Francine became a Cat 1 hurricane overnight. Here's what Gulf Coast Floridians can expect

Francine became a Category 1 hurricane overnight, and wind speeds have maintained around 90 mph throughout Wednesday morning, near Category 2 levels, as it picks up steam, eyeing an early Wednesday evening landfall along the southern coast of Louisiana, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center .

Hurricane Francine is still about 95 miles southwest of Morgan City, Louisiana, and about 155 miles southwest of New Orleans, Louisiana. Some Louisiana communities have already begun evacuations and preparing floodgates before the storm’s expected landfall.

AccuWeather maintains its prediction that Hurricane Francine will strengthen into a Category 2 storm , which requires sustained wind speeds of at least 96 mph.

Hurricane Francine timeline: Here's when Hurricane Francine will strengthen, make landfall and dissipate

Hurricane Francine’s anticipated impacts along the Florida Panhandle have increased as rain estimates rise to four to six inches of rain. Local threats include storm surge, coastal flooding, high surf, deadly rip currents, tornadoes and gusty winds.

Schools in Escambia County took precautionary measures Tuesday evening and canceled all practices, games and extracurricular activities for Wednesday afternoon and evening. Santa Rosa County School District said that it is monitoring Hurricane Francine and will communicate decisions.

Where is Hurricane Francine now?

Hurricane Francine is about 95 miles southwest of Morgan City, Louisiana, and about 155 miles southwest of New Orleans, Louisiana. The storm is moving northeast at 16 mph.

Will Francine become a Category 2 hurricane?

AccuWeather expects that Hurricane Francine will strengthen at landfall rather than weaken, which it says 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.

Hurricane Francine’s maximum sustained winds (90 mph) are currently just six mph shy of Category 2 strength on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale , which is rated between 96-110 mph.

How will Hurricane Francine impact Florida’s Gulf Coast?

The NHC has elevated its rainfall estimates for portions of the Florida Panhandle. Areas stretching from Escambia County to Apalachicola are expected to receive between four and six inches of rain. The northern end of those areas and other parts of Florida’s Gulf Coast, extending as far east as Tallahassee, can expect between two and four inches of rain.

The National Weather Service (NWS) expects local threats to include storm surge, coastal flooding, high surf, deadly rip currents, tornadoes and gusty winds.

A high risk of rip currents is expected Tuesday night through Friday night, and surf is expected to build to 7-10 feet Wednesday night through Thursday. Storm surge inundation of up to two feet is expected for northwest Florida.

Any shifts further east by Hurricane Francine will result in more impacts.

Where and when will Hurricane Francine make landfall?

Meteorologists say Hurricane Francine will make landfall as a hurricane along the southern Louisiana coastline by late Wednesday afternoon or early evening.

Hurricane Francine spaghetti models

Special note about spaghetti models: Spaghetti model illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The Hurricane Center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts.

Watches, warnings issued across Florida, US

Hurricane warning:

• The Louisiana coast from Vermilion/Cameron Line eastward to Grand Isle

Hurricane watch:

• Lake Maurepas and Lake Pontchartrain, including metropolitan New Orleans

Storm surge warning:

• Cameron Louisiana to the Mississippi/Alabama Border
• Vermilion Bay
• Lake Maurepas
• Lake Pontchartrain

Tropical storm warning:

• Louisiana coast east of Sabine Pass to Vermilion/Cameron Line
• East of Grand Isle Louisiana to the Alabama/Florida border
• Lake Maurepas and Lake Pontchartrain, including metropolitan New Orleans

Key messages from the National Hurricane Center: What you need to know about Hurricane Francine

1. There is a danger of life-threatening storm surge today for the Louisiana and Mississippi coastlines, where a Storm Surge Warning is in effect. Residents in the warning area should follow advice, including evacuation orders, given by local officials.
2. Damaging and life-threatening hurricane-force winds are expected in portions of southern Louisiana later today, where a Hurricane Warning is in effect. Tropical storm conditions are expected to begin within this area later this morning, and preparations to protect life and property should be complete.
3. Francine is expected to bring heavy rainfall and the risk of considerable flash and urban flooding across southeastern Louisiana, Mississippi, far southern Alabama and northern Florida through Thursday night. Flash and urban flooding is probable across the Lower Tennessee Valley and Lower Mississippi Valley Wednesday night into Friday morning.

Current forecast: How strong could Hurricane Francine get?

• As of 10 a.m. CDT: 90 mph (Category 1 hurricane)
• 12 hours: 90 mph (near the coast)
• 24 hours: 45 mph (inland)
• 36 hours: 35 mph
• 48 hours: 25 mph (post tropical/extra-tropical)
• 60 hours: 25 mph
• 72 hours: dissipated

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This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Francine became a Cat 1 hurricane overnight. Here's what Gulf Coast Floridians can expect