Forecasters expect it to strengthen into a hurricane  before making landfall Wednesday. A hurricane warning has been issued for the Louisiana coast from Sabine Pass to Morgan City.

“Significant strengthening is forecast over the next couple of days,” the hurricane center’s most recent update said.

Tropical storm warnings are in effect for northeastern Mexico and far southern Texas.

As of 8 p.m. Monday, the system was located 145 miles southeast of the Rio Grande at the Mexico-U.S. border. It was moving north-northwest at 7 mph with maximum sustained wind speeds of 65 mph. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 160 miles from the center.

Francine is expected to impact Texas and Louisiana as a hurricane on Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The storm should track north just offshore of Mexico through Tuesday, then turn to the northeast, strengthen into a hurricane, and head toward Louisiana and Upper Texas coastline, with an expected landfall sometime Wednesday.

The system “is expected to move inland along the Texas-Louisiana border,” said AccuWeather meteorologist Isaac Longley. “One of the main concerns with this storm is that it is forecast to move into an area already impacted by heavy rain and flooding from a separate tropical rainstorm this past week.

“The ground across far eastern Texas and into Louisiana is already saturated, so it would not take much rain to cause flooding across these areas.”

The storm should bring 4 to 8 inches of rain, with local amounts to 12 inches, from the coastal border areas of Mexico northward all the way to southern Louisiana and southern Mississippi into Thursday morning. Flash flooding and urban flooding are a risk.

The National Hurricane Center added a storm surge warning from Vermillion Bay east to the mouth of the Mississippi River, and a surge watch from the mouth of the Mississippi east to the Mississippi-Alabama border.

If storm surge coincides with high tides, coastal Louisiana south and west of of New Orleans could see surges from 5 feet to 10 feet high, forecasters said.

There also is a hurricane watch from Cameron eastward to Grand Isle in Louisiana.

A tropical storm watch has been issued east of High Island, Texas, to Cameron, Louisiana, and from Grand Isle, Louisiana, to the Mouth of the Pearl River including Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas.

AccuWeather expert meteorologists say 60 mph to 70 mph wind gusts are possible along the Gulf Coast through Thursday.

Meanwhile, two systems in the eastern Atlantic are being monitored and could develop into tropical depressions.

In the central Atlantic, an elongated trough of low pressure could become a tropical depression in the next few days as it moves west, forecasters said.

As of 8 p.m. Monday, it had a 40% chance of forming in the next two to seven days, down from 60% earlier in the day.

Meanwhile, a third system trailing close behind could become a tropical depression in the mid to latter part of this week, after it interacts with an approaching tropical wave, forecasters said. As of 8 p.m. Monday, it had a 70% chance of forming in the next seven days.

Experts at Colorado State University issued a new forecast last Tuesday, predicting below-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic for the next two weeks.

Here’s what the next two weeks of hurricane season should look like, according to experts

Overall, CSU experts predict 23 named storms in the 2024 season, leaving the possibility of 18 more before the season ends on Nov. 30. The average number of named storms between 1991 to 2020 is 14.4.

The next named storm will be Gordon.

We’ll experience nice weather to kick off the work week. Expect a cooler start this morning with temperatures in the 40s and 50s. Highs will reach the upper 70s today with low humidity and lots of sunshine.

Expect lots of sunshine with highs in the low 80s for Tuesday and Wednesday. Highs will remain in the low 80s but the humidity will start to build for the end of the week.

We are watching a developing tropical system in the Gulf of Mexico. It is forecast to make landfall near Louisiana/Texas by midweek. The leftover moisture from that system will likely spread across the southeast and could throw some rain our way by the end of the week or weekend.

• Today: Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s. Winds: N/E 5-10
• Tonight: Clear. Lows in the upper 50s. Winds: E/S 5-10
• Tomorrow: Sunny. Highs in the low 80s. Winds: W/N/E 5-10

___

Tropical Update

Potential Tropical Cyclone Six over the Gulf of Mexico. On the forecast track, the disturbance is expected to move just offshore of the northern Gulf Coast of Mexico through Tuesday and approach the Louisiana and Upper Texas coastline on Wednesday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph with higher gusts. The disturbance is expected to become a tropical storm (Francine) today and a hurricane before it reaches the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Meteorologists are tracking an area of low pressure over the central tropical Atlantic. Environmental conditions appear generally conducive for development during the next few days. A tropical depression is expected to form while the system meanders over the central tropical Atlantic.

