URGENT: Francine May Bring Deadly Conditions to Texas, Louisiana

Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center in Miami are warning residents of the Upper Texas and Lousiana coastlines to prepare for life-threatening weather conditions by mid-week.

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The Latest on Francine

The sixth named tropical system of this hurricane season (Francine) is expected to bring double-digit rainfall totals to some areas between Galveston and New Orleans. Plus, a dangerous storm surge is forecast to inundate coastal areas near Francine's landfall.

As of early Monday morning, the NHC is still referring to the system as Potential Tropical Cyclone 6. Maximum sustained winds are over 50 mph, but due to its unorganized features, it has yet to be named a tropical storm. However, by midday Monday, the system is expected to become better organized and to become Tropical Storm Francine.

Conditions should be favorable in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico for Francine to strengthen into a hurricane by early Wednesday morning. At this time, meteorologists are forecasting Francine to reach maximum winds of around 80 mph by landfall.

Francine is expected to stay offshore and parallel the Texas coastline over the next 48 hours. The majority of weather models show the center of the storm to make landfall somewhere along the western or central Louisiana coastline.

The forecast cone from the NHC shows the coastline south of Lafayette to have the best chance to experience the center of the storm. Following landfall, the remnants of Francine should follow the Mississippi River from Angola, Louisiana northward to near Paducah, Kentucky.

Potential Rainfall Totals

Flooding will be a major concern for portions of Texas and much of Louisiana. All of the southern part of the Pelican State will be in the 'moderate zone' for possible flash flooding. Southeast Texas from Houston to the state line is in the 'slight zone' for dangerous flooding.

Anywhere from 1-3 inches of rain is possible along the upper Texas coast, while 6-10 inches of rain (or more) could occur over portions of Louisiana.

Wind Forecast

Obviously, the biggest concern for damaging winds will be near the center of the storm. Winds of 80+ mph are possible in that area.

However, winds gusting to tropical storm strength (39+ mph) are possible throughout east and southeast Texas.