According to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Francine strengthened and became more organized overnight and is expected to strengthen further over the Gulf of Mexico before making landfall in Louisiana later today.

The forecasts and weather warnings have not changed since Tuesday night, but the storm is better organized and has clearer visibility, according to a forecast call from the National Hurricane Center in Miami at 4 a.m.

Francine’s maximum sustained winds were 90 mph, and it was moving toward the northeast at about 10 mph. It is expected to gain speed.

Some additional strengthening is expected during the day on Wednesday. Francine’s maximum sustained winds are expected to reach 100 mph, making it a Category 2 storm. However, some wind shear will occur, pushing the storm northeast and preventing further strengthening near landfall.

Little change was reported by NHC forecasters in a 7 a.m. discussion. The storm’s wind speeds had not changed and its forecast path remained largely the same.

Hurricane force winds reached a maximum of 40 mph (64 km/h) from the center and tropical storm force winds reached a maximum of 115 mph (185 km).

Francine is expected to make landfall somewhere near Morgan City, according to a discussion posted at 4 a.m. by the National Weather Service in Slidell. But once it makes landfall, it is expected to weaken rapidly.

The storm is expected to gradually turn northward once it makes landfall, with the center moving over eastern Louisiana and Mississippi.

Francine is forecast to bring devastating wind gusts, life-threatening storm surge, and 4-8 inches of rainfall to southeastern Louisiana, potentially causing flash flooding.

Storm surge from Intracoastal City to Port Fourchon and Vermilion Bay is expected to reach 5-10 feet. From Port Fourchon to the mouth of the Mississippi River, storm surge is expected to reach 4-7 feet.

The Baton Rouge and Lafayette areas are under a hurricane watch, and the New Orleans area is under a hurricane watch. All of southeastern Louisiana is under a flood watch.

A few tornadoes are possible in parts of southeastern Louisiana on Wednesday.