Francine may gain some additional strength as it spins northeastward over the Gulf of Mexico with its sights set on blasting ashore in Louisiana with a significant risk to lives and property from flooding and high winds.

An area under AccuWeather meteorologists’ radar for weeks recently gave birth to Tropical Storm Francine, which is forecast to strike Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane. Francine could be strengthening at landfall rather than weakening, which could increase impacts.

“Steering breezes will guide Francine onshore in Louisiana early Wednesday evening, so the tropical storm will spend the better part of the daylight over the Gulf of Mexico, where it will have the opportunity to strengthen,” AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva said Wednesday morning.

The latest on Francine

As of 8 p.m. EDT Tuesday evening, Francine had become a hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph and higher gusts. By Wednesday morning, Francine had gained further wind intensity, with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph–just 6 mph shy of Category 2 intensity on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. The hurricane was moving northeast at 12 mph, and is forecast to pick up additional forward speed. Francine was located less than 200 miles to the southwest of Morgan City, Louisiana.

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

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For more on hurricane season and the utility industry, see how Duke Energy is strengthening the grid,  ask yourself if you are making these heat related illness mistakes, and make sure you are stocked up on the must haves for storm season.