Francine strengthens into hurricane, heads for US Gulf Coast

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Francine has strengthened into a hurricane and is moving northeastward across the Gulf of Mexico, with landfall expected in Louisiana, US, on Wednesday afternoon or evening.

It turned into a hurricane as of 19:00 US central daylight time (CDT) on 10 September (00:00 GMT), the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in its latest update.

At 19:00 CDT, Francine was located about 150 miles (240 kilometers) east of the mouth of the Rio Grande and about 350 miles southwest of Morgan, Louisiana, packing maximum sustained winds of 75 miles/hour, according to the NHC.

Chemical companies are implementing precautionary measures. with some shutting down operations ahead of Francine’s landfall.

Francine is expected to accelerate its northeastward path tonight and into Wednesday.

Following landfall, Francine’s center is expected to move northward into Mississippi Wednesday night and continue through Thursday.

A storm surge warning is in effect for Sabine Pass, Texas to the Mississippi/Alabama border, Vermilion Bay, Lake Maurepas, and Lake Pontchartrain.

A hurricane warning is in effect for the Louisiana coast from Cameron eastward to Grand Isle.