Tropical Storm Francine strengthened to a hurricane as it makes its way toward the U.S. Gulf Coast.
The storm started as a disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico and strengthened into hurricane Tuesday evening. It's expected to make landfall in Louisiana on Wednesday.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had predicted above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin this year, forecasting 17 to 25 total named storms — which is defined as having winds of 39 mph or higher — with eight to 13 forecast to become hurricanes. The above-normal activity was forecast because of near-record warm ocean temperatures in the Atlantic, La Niña conditions in the Pacific, reduced Atlantic trade winds and less wind shear.
