Hurricane Francine Strengthens as New Tropical Depression Develops

Hurricane Francine has strengthened into an “extremely dangerous” Category 2 as the National Hurricane Center (NHC) begins tracking a new tropical depression in the Atlantic Ocean.
Francine became the sixth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season on Monday. It formed after an unexpected lull in tropical activity that followed Hurricane Ernesto, which never made U.S. landfall. However, it created a life-threatening risk of rip currents along the East Coast. Meteorologists predicted an exceptionally active Atlantic hurricane season this year, citing the El Niño weather pattern and uncommonly warm sea surface temperatures.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Francine’s maximum sustained winds were documented at 100 mph, which makes it a Category 2 hurricane. According to the NHC, a Category 2 hurricane has “extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage.” Francine is set to make landfall on the Louisiana coast by Wednesday evening.
“#Francine becomes a category 2 hurricane,” the NHC posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday. “Landfall is expected in the next couple of hours. Life-threatening storm surge and dangerous winds occurring along the Louisiana coast.”
In the key messages included with the post, the NHC warned of life-threatening storm surge for Louisiana and Mississippi, life-threatening hurricane-force winds for Louisiana, and heavy rainfall that threatens flash flooding in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. Earlier this week, meteorologists also warned of the possibility of tornadoes threatening the Florida panhandle and Alabama coast as the hurricane approached.
Newsweek reached out to the NHC by email for comment.
As the system nears landfall, the NHC is tracking a new tropical depression that formed in the Atlantic on Wednesday. Known as Tropical Depression Seven, it has maximum sustained winds of 35 mph and the potential to form into the seventh named storm of the season. If it continues to strengthen, Tropical Depression Seven will be named Gordon.
The NHC anticipates that Tropical Depression Seven will strengthen into a tropical storm by Wednesday night or Thursday. However, there are no immediate threats, as it is expected to remain over the Atlantic Ocean for several days.
“Tropical Depression #Seven Advisory 1: Tropical Depression Forms Over the Eastern Atlantic. Expected to Remain Over Water For Many Days,” the NHC posted on X in its first advisory related to the tropical depression.
A slew of weather-related alerts, including a hurricane warning, storm surge warning and flash flood warning, have been issued for Gulf Coast states.
In addition to Francine and the tropical depression, the NHC is monitoring two other Atlantic disturbances. One in the central tropical Atlantic has a 10 percent chance of forming into a cyclone in the next two days. The second, further east, has a 30 percent chance of forming into a cyclone in the next two days.
Update 9/11/24, 6:05 p.m. ET: This story was updated with additional information.