Tropical Storm Francine is expected to strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane as it heads towards the Louisiana coast on Wednesday, with winds up to 90mph. The storm is predicted to stay just offshore of northeastern Mexico before making landfall in the US. Coastal residents are warned of life-threatening storm surges and potential tornadoes and dangerous winds, prompting evacuation warnings for some low-lying areas.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry urged residents to be prepared but not panic, with some schools and colleges closing as a precaution. The state, still recovering from previous hurricanes, has seen oil and gas producers evacuate staff and halt drilling operations.
Experts attribute the active hurricane season to warmer than usual seas, with water temperatures reaching 31 degrees Celsius. Francine is the sixth named storm in 2024, with meteorologists keeping an eye on two other systems in the mid-Atlantic that could potentially develop into larger storms.
The National Hurricane Center has issued coastal hurricane warnings and tropical storm warnings for various areas along the Gulf Coast, including metropolitan New Orleans, encouraging residents to prepare for the incoming storm. This underscores the importance of readiness and evacuation planning in light of the potential dangers posed by Tropical Storm Francine.
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