"Francine will likely become a hurricane today, with significant strengthening expected before it reaches the coast," the National Hurricane Center said.

The first evacuations have been ordered along the Gulf Coast as Tropical Storm Francine gains strength ahead of an expected hurricane strike by midweek, and a hurricane warning has been posted for Louisiana in anticipation of Francine’s arrival.

The Weather Channel Meteorologist Paul Goodloe reports from New Orleans where he says New Orleans is waking up Wednesday to a tropical storm warning, but also now a hurricane watch