Tropical Storm Francine Set to Hit Louisiana as Category 2 Hurricane

Tropical Storm Francine is forecast to strengthen into a Category 2 hurricane as it approaches Louisiana, with expected landfall on Wednesday. The National Hurricane Center has issued a storm surge warning from Houston to the Mississippi River south of New Orleans, with life-threatening flooding and hurricane-force winds expected. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry urged residents to prepare and heed evacuation orders, with mandatory evacuations already in place for coastal communities.