AT 5:00 AM EDT, THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM FRANCINE WAS CENTERED NEAR LATITUDE 24.4° NORTH AND LONGITUDE 96.2° WEST OR ABOUT 120 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF THE MOUTH OF THE RIO GRANDE.

FRANEINE IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST NEAR 5 MILES PER HOUR. A SLOW NORTH-NORTHWESTWARD MOTION IS EXPECTED THROUGH THIS MORNING FOLLOWED BY A TURN TOWARD THE NORTHEAST WITH AN INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED. ON THE FORECAST TRACK FRANCINE IS ANTICIPATED TO BE JUST OFFSHORE OF THE COAST OF NORTHEASTERN MEXICO AND SOUTHERN TEXAS THROUGH TODAY AND MAKE LANDFALL IN LOUISIANA ON WEDNESDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 65 MILES PER HOUR WITH HIGHER GUSTS. FRANCINE IS LIKELY TO BECOME A HURRICANE TODAY WITH SIGNIFICANT STRENGTHENNGEXPECTED BEFORE IT REACHES THE COAST.