Storm Francine Is Set to Strike Louisiana Wednesday.

Tropical Storm Francine is expected to become a hurricane before hitting Louisiana on Wednesday. The storm is predicted to graze Morgan City and Baton Rouge, with potential impacts reaching as far as New Orleans. While some offshore oil platforms have been closed, major gas export plants are likely to be unaffected. The storm may cause coastal flooding and flash flooding in southeastern Louisiana, with a storm surge of up to 10 feet. Although earlier forecasts predicted Francine to be a Category 2 hurricane, it is now expected to be a Category 1 storm with top winds of 90 mph. The storm is estimated to cause $2.7 billion in damage and losses, but this could decrease if it weakens before landfall. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has declared a state of emergency, and Chevron, Exxon Mobil, and Shell are among the companies taking precautions by evacuating workers and suspending drilling activities. The storm is also expected to impact Gulf Coast refineries. The US Coast Guard has issued warnings for rough weather in Texas ports, and emergency evacuations have begun in Louisiana's Port Fourchon. While the storm will bring much-needed water to the Mississippi River, it will also make field work harder and delay harvests. The National Hurricane Center is monitoring two other disturbances in the central Atlantic Ocean. [Extracted from the article]