Hurricane Francine strengthened overnight and had 90 mph winds early Wednesday as it approached landfall in Louisiana.

The National Hurricane Center expects Francine, the fourth hurricane of 2024 in the Atlantic, to make landfall this afternoon or this evening along the central Louisiana coast, then move inland just west of New Orleans.

Forecasters said there’s the potential for Francine to get a little stronger before it moves onshore today, and the intensity forecast shows the storm peaking with 100 mph winds, which is Category 2 strength.

The hurricane center said life-threatening storm surge and hurricane-force winds will begin in Louisiana later today. The region could be facing 5 to 10 feet of storm surge, flooding rain and winds that will likely take down trees and power lines. Tornadoes will also be possible as Francine’s rain bands move onshore.

As of 4 a.m. CDT Wednesday, the center of Hurricane Francine was located about 245 miles southwest of Morgan City, La., and was tracking to the northeast at 10 mph.

Francine had 90 mph winds, which makes it a higher-end Category 1 hurricane. Category 2 winds begin at 96 mph.

Alabama’s coastal areas remained under a tropical storm warning and a storm surge watch on Wednesday. Alabama could be facing 2 to 4 feet of storm surge, 4 to 8 inches of rain, gusty winds, rip currents, coastal flooding and tornadoes as Francine moves closer.

Francine will also spread the threat of gusty winds, heavy rain and tornadoes farther inland on Thursday into Friday.

Here are the coastal watches and warnings in effect for Francine:

* A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for Cameron, La., to the Mississippi/Alabama Border; Vermilion Bay; Lake Maurepas and Lake Pontchartrain.

* A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the Louisiana coast from Vermilion/Cameron Line eastward to Grand Isle.

* A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for the Mississippi/Alabama Border to the Alabama/Florida Border and Mobile Bay.

* A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Lake Maurepas and Lake Pontchartrain, including metropolitan New Orleans.

* A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Louisiana coast east of Sabine Pass to Vermilion/Cameron Line, from east of Grand Isle Louisiana to the Alabama/Florida border, Lake Maurepas and Lake Pontchartrain, including metropolitan New Orleans.