Francine strengthens into a Category 1 hurricane as it churns toward Louisiana

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- The tropics are heating up after nearly a month of inactivity.

Tropical Storm Francine strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane on Tuesday evening ahead of its expected landfall Wednesday in Louisiana, according to the National Weather Hurricane Center.

Francine's projected landfall is just southwest of New Orleans. After landfall Wednesday, Francine is projected to rapidly weaken and become a rainmaker for areas up along the Mississippi River through Thursday.

Francine formed in the Gulf of Mexico, and two other tropical disturbances are developing in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa.

It is the first named storm since Ernesto on Aug. 12. The last time the Atlantic went that quiet during August and September was back in 1968, according to Colorado State University researcher Philip Klotzbach.

The traditional peak of hurricane season is Sept. 10. Historically speaking, about two-thirds of all storm activity occurs between Aug. 20 and Oct. 10.

Francine

A hurricane warning is in effect along the Louisiana coast from the border with Texas eastward to Grand Isle, about 50 miles south of New Orleans. Storm surge warnings also are in effect in Texas and Louisiana.

Evacuation orders have been issued in some coastal Louisiana communities and residents have begun filling sandbags in preparation for heavy rains and widespread flooding.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry urged residents "not to panic, but be prepared" and heed evacuation warnings. Forecasters said Francine's landfall in south Louisiana was expected Wednesday afternoon as a Category 2 hurricane with winds of 96 to 110 mph

Francine's storm surge on the Louisiana coast could reach as much as 10 feet from Cameron to Port Fourchon and into Vermilion Bay, forecasters said.

"It's a potential for significantly dangerous, life-threatening inundation," said Michael Brennan, director of the hurricane center, adding it could also send "dangerous, damaging winds quite far inland."

He said landfall was likely somewhere between Sabine Pass - on the Texas-Louisiana line - and Morgan City, Louisiana, about 220 miles to the east.

As rain fell Monday in northern Mexico, more than a dozen neighborhoods in Matamoros - across the border from Brownsville, Texas - flooded, forcing schools to close Monday and Tuesday. Marco Antonio Hernandez Acosta, manager of the Matamoros Water and Drainage Board, said they were waiting for Mexico's federal government to provide pumps to drain affected areas.

The storm was expected to move in north-northeast motion through Monday evening and then accelerate to the northeast beginning Tuesday before nearing the upper Texas and Louisiana coastlines Wednesday.

Other Tropical Disturbances

Out in the Atlantic Ocean, a total of three tropical systems are working west toward the Americas.

Two of the systems are approaching the Greater Antilles and the Leeward Islands, but neither of them are organized or expected to develop into tropical storms.

A third system, which is located just west of the Cabo Verde Islands, has already become a tropical depression. It is a well-organized storm with a defined area of circulation.

The National Weather Service said this storm has a 90 percent chance of becoming a tropical storm in the next 48 hours.

If that happens, it will become Tropical Storm Gordon.

The future impacts of Gordon are unknown at this time, because the system is still many days from approaching land -- if in fact it ever does.

The ABC11 First Alert Weather Team will be sure to keep a close eye on these systems and let you know as soon as there's better information about their impact on North Carolina.