Tropical Storm Francine Expected To Become A Hurricane Ahead Of Louisiana Strikebr br Tropical Storm Francine is forecast to gain strength and become a hurricane in the western Gulf of Mexico ahead of a likely landfall in Louisiana Wednesday. Storm surge, flooding rainfall, damaging winds and tornadoes will impact Louisiana and other parts of the Gulf Coast and South.br br H​ere's the latest status of this system: Francine is centered approximately 400 miles south-southwest of Cameron, Louisiana, and is moving slowly north-northwest. Maximum sustained winds were 65 mph as of 7 a.m. CDT, making Francine a strong tropical storm.br br M​ost of the rain from this system is still offshore, but some bands have wrapped into parts of South Texas and the northern Gulf Coast.