• Formation chance through 48 hours: Medium (60%)
• Formation chance through 7 days: High (70%)

A trough of low pressure is being tracked several hundred miles WSW of the Cabo Verde Islands. Environmental conditions appear favorable for gradual development by midweek. A tropical depression could form during the middle to latter part of this week while the system moves WNW.

• Formation chance through 48 hours: Low 90%)
• Formation chance through 7 days: Medium (60%)

___

Weather & Health

• Pollen: Med-High (Ragweed)
• UV Index: 7 (High)
• Air Quality: Good (Code Green)
• Mosquitoes: High

Temperatures will climb to near 80 today with more humidity. Expect partly cloudy skies with an isolated shower possible. It will still be breezy but not as windy as the past few days.

Expect mostly cloudy skies on Saturday with scattered showers and an isolated storm possible. We will see higher rain chances to the SE and lower chances to the NW. It will still be humid with highs in the upper 70s.

A cold front will sweep through later Saturday, bringing in cooler and less humid air. Highs will drop to the mid 70s with lower humidity on Sunday and a nice mix of sun and clouds.

We will see a stretch of beautiful weather next week. Highs in the upper 70s to low 80s, lower humidity, and lots of sunshine.

• Today: Partly Cloudy. Highs near 80. Winds: NE 5-15
• Tonight: Partly Cloudy. Lows in the upper 60s. Winds: E/S 5-10
• Tomorrow: Mostly Cloudy, Showers. Highs in the upper 70s. Winds: SW 5-10

___

Tropical Update

We’re watching four areas for potential tropical development in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.

___

Weather & Health

• Pollen: Med-High (Ragweed, Grasses)
• UV Index: 6 (High)
• Air Quality: Good (Code Green)
• Mosquitoes: Very High

We will see a mix of partly to mostly cloudy skies today with highs in the upper 70s. Rain chances will be slim, but it will still be windy with a NE wind at 10 to 20 mph.

Highs will be near 80 on Friday with more humidity building. Expect partly cloudy skies with an isolated shower possible.

Highs will return to near 80 on Saturday and it will be muggy. Expect mostly cloudy skies with scattered showers and an isolated storm possible. A cold front will sweep through this weekend, bringing in cooler and less humid air. Highs will drop to the mid 70s with lower humidity on Sunday.

• Today: Mix of Clouds. Highs in the upper 70s. Winds: NE 10-20
• Tonight: Partly Cloudy. Lows in the upper 60s. Winds: NE 10-15
• Tomorrow: Partly Cloudy. Highs near 80. Winds: NE 5-15

___

Tropical Update

We’re watching four areas for potential tropical development in the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea.

___

Weather & Health

• Pollen: Med-High (Ragweed, Grasses)
• UV Index: 6 (High)
• Air Quality: Good (Code Green)
• Mosquitoes: Very High

Highs will return to the 70s with lower humidity today. We will see a mix of partly to mostly cloudy skies with a stray shower possible. It will be windy again with a NE wind at 10 to 20 mph and higher gusts.

It will be a very similar picture for Thursday with highs in the 70s, a mix of clouds, slim rain chance, and windy.

Highs will inch back into the 80s to end the work week and the humidity will build again. Expect scattered showers with an isolated storm possible on Friday and Saturday as a cold front moves in. Highs will drop back to the 70s on Sunday, behind the front.

• Today: Partly to Mostly Cloudy. Highs in the upper 70s. Winds: NE 10-20
• Tonight: Mostly Cloudy. Lows in the upper 60s. Winds: NE 10-15
• Tomorrow: Partly to Mostly Cloudy. Highs in the upper 70s. Winds: NE 10-20

___

Tropical Update

We’re tracking a tropical wave moving over the Caribbean Sea. Some development is possible late this week over the northwestern Caribbean Sea or early next week over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico.

• Formation chance through 48 hours: Low (0%)
• Formation chance through 7 days: Low (30%)

We’re watching another tropical wave about 900 miles east of the Lesser Antilles. Development of this system, if any, is expected to be slow to occur over the next couple of days while it moves WNW.

