Tropical Storm Francine is strengthening in the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to strengthen into a hurricane before making landfall in mid-southern Louisiana.

The storm is expected to strengthen to a Category 2 hurricane, with winds of up to 100 mph (160 km/h) before making landfall, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Francine is expected to bring 5 to 10 feet of storm surge along the coast, with damaging winds and possible flooding in southern Louisiana. Several schools in the area have announced they are closed ahead of the storm.

This is expected to be the first named storm to make landfall in Louisiana this hurricane season, with Governor Jeff Landry declaring a statewide emergency.

Follow us on Tuesdays for live updates on Francine’s developments.

8:00 AM: More hurricane warnings issued

The National Hurricane Center has issued more hurricane warnings for southern Louisiana. Lafayette, upper St. Martin, upper Iberia and upper St. Mary parishes are now included in the hurricane warning, according to a statement from the National Weather Service in Lake Charles.

07:00 AM: Hurricane warning extended to the east

The National Hurricane Center extended its hurricane warning east along the Louisiana coast, including Grand Isle.

The current warning, issued by the NHC at 7 a.m., extends from Sabine Pass to Grand Isle, meaning those areas could experience hurricane conditions within the next 36 hours. Preparations to protect lives and property must be completed “expeditiously,” the NHC said.

The remainder of Louisiana’s coast, from east of Grand Isle to the mouth of the Pearl River, including metropolitan New Orleans, Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas, is now under a Tropical Storm Warning.

5:30 a.m.: Iberia Parish President Urges Voluntary Evacuation

Iberia Parish President M. Larry Richard urged residents living south of U.S. Highway 90 and other vulnerable groups to evacuate.

Part of Iberia Parish is located on the northeastern portion of Vermilion Bay, where storm surge of 5 to 10 feet could occur.

“Residents who choose to stay put risk losing power and being unable to leave the area until the water recedes and the debris is cleared,” he said.

05:00 AM: Francine is expected to experience ‘significant strengthening’ before making landfall

Tropical Storm Francine barely strengthened Monday into Tuesday, but that is expected to change, National Hurricane Center meteorologists wrote in a 4 a.m. forecast.

The storm had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph and was moving north-northwest at about 5 mph. That motion was expected to continue into Tuesday morning before turning northeast and increasing forward speed.

Forecasters predict Francine will become a hurricane on Tuesday and eventually strengthen to a Category 2 storm before making landfall in Louisiana on Wednesday.

“The current track will allow a Category 2 hurricane to make landfall near New Iberia Wednesday evening,” the National Weather Service office in Slidell reported just after 4 a.m. “There may still be eastward or westward shifts in Francine’s current track, most likely to the east.”

Francine is expected to bring “life-threatening” storm surge to parts of coastal Louisiana and upper Texas. Damaging hurricane-force winds are forecast for parts of southern Louisiana.

Rainfall amounts of 10 to 20 centimetres are also expected, with some areas even reaching 30 centimetres, potentially leading to flash flooding.

A storm surge warning is in effect from High Island, Texas, to the mouth of the Mississippi River in Louisiana and Vermilion Bay. From Cameron to Port Fourchon and Vermilion Bay, a storm surge of 5 to 10 feet is forecast. Port Fourchon to the mouth of the Mississippi River can expect a storm surge of 4 to 7 feet.