CNN
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Tropical Storm Francine is approaching hurricane strength on its way to the Gulf Coast. In some Louisiana parishes, evacuations have already begun and floodgates have been closed in anticipation of the storm’s likely landfall on Wednesday.

Francine could become a hurricane sometime on Tuesday and strengthen into a Category 2 hurricane by the time it makes landfall. A storm of this strength can cause extensive damage to homes and widespread power outages, which is why the governor of Louisiana declared a state of emergency for the entire state ahead of its arrival.

By early Tuesday, Francine was about 200 kilometers from the Texas-Mexico border and was packing sustained winds of 105 km/h, just 14 km/h from becoming a hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Flooding, strong winds, and a potentially life-threatening storm surge could affect parts of coastal Texas and Louisiana as Francine moves through. The worst impacts are expected to be felt in southern Louisiana by the time it makes landfall.

More than 5 million people on the Gulf Coast are currently under flood warnings. The storm is expected to bring rainfall of 10 to 20 centimeters from the coast of northeast Mexico to southern Mississippi, with some places potentially up to 30 centimeters.

In addition to a hurricane warning for Louisiana, tropical storm warnings and alerts were also issued for a stretch of coastal Louisiana and Texas. A storm surge warning was also issued from High Island, Texas, to the mouth of the Mississippi River.

Although the storm was creeping north at 5 mph around 10 p.m. CT on Monday, it is expected to pick up speed and strengthen significantly on Tuesday.

It’s too early to determine exactly where Francine will hit Louisiana, and it’s possible the storm could be stronger than forecast. The storm could be fueled by very warm ocean waters – a symptom of global warming caused by fossil fuels – which essentially serve as jet fuel for tropical storms.

In Louisiana, preparations are in full swing because coastal communities are well-versed in the disasters that such storms can bring. Governor Jeff Landry said Monday that he had already asked the emergency management agency to prepare assistance.

Mandatory evacuation orders are in effect in Louisiana’s Cameron Parish, according to an official’s social media post. Further east, in the Jefferson Parish town of Grand Isle, which was devastated by Category 4 Hurricane Ida in 2021, both mandatory and voluntary evacuations have been ordered.

Some parishes, including St. Mary and Terrebonne, began closing floodgates and distributing sandbags on Monday. Terrebonne Parish also declared a state of emergency, according to a news release.

Schools will remain closed in several Louisiana counties on Wednesday and Thursday, including Jefferson, Terrebonne and Orleans, which includes New Orleans.

In Mississippi, people in the town of Pass Christian have begun voluntarily evacuating.

The effects of Francis will be felt even before its arrival and could last until the end of this week as it pushes ashore and weakens.

“Francine is expected to bring heavy rainfall and the risk of significant flash flooding along the coast of northeast Mexico, the lower and upper Texas coast, and much of Louisiana and Mississippi through Thursday morning,” the National Hurricane Center said.

Tropical storm-force winds will sweep across parts of the coasts of northeastern Mexico and southern Texas as early as Tuesday. Storm surges and rough surf could also cause minor flooding along the Mexican coast early this week.

Storm surge will intensify as Francine approaches land, and normally dry areas will experience several feet of inundation. Parts of coastal central Louisiana could experience the most severe flooding, with flood heights as high as 10 feet above normal.

On Monday, a storm surge warning was issued for coastal areas in the far east of Texas to Louisiana and Mississippi.

Heavy rain also poses a significant threat, beginning Monday in parts of Texas and northwest Mexico and moving into the western Gulf Coast on Tuesday. Texas will see most of the heavy rain early this week, but some of the heaviest rain could continue in Louisiana late into Tuesday night.

The storm should weaken quickly on its way ashore on Wednesday, but rain is expected to drench parts of the lower and middle Mississippi Valley for the rest of the week. Rain will move north along the Mississippi on Thursday, potentially providing a welcome cooling effect to the river’s currently low water levels.

Although Francine will be past the end of the week, there could be more trouble ahead in the Atlantic.

Two other areas in the open Atlantic have a medium chance of developing in the coming days, according to the hurricane center. A possible tropical system from both areas will develop days later, so it’s far too early to speculate on where they might make landfall.