Francine expected to become hurricane on path to US south-east

TROPICAL Storm Francine was expected to become a hurricane later on Tuesday as it headed towards the coast of Louisiana in the south-eastern United States, the National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said.

As of 1800 GMT, the storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 100 kmh and was about 209 km south-east of the mouth of the Rio Grande, according to an NHC advisory.

“Francine now moving north-eastward across the western Gulf of Mexico,” the statement said. “Expected to become a hurricane this afternoon or tonight.”

Louisiana’s governor Jeff Landry requested that US President Joe Biden declare a state of emergency.

“This federal assistance is needed to save lives and property, and I look forward to President Biden quickly approving this request,” he said.

A hurricane warning was in place for part of the Louisiana coast, while there were storm surge warnings - indicating danger of life-threatening flooding - in several areas of the south-east.

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There have been three hurricanes so far in the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which began on June 1 and will end on Nov 30.

Hurricane Beryl, a Category 5 storm, was the most significant, reportedly killing dozens when it tore through the Caribbean before hitting the southern US states of Texas and Louisiana.

Scientists say climate change likely plays a role in the rapid intensification of storms because there is more energy in a warmer ocean for them to feed on. AFP