Francine intensifies, threatens Texas, Louisiana coasts as midweek hurricane

Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Tropical Storm Francine is intensifying and is projected to reach Louisiana and Texas by Tuesday as the Atlantic's fourth hurricane this season, according to the National Hurricane Center.

On Monday morning, the tropical disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico turned into a tropical storm, the sixth named one this season in the Atlantic.

Watches and warnings have been issued in Louisiana, including a tropical storm watch for metropolitan New Orleans. Some places are under a hurricane warning.

In its 8 p.m. EDT update , NHC said Francine had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph as it was located about 145 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Rio Grande and about 425 miles south-southwest of Cameron, La. Francine was moving 7 mph in a northerly direction.

In the 11 a.m. update, the storm become a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph. In the 2 p.m. update, it was 60 mph.

"With the forming inner-core earlier observed by recon and still seen on radar currently, the tropical storm appears poised to intensify more significantly in the short term," NHC forecaster Philippe Papin said. "Francine is now forecast to become a hurricane tonight or tomorrow morning, and a Category 2 hurricane by Wednesday. "

A hurricane warning has been issued for the Louisiana Coast from Sabine Pass eastward to Morgan City. A hurricane watch was issued for the Louisiana coast from Morgan City eastward to Grand Isle.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for Morgan City, La., to Grand Isle, La., as well as from High Island, Texas, to Sabine Pass, Texas.

A tropical storm watch has been issued from Barra del Tordo to La Pesca, Mexico, Port Mansfield to High Island, Texas, east of Grand Isle, La., to the mouth of the Pearl River, including metropolitan New Orleans, Lake Pontchartrain to Lake Maurepas.

Francine is packing heavy rain, which is expected to turn into urban and coastal flooding once the storm reaches land.

On the forecast track, Francine is anticipated to be just offshore of the coasts of northeastern Mexico and southern Texas through Tuesday, and nearing the Louisiana and Upper Texas coastline on Wednesday.

Tropical storm force winds are extending some 160 miles from the center of the storm.

Forecasters predict rainfall from Francine could range from 4-8 inches with isolated areas receiving as much as 12 inches. Storm surge could reach as high as 10 feet in Cameron and Vermillion Bay in Louisiana.

Port Fourchon to the mouth of the Mississippi River could see storm surge as high as 7 feet while High Island, Texas, near the Bolivar Peninsula, could see it reach 5 feet.

"The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the east of the landfall location, where the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves," the center said. "Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycles and can vary greatly over short distances."

The NHC said storm surge is not expected to pose a threat to reduction system levees.

So far this hurricane season there have been five named storms -- Alberto, Beryl, Chris, Debby and Ernesto. Beryl, Debby and Ernesto became hurricanes.