• Formation chance through 48 hours: Low (10%)
• Formation chance through 7 days: Low (10%)

We’re also watching a third tropical wave over the far eastern Atlantic. Some slow development of this system is possible during the next few days while it moves slowly northwest over the eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean.

• Formation chance through 48 hours: Low (20%)
• Formation chance through 7 days: Low (30%)

___

Weather & Health

• Pollen: Med-High (Ragweed, Grasses)
• UV Index: 6 (High)
• Air Quality: Good (Code Green)
• Mosquitoes: Very High

Expect a return to fall-like weather today. Humidity will be lower, and highs will only reach the mid 70s, almost 10 degrees below normal for this time of year. We will see a mix of mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies. It will be breezy with a NE wind at 10 to 15 and higher gusts.

The low humidity sticks around for Wednesday with highs in the upper 70s. We will see a mix of partly to mostly cloudy skies and it will still be breezy.

Highs will inch back into the 80s to end the work week and the humidity will build again. Expect scattered showers with an isolated storm possible on Friday and Saturday as a cold front moves in. Highs will drop back to the 70s on Sunday, behind the front.

• Today: Partly Cloudy. Highs in the mid 70s. Winds: NE 10-15
• Tonight: Partly Cloudy. Lows in the mid 60s. Winds: NE 10-15
• Tomorrow: Partly to Mostly Cloudy. Highs in the upper 70s. Winds: NE 10-15

___

Tropical Update

Meteorologists are tracking a tropical wave located over the eastern Caribbean Sea. Environmental conditions are expected to become more conducive for development when the system reaches the western Caribbean Sea and southwestern Gulf of Mexico late this week and over the weekend.

• Formation chance through 48 hours: Low (0%)
• Formation chance through 7 days: Medium (40%)

We’re watching another tropical wave over the far eastern Atlantic. Environmental conditions are forecast to become a little more conducive for development, and a tropical depression could form in a few days while the disturbance moves over the eastern tropical Atlantic.

• Formation chance through 48 hours: Low (10%)
• Formation chance through 7 days: Medium (40%)

___

Weather & Health

• Pollen: Med-High (Ragweed, Grasses)
• UV Index: 8 (High)
• Air Quality: Good (Code Green)
• Mosquitoes: Very High

Monday will be a weather transition day. We will start with mostly cloudy skies, scattered showers, and isolated storms. Rain will move out and clouds will clear out through the afternoon. Highs will struggle to reach the 80s today and the humidity will be falling throughout the day.

Meteorologists expect a very nice stretch for midweek. It will feel more like fall again with highs in the 70s and lower humidity for Tuesday and Wednesday.

Highs will climb back into the 80s and humidity will start to increase for the end of the week. Another round of showers and storms will move in for the end of the week with an approaching cold front.

• Today: Scattered Storms. Highs in the upper 70s. Winds: W/NE 5-15
• Tonight: A Few Clouds. Lows in the mid 60s. Winds: NE 10-15
• Tomorrow: A Few Clouds. Highs in the mid 70s. Winds: NE 10-15

___

Tropical Update

Meteorologists are tracking a tropical wave located near the Lesser Antilles. The disturbance is expected to move westward and cross the eastern Caribbean Sea through Tuesday with little development.

Environmental conditions are forecast to become more conducive for development while the system moves across the central and western Caribbean Sea during the middle and latter parts of the week, and a tropical depression could form during that time.

• Formation chance through 48 hours: Low (0%)
• Formation chance through 7 days: Medium (40%)

We’re watching another tropical wave along the west coast of Africa. Environmental conditions are forecast to gradually become more favorable for development, and a tropical depression could form in a few days while the disturbance moves slowly over the eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean.

• Formation chance through 48 hours: Low (10%)
• Formation chance through 7 days: Medium (40%)

___

Weather & Health

• Pollen: Med-High (Ragweed, Grasses)
• UV Index: 5 (Medium)
• Air Quality: Good (Code Green)
• Mosquitoes: Extreme

There will be a break from the heat but not the humidity. Highs will dip to the mid 80s today but still feel like the mid 90s. Expect partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered showers and storms, mainly in the afternoon to evening.

Highs will remain in the mid to upper 80s Saturday. It will still be humid, so afternoon heat index values will reach the mid 90s. Expect partly cloudy skies with isolated showers/storms possible.

