake Charles, Louisiana, four years ago.
The storm is currently southeast of the Rio Grande, with winds of 50 mph. Forecasters predict that Francine will strengthen into a hurricane as it approaches the Gulf Coast, likely bringing a storm surge of up to 10 feet.
Heavy rainfall and flash flooding are expected along the coast of Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. The potential for flash and urban flooding exists across the Mid-South as well.
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