Communities along the U.S. Gulf Coast are bracing for potential impacts as Tropical Storm Francine is expected to strengthen into a hurricane later Tuesday and make landfall in Louisiana the following morning.

The storm is moving north and is expected to make landfall just off the coast of northeastern Mexico and southern Texas on Tuesday evening, according to the National Hurricane Center.

According to weather officials, Francine is likely to reach hurricane strength, “and significant strengthening is expected before the hurricane reaches the coast.”

The storm is expected to bring life-threatening storm surges, heavy rains and hurricane-force winds to much of southern Louisiana and the region this week, according to the U.S. National Weather Service. There is also a possibility of significant flooding.

Tropical storms are also expected in Mexico and South Texas on Tuesday afternoon.

Francine is expected to bring 4 to 8 inches of rainfall, with local amounts of up to 12 inches across much of central and eastern Louisiana and Mississippi through Friday morning.

Officials have also warned that the combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause “normally dry areas near the coast to be inundated by rising waters rushing inland from the coastline”.

Hurricane watches and tropical storm warnings are in effect for areas along the Louisiana coastline and southern Texas, and other areas in the region are under hurricane and storm surge warnings. Flash flood warnings are also in effect for areas of southern Texas.

On Monday, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry signed a declaration of emergency in preparation for the storm, saying the declaration would ensure that parishes in the state (the equivalent of counties in the state) “have the resources to protect the life, safety and welfare of the citizens of Louisiana.”

Several parishes in Louisiana have signed a state of emergency, issuing mandatory evacuation orders for the areas and urging residents to evacuate.

Residents of New Orleans have been urged to make any necessary preparations, such as moving furniture indoors and gathering supplies by Tuesday night, and have been told to shelter indoors during storm conditions. Shelters have also been set up in some areas along Francine’s path.