Highs will warm to near 90 on Sunday with an afternoon heat index near 100. Expect a mix of sun and clouds with showers and storms building in the afternoon. Some storms could be strong to severe.

Labor Day will be a weather transition day. Highs will drop to near 80 with the humidity falling throughout the day. A leftover shower or storm is possible, especially in the morning.

Another round of fall-like weather is set to return for mid-week with highs in the 70s and lower humidity.

Today: Scattered Storms. Highs in the mid 80s. Winds: E 5-10
Tonight: Partly Cloudy. Lows in the low 70s. Winds: E/S 5-10
Tomorrow: Isolated Storms. Highs in the mid 80s. Winds: S 5-10

___

Tropical Update

Tracking a tropical wave over the central Tropical Atlantic. Environmental conditions appear conducive for gradual development of this system. A tropical depression could form by early next week while it moves toward the Lesser Antilles. The system is then forecast to move across the Caribbean Sea next week.

• Formation chance through 48 hours: Low (10%)
• Formation chance through 7 days: Medium (50%)

Watching another tropical wave just west of the coast of Africa. Some slow development of this system is possible through the middle portion of next week as it moves over the Eastern Tropical Atlantic.

• Formation chance through 48 hours: Low (0%)
• Formation chance through 7 days: Low (20%)

___

Weather & Health

Pollen: Med-High (Ragweed, Grasses)
UV Index: 8 (High)
Air Quality: Moderate (Code Yellow)
Mosquitoes: Extreme

It’s expected to be hot and humid again today with highs in the low to mid 90s and an afternoon heat index of 100+. Expect sunshine to start the day with clouds building in the afternoon. Scattered showers and storms will fire up this afternoon to evening. Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible.

A break from the heat but not the humidity. Highs will dip to the mid 80s on Friday but it will still feel like the 90s. Expect partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered showers and storms, mainly in the afternoon to evening.

Highs will remain in the mid to upper 80s for Labor Day weekend. It will still be humid, so afternoon heat index values will reach the mid to upper 90s. Expect partly cloudy skies with scattered showers and storms. Lower rain chances on Saturday, higher chances on Sunday.

Today: Afternoon Storms. Highs in the low 90s. Winds: W/N/E 5-10
Tonight: Partly Cloudy. Lows in the mid 70s. Winds: E 5-10
Tomorrow: Afternoon Storms. Highs in the mid 80s. Winds: E 5-10

___

Tropical Update

Watching a broad area of disorganized showers over the central Tropical Atlantic. Some slow development of this system is possible this weekend into the middle of next week while it moves west to WNW.

• Formation chance through 48 hours: Low (0%)
• Formation chance through 7 days: Low (20%)

___

Weather & Health

Pollen: Med-High (Ragweed, Grasses)
UV Index: 8 (High)
Air Quality: Moderate (Code Yellow)
Mosquitoes: Extreme

Today will be the hottest day of the week with highs in the mid 90s, about 10 degrees above normal for this time of year. The afternoon heat index will reach 100 to 105. Expect a mix of mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies with a slim chance for a shower or storm to pop up.

A heat advisory is in effect for Hampton Roads from noon to 8 p.m., according to the National Weather Service in Wakefield. Weather officials encourage the public to drink plenty of water and stay out of the sun, if possible. They warn against leaving children and pets unattended in vehicles, saying cars will reach “lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.”

Our rain chances will go up for the end of the work week. Scattered showers and storms are possible Thursday and Friday, mainly in the afternoon to evening hours. Highs will dip to near 90 on Thursday and the mid 80s on Friday but it will still be muggy.

Highs will remain in the mid to upper 80s for Labor Day weekend. It will still be humid, so afternoon heat index values will reach the low to mid 90s. Expect partly cloudy skies with scattered showers and storms developing each afternoon.

• Today: Partly Cloudy. Highs in the mid 90s. Winds: SW 5-10
• Tonight: Partly Cloudy. Lows in the mid 70s. Winds: SW 5-10
• Tomorrow: Afternoon Storms. Highs near 90. Winds: W/N/E 5-10

___

Tropical Update

We’re watching two areas in the Atlantic, both there are low chances for development at this time.

___

Weather & Health

• Pollen: Med-High (Ragweed, Grasses)
• UV Index: 8 (High)
• Air Quality: Moderate (Code Yellow)
• Mosquitoes: Extreme