Janice R. Andrews
As Tropical Storm Francine heads towards the Gulf Coast, Louisiana and Texas have issued a number of alerts and advisories. The National Hurricane Centre (NHC) says the storm will likely get a lot stronger, maybe even becoming a Category 2 hurricane, before it hits land on Wednesday along the central Louisiana shore.
Present Situation and Prognosis
Francine is in the Gulf of Mexico, about 300 miles south of the Rio Grande, and about 400 miles from Cameron, Louisiana, as of 4:30 p.m. CT on Monday. The storm is going north-west to north-east at about 7 mph, and winds can hit 65 mph for a long time. As Francine gets closer to the coast, the NHC thinks it will become a hurricane, with winds that could reach 100 mph before it hits land on Wednesday afternoon.
Meteorologist Donald Jones from the National Weather Service (NWS) warned that Francine could even grow into a Category 3 storm, which would make it more likely that the Gulf area would be badly damaged. He also said that the storm is most likely going to hit during the day, which is different from earlier statements that it would hit land at night.
Alerts and Watches
As Francine gets stronger, many watches and warnings have been sent out for the Gulf Coast. In these warnings, situations like storm surges, high winds, and flash floods that could be life-threatening are listed.
The most recent warnings are:
- Warning for Storm Surge: – From High Island, Texas, to the Louisiana end of the Mississippi River — Louisiana’s Vermilion Bay
- Warning for Hurricane:
- From Port Arthur, Texas, to Morgan City, Louisiana, through Sabine Pass
- Warning of a Tropical Storm: – From Morgan City, Louisiana, to Grand Isle, Louisiana – From High Island, Texas, to Sabine Pass, Texas
Also, a number of storm surge watches have been issued for areas from the Mississippi River’s mouth to the line between Mississippi and Alabama. These areas include large bodies of water in Louisiana, such as Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas.
Possible Effects
The National Hurricane Centre says that Francine will bring dangerous storm surges to the coast, with some places seeing waves as high as 10 feet. The following storm surge predictions have been made public:
- 5 to 10 feet from Cameron to Port Fourchon, Louisiana
- 5 to 10 feet in Vermilion Bay, Louisiana
- 4 to 7 feet from Port Fourchon to the Mississippi River’s mouth
- From High Island, Texas, to Cameron, Louisiana: 3 to 5 feet
- From the Mississippi River to the line between Mississippi and Alabama: 2 to 4 feet
- For Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas in Louisiana, the depth is 2 to 4 feet.
- From the mouth of the Rio Grande in Texas to High Island in Texas: 1 to 3 feet
Residents of flood-prone areas are being told to make all the necessary plans to protect life and property because of the high water levels that are expected. The National Hurricane Centre (NHC) says that flash floods and flooding in cities are possible. In southern Louisiana, southern Mississippi, and parts of Texas, it will rain between 4 and 8 inches. Some places could get up to 12 inches of rain, which makes the chance of major floods even higher.
The government and schools Get ready for the storm
People living along the Gulf Coast are being extra careful as Tropical Storm Francine gets near. In Louisiana, schools have already started to cancel Tuesday and Wednesday classes. Local news sites, like WAFB in Baton Rouge, say that schools are closing to make sure that kids and staff are safe. Officials are telling everyone in the storm’s path to finish making plans and stay up to date on the latest news and weather reports from trusted local sources.
The chance of tornadoes
As Francine gets closer to land, there is a greater chance of tornadoes, along with hurricane-force winds and storm waves. NWS scientist Donald Jones says that when tropical systems hit land, they often create tornadoes that don’t last long, especially in the storm’s right front section, which is usually the strongest part.
People who live along the Gulf Coast should keep an eye out for any storm watches or warnings and make sure they have a safe place to go if they need to. The National Weather Service says that areas that have been warned will continue to have bad weather for the next 36 hours, and areas that are under watch will likely see those conditions form within the next 48 hours.
Getting ready and leaving
Along the Gulf Coast, emergency services and local governments have started making plans for how to handle emergencies. Although broad evacuation orders have not been sent out yet, people are still being told to follow local warnings and orders to leave as the storm gets stronger. People are being told by the government to get extra food, drink, medicine, and batteries, and to stay in touch with family and friends to plan how to stay safe.
As Tropical Storm Francine gets closer to the Gulf Coast, it becomes more dangerous as it strengthens into a hurricane. With threats of dangerous storm waves, heavy rain, and possibly tornadoes, people in Louisiana, Texas, and nearby states should be ready for conditions that could kill them. People who live in Francine’s expected path should finish getting ready for the storm right away and keep an eye on the National Hurricane Centre and local officials for information.
