Hurricane Francine To Hit Gulf, 4 Systems Brew In Atlantic

FLORIDA — Francine, which has strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane, is expected to make landfall in Louisiana Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The storm is expected to bring with it storm surge, high winds and heavy rains that could cause flooding across southeastern Louisiana, Mississippi, southern Alabama and northern Florida through Thursday night, forecasters said.

A hurricane warning is in effect from the Texas-Louisiana state line to Grand Isle, Louisiana, and a tropical storm warning is in effect for the Louisiana coast from Grand Isle through Lake Pontchartrain, AccuWeather said. A tropical storm warning is also in effect for the southern Mississippi and Alabama coasts.

“Rainfall totals in these areas could reach 4 to 8 inches, with local amounts to 12 inches. New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Biloxi and Jackson, Mississippi; and Mobile, Alabama, are among the cities where flood watches have been issued for this heavy rain threat,” the Weather Channel said.

FEMA urges those living in or visiting these areas to prepare for the storm.

“Now is the time to finalize evacuation plans, secure homes and gather emergency supplies. Do not wait until the last minute — Francine is intensifying quickly and immediate action is critical,” the agency said in a news release.

As Hurricane Francine moves toward Louisiana, four areas are being eyed in the Atlantic for potential development.

An area of showers and thunderstorms a few hundred miles to the west-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands has a 90 percent chance of strengthening over the next seven days, NHC said. “A tropical depression is likely to form over the next few days.”

The system is moving west-northwest at 10 to 15 mph into the central tropical Atlantic.

Meanwhile, an area of low pressure, which is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms over the central tropical Atlantic, has a 30 percent chance of “slight development” over the next seven days, NHC said. “The disturbance is expected to reach an area of stronger upper-level winds on Thursday, likely ending its chances for development.”

Another “small but well-defined” low-pressure area is several hundred miles east of the Leeward Islands, where it’s producing disorganized thunderstorms and showers, forecasters said.

It has a 10 percent chance of strengthening because dry air near the system is expected to limit its development, NHC said.

Forecasters are also eyeing another area in the western Atlantic offshore the southeastern U.S. for potential development “in a few days,” the agency said. There’s a 20 percent chance of a non-tropical area of low pressure forming through the next seven days.

As of Wednesday morning, it’s a few hundred miles off the southeastern U.S. coast, NHC said. “Thereafter, some subtropical or tropical development is possible during the early part of next week as the system meanders over the Gulf Stream or drifts slowly northward.”

Here’s the current National Weather Service forecast for the Tampa Bay area:

• Wednesday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 5 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Heat index values as high as 106. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Wednesday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 9 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 76. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.
• Thursday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 92. Heat index values as high as 107. Light and variable wind becoming south southeast around 6 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Thursday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 77. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent..
• Friday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming west 5 to 7 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.
• Friday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 2 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.
• Saturday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming west northwest 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.
• Saturday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m. Mostly clear, with a low around 75. North northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.
• Sunday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming north northwest 5 to 7 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.
• Sunday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.