Photo: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
A disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico, known as Potential Tropical Cyclone Six, strengthened into Tropical Storm Francine on Monday (September 9) and could become a hurricane before it reaches the U.S. Gulf Coast by midweek. The storm is currently located about 300 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Rio Grande and is moving north-northwest. It is expected to move offshore of the northern Gulf of Mexico through Tuesday and approach the Louisiana and upper Texas coastline on Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center's early Monday advisory.
Tropical storm watches are in effect for northeastern Mexico and southern Texas. The storm is expected to bring heavy rain and trigger flash flooding along the coast of northeast Mexico, southern Texas, southern Louisiana, and southern Mississippi into Thursday morning.
The storm's potential for life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds “are increasing for portions of the Louisiana and Upper Texas coastlines beginning Tuesday night,” the weather service said.
The 2024 Atlantic storm season, which started in June and ends on November 30, has now seen six named storms, three of which became hurricanes.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had predicted above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin this year, forecasting a range of 17 to 25 total named storms. The above-normal activity was forecast because of near-record warm ocean temperatures in the Atlantic, La Niña conditions in the Pacific, reduced Atlantic trade winds, and less wind shear.
The National Hurricane Center is also monitoring two other systems in the eastern Atlantic.