The National Hurricane Center (NHC) today issued the following bulletin now that Tropical Storm Francine has formed in the western Gulf of Mexico, about 480 miles south-southwest of Cameron, Louisiana. It's expected to move north-northwest today and shift northeast on Tuesday, approaching the Louisiana and Upper Texas coast by Wednesday. Winds are currently 50 mph, with the storm likely strengthening into a hurricane before making landfall. Dangerous conditions are expected for the Florida Panhandle by Wednesday, including heavy rainfall and potential flash flooding along the I-10 corridor later this week.

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Tropical Storm Francine

• As of 11:00 AM EDT, Tropical Storm Francine has developed over the western Gulf of Mexico, located about 480 miles south-southwest of Cameron, Louisiana. 
• A slow north-northwestward motion is expected for the remainder of today, followed by a faster motion toward the northeast beginning on Tuesday. 
• On the forecast track, Francine is forecast to be just offshore the northern Gulf Coast through Tuesday and approach the Louisiana and Upper Texas coastline on Wednesday. 
• Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph, and gradual intensification is expected over the next day with more significant intensification possible Tuesday night and Wednesday.
• Francine is forecast to become a hurricane before it reaches the northwestern U.S. Gulf Coast on Wednesday. 
• This system will bring dangerous marine and coastal conditions to the Florida Panhandle beginning as early as Wednesday. Rounds of heavy rainfall and abundant tropical moisture associated with Francine could lead to pockets of isolated to scattered flash flooding along the urban I-10 corridor later this week. 

Central Tropical Atlantic (Invest 92L)

• An area of low pressure is producing disorganized shower and thunderstorms over the central tropical Atlantic. 
• Environmental conditions are marginally conducive for development during the next few days, and a tropical depression could form while the system meanders over the central tropical Atlantic. 
• By the middle part of the week, the system is forecast to move west-northwestward at around 10 mph. 
• This system poses no threat to Florida over the next 7-10 days, at least. 
• The NHC is outlooking a medium (60%) chance for development over the next 48 hours, and a medium (60%) chance for development over the next seven days. 

Eastern and Central Tropical Atlantic

• An upper-level disturbance of low pressure, located several hundred miles west-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands, is producing a broad area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms. 
• In a couple of days, this upper-level disturbances is forecast to interact with an approaching tropical wave. 
• Afterward, environmental conditions appear favorable for gradual development of this system, and a tropical depression could form during the middle to latter part of this week while the system moves west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph. 
• This system poses no threat to Florida over the next 10 days, at least. 
• The NHC is outlooking a low (near 0%) chance for development over the next 48 hours, and a medium (60%) chance for development over the next seven days.