Tropical Storm Francine is expected to strengthen into a hurricane on Tuesday as it slowly moves north through the Gulf of Mexico toward the Louisiana coast.

The National Hurricane Center expects Francine to make landfall in Louisiana on Wednesday. It could be a Category 2 hurricane with winds of up to 100 mph.

There were no warnings or watches for Alabama due to Francine on Tuesday. The center of Francine is expected to move inland into western Alabama, but the state will not be spared from the storm’s wind and rain.

Gusty winds, rough seas and a high risk of rip currents are expected in coastal areas as the storm approaches. Northern areas of Alabama could see several inches of rain, and forecasters will be on the lookout for tornadoes as rainbands move ashore and the storm moves inland.

When Francine makes landfall on Wednesday, there will be a Level 2 of 5 severe weather risk along the Alabama coast (see the forecast for Wednesday at the top of this post).

There is also a risk of isolated strong storms and tornadoes in other parts of the state on Thursday. Here is the severe weather forecast for Thursday:

As of 7:00 a.m. CDT Tuesday, Tropical Storm Francine was located about 395 miles south-southwest of Cameron, Louisiana, and was moving slowly north at 5 mph.

Francine had sustained winds of 65 mph on Tuesday. To become a Category 1 hurricane, it must reach 74 mph. Category 2 winds start at 96 mph.

The hurricane center said Francine was likely to become a hurricane today and that “significant strengthening” was possible before its landfall.

Francine could bring several inches of rain to Alabama through Friday. Here is the weather service’s precipitation forecast for Tuesday:

So what does Francine mean for Alabama weather for the rest of the week? Here’s what the National Weather Service thought on Tuesday:

SOUTH ALABAMA

The National Weather Service in Mobile will be monitoring Francine closely. Meteorologists said any eastward shift of the storm could have consequences for Alabama.

“Be sure to keep an eye on the weather throughout the week as the forecast is likely to change and be updated over time,” the weather service said in its forecast briefing Tuesday morning.

Meteorologists predict Alabama will land on the “chaotic” eastern side of the storm from Wednesday night into Thursday.

“During this period, we are likely to experience numerous impacts, including coastal hazards, heavy rainfall, tornadoes, and gusty tropical storm-force winds,” the weather service said.

The weather service also became increasingly concerned about the possibility of tornadoes as Francine approached the coast and inland.

The Storm Prediction Center has added a Level 2 out of 5 (Low) severe weather threat for southwest Alabama for Wednesday (see above in this post) and a Level 1 threat for Thursday.

In addition, there are numerous coastal hazards from Francine.

The National Hurricane Center’s storm surge forecast predicts that areas along the Alabama coast and Mobile Bay may experience a storm surge of 12 to 36 inches (30 to 90 centimeters) from Francine.

The National Weather Service in Mobile said there is a high risk of rip currents in coastal Alabama beginning this evening and continuing through Friday.

The weather service said strong waves of 1.5 to 2.1 meters, possibly even 2.4 meters, were expected on all beaches in the area.

Meteorologists also expect light to moderate coastal flooding, likely affecting the Mobile Bay Causeway as well as other low-lying areas such as Dauphin Island and Caden during the morning rush hour on Thursday.

The weather service said that although rainfall is decreasing, scattered 2 to 4 inches of rain is possible along the Alabama coast, with even higher amounts possible in some areas.

Finally, gusty winds are possible overnight Wednesday into Thursday. The weather service said some gusts could reach 30 to 40 miles per hour.

CENTRAL ALABAMA

According to the National Weather Service in Birmingham, Francine could bring rain, gusty winds and the threat of some tornadoes to central Alabama.

Meteorologists expect tornadoes to occur on Thursday, especially in southwest central Alabama, as Francine moves inland.

Wind gusts of up to 35 miles per hour could occur Thursday morning through the afternoon, especially in areas along and west of the Interstate 65 corridor.

Parts of west-central Alabama could see between 2 and 3 inches of rain, especially on Thursday, with less precipitation expected in eastern areas.

NORTH ALABAMA

Northern Alabama could see several inches of rain and gusty winds as weakening Hurricane Francine moves northward after making landfall.

The National Weather Service in Huntsville said northern Alabama could see between 1 and 3 inches of rain, especially Thursday, as Francine or its remnants move west. Local areas in western Alabama could get 3 to 4 inches of rain, forecasters said.

Wind gusts of 30-40 miles per hour could occur on Thursday.

Meteorologists expect that Francine could also bring severe weather from Thursday to Friday and the risk of tornado development is low.