Tropical Storm Francine likely to become a hurricane Tuesday: NHC

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Tropical Storm Francine is expected to become a hurricane on Tuesday as it churns in the Gulf of Mexico.

Our Tracking the Tropics team breaks down the latest track live at 12:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. CT.

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Plus, WFLA’s Chief Meteorologist and Climate Specialist Jeff Berardelli discusses a recent study where the station partnered with a division of the Department of Energy to simulate how the warming climate will influence major hurricane landfalls in the late 21st century.

You can read more about the study here: WFLA Exclusive | Study projects alarming increase in major hurricane landfalls

Tropical Storm Francine

The storm has maximum sustained winds of 65 mph and is located 125 miles southeast of the mouth of the Rio Grande, according to the National Hurricane Center’s 8 a.m. update.

Francine is expected to strengthen significantly as it moves slowly toward the coast. The storm is forecast to make landfall on Wednesday in Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane.

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the Louisiana coast from Sabine Pass eastward to Morgan City. A Hurricane Watch is in effect for The Louisiana coast from Morgan City eastward to Grand Isle.

Storm Surge Warning is in effect for:

• High Island Texas to the mouth of the Mississippi River Louisiana
• Vermillion Bay

Storm Surge Watch is in effect for:

• Mouth of the Mississippi River Louisiana to the Mississippi/Alabama border
• Lake Maurepas
• Lake Pontchartrain

Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:

• Morgan City to Grand Isle
• High Island to Sabine Pass
• Mouth of the Rio Grande to Port Mansfield
• Le Pesca Mexico to the mouth of the Rio Grande

Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:

• Barra del Tordo to La Pesca Mexico
• Port Mansfield to High Island Texas
• East of Grand Isle Louisiana to mouth of the Pearl River, including metropolitan New Orleans
• Lake Pontchartrain
• Lake Maurepas

Life-threatening storm surge are expected for the upper Texas and Louisiana coastlines.

Tropical Storm conditions are expected to begin early Wednesday in the southern parts of Louisiana. Mississippi and Louisiana are at risk of flash flooding due to heavy rainfall through Thursday.

Tracking two disturbances in the Atlantic

In the central tropical Atlantic, slight development is expected for an area of low pressure in the next few days, with a 40% chance in the next 48 hours.

According to the NHC, a tropical depression could form within the next few days as it moves westward over the central tropical Atlantic.

Low pressure located hundreds of miles southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands is expected to merge with a strong tropical wave that is located between the west coast of Africa and the Cabo Verde Islands within the next couple of days.

A tropical depression is expected to form as it moves west-northwestward, according to the NHC. There is a 70% chance of development within the next seven days.

Watch Tracking the Tropics on Tuesdays at 12:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. CT.
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