It Is Now Hurricane Francine

Francine officially reached hurricane status shortly after 6:30 pm Tuesday, moving across the Gulf of Mexico and advancing toward the Louisiana coastline. The National Hurricane Center says Francine gained hurricane status about 350 miles southwest of Morgan City, Louisiana. A hurricane warning is in effect along the Louisiana coast from the border with Texas eastward to Grand Isle, about 50 miles south of New Orleans. Storm surge warnings also are in effect in Texas and Louisiana.