BATON ROUGE, La. – Hurricane Francine has strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to make landfall in Louisiana on Wednesday. The storm is expected to bring significant flooding, dangerous storm surge and damaging winds to the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Several parishes in Louisiana have issued mandatory evacuation orders as state and local leaders urged people to prepare for the storm’s wrath.

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Preparations for Hurricane Francine in full swing in Texas and Louisiana

Heavy rains are hitting South Texas as the storm intensifies off the coast Tuesday. Eventually, that rain will move north to places like Galveston, Houston and Beaumont, where a few inches of rain could cause flash flooding.

As Francine approaches the coasts of Texas and Louisiana, Shell has taken precautionary measures by suspending drilling activities on the Perdido and Whale offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, both of which lie directly in the path of the storm.

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FILE – At approximately 8,000 feet deep, Shell’s Perdido offshore drilling and production platform is the deepest offshore platform in the world.

(Gary Tramontina/Corbis/Getty Images)

Louisiana will bear the brunt of this storm, with the state likely to receive up to 10 inches of rain, hurricane-force winds and life-threatening storm surges of up to 10 feet along the coast.

Anthony Bartie, chairman of the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury, declared a state of emergency Monday in advance of Francine’s arrival in Louisiana. The declaration activates emergency response plans and protocols throughout the parish, including in cities such as DeQuincy, Iowa, Lake Charles, Sulphur, Vinton and Westlake.

Jared Maze, director of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness for Calcasieu, urged residents to be prepared, especially those living in low-lying areas or mobile homes. He encouraged them to be prepared to evacuate if necessary. Sandbag stations have also been set up around the state.

Evacuation orders were issued for southern portions of Cameron Parish, including all areas south of the Kelso Bayou Bridge. Parish officials are also urging people who do not live in those communities, but in flood-prone areas, to consider evacuating.

All public schools in New Orleans will be closed early Tuesday as a precaution for the likely impact of Hurricane Francine. Schools will remain closed Wednesday and Thursday to assess the storm’s impact.

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In Baton Rouge, Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome said she is in constant contact with the National Weather Service and local and state officials as preparations are made for Francine’s landfall.

“This storm is expected to bring heavy rain, gusty winds and possibly a few tornadoes,” she said. “I want to encourage everyone to start preparing now.”

Hurricane Francine, a tropical storm, is coming at the height of the Atlantic hurricane season. Forecasters are also watching two other areas for possible development this week.

What is the latest on Hurricane Francine?

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According to the NHC’s latest advisory, Francine is located about 135 miles (217 kilometers) east of the mouth of the Rio Grande, or about 360 miles (588 kilometers) southwest of Morgan City, Louisiana.

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Where are the warnings and advisories in effect for Hurricane Francine?

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A hurricane threatens the Gulf Coast of the United States. Warnings have been issued for all areas from Texas to Alabama.

The NHC has issued a hurricane warning for the Louisiana coast from Cameron to Grand Isle, including Baton Rouge. Tropical storm and storm surge warnings now extend from far eastern Texas to Mississippi.

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A hurricane warning is in effect for Lake Maurepas, Lake Pontchartrain and metropolitan New Orleans.

Where is Hurricane Francine going?

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According to the NHC, Hurricane Francine is expected to remain just off the northern Gulf Coast of Mexico through Tuesday, before reaching the Louisiana coastline and upper Texas on Wednesday.

Hurricane Francine is expected to strengthen on Wednesday.

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The Texas Gulf Coast will experience heavy rain and storm surge as the storm intensifies and moves along the coast.

Places like Galveston, Houston and Beaumont are facing several inches of rain, which could cause flash flooding. Louisiana can expect 2-3 inches of rain, hurricane force winds and life-threatening storm surges.