JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Francine is strengthening and is now a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 75 mph.
Francine has about 24 hours to strengthen over warm Gulf waters before it encounters wind shear near the Louisiana coast. While it is possible dry air could inhibit strengthening, the forecast from the National Hurricane Center continues to call for steady intensification. It could make landfall as either a strong Cat 1 or weak Cat 2 in Louisiana. Then, one it moves onshore, rapid weakening is expected. It will move north and is not a threat to us along the First Coast.
Besides Francine...
There is a high chance of development in the Eastern and Central Tropical Atlantic. A trough of low pressure over the eastern tropical Atlantic is producing a large but disorganized area of showers and thunderstorms from near the Cabo Verde Islands extending southwestward for several hundred miles. Environmental conditions appear favorable for gradual development of this system, and a tropical depression will likely form later this week.
There is another area in the Central Tropical Atlantic with a low chance of formation. An elongated area of low pressure over the central tropical Atlantic continues to produce disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Environmental conditions aren't great for development, but we'll still watch for a tropical depression trying to form.
The peak of hurricane season is September 10. It is the 60th anniversary of Hurricane Dora, the only hurricane in recorded history to make landfall in Jacksonville.
NOAA's Atlantic Hurricane season outlook calls for an above average hurricane season as sea surface temperatures remain warm and a La Nina is expected to develop.
