Tropical Storm Francine Forms – Here’s the Timeline for Landfall in Louisiana

LAFAYETTE, La. (KPEL News) - The tropical system in the Gulf of Mexico has become Tropical Storm Francine, the sixth named storm of the 2024 Hurricane Season.

The latest forecast for Francine still shows it becoming a hurricane before hitting the Louisiana coast, likely hitting us as a Category 1 storm.

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Tropical Storm Francine will be dropping a lot of rain and potentially flooding along the Mexico and Texas coastlines on its way up the Gulf of Mexico. But the system is moving very fast, which means less time for the storm to develop and become stronger.

That doesn't mean it won't have a major impact on Louisiana, however.

There is an increasing risk of damaging hurricane-force winds in portions of southern Louisiana beginning Wednesday, where a Hurricane Watch is now in effect, according to the latest warnings from weather centers.

The current path of the storm seems to put a target on Acadiana.

"Potential Tropical Cyclone Six is expected to bring storm total rainfall of 4 to 8 inches, with local amounts to 12 inches, from the coast of far northeast Mexico northward along portions of the southern Texas coast, the far upper Texas coast and across southern Louisiana and southern Mississippi into Thursday morning," the National Hurricane Center said. "This rainfall could lead to the risk of considerable flash and urban flooding."

"Along the central Texas coast, rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches are expected from Tuesday into early Wednesday. Across the Mid-South, rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches, with local amounts of 6 inches, are expected from Wednesday into Friday morning," the latest update continued. "This rainfall could lead to the risk of flash and urban flooding."

As of now, landfall appears likely on Wednesday evening and will quickly move through the southern part of the state overnight.

This is a developing story, and the KPEL News Team is working to provide additional coverage for Acadiana. Updates will be shared as they become available, so download the KPEL News app via Google Play or in the App Store and subscribe to breaking news alerts to get the latest information sent directly to your mobile device.

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