Francine downgraded to tropical storm hours after making landfall on Louisiana coast: NHC

Tracking the tropics

FOX 13 meteorologist Jim Weber is tracking the very active tropics.

TAMPA, Fla. - Francine weakened to a tropical storm Wednesday night, but it is bringing heavy rain and wind to southern Louisiana and Mississippi hours after making landfall, according to the National Hurricane Center.

READ: Lakeland man accused of shooting neighbor to death in fatal feud: ‘How do you like me now?’

According to the NHC, Francine carries maximum winds of 70 mph as it moves over southern Louisiana. The storm was briefly a Category 2 hurricane as it made landfall Wednesday evening.

The NHC warned of life-threatening storm surge for the Louisiana and Mississippi coastlines.

Louisiana could see as much as 10 inches of rain and up to 10 feet of storm surge at the coast from Francine, according to FOX Weather.

Elsewhere in the tropics, a tropical depression formed Wednesday morning in the Atlantic and two tropical waves continue to offer chances of development.

Tropical Depression Seven is expected to remain over water for many days, according to the NHC, and is expected to become a tropical storm Thursday.

Invest 92-L and Invest 94-L offer low chances for development but non-conducive environmental conditions are expected to limit their development, according to the NHC.

STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: