Francine is on the verge of hurricane intensity with winds of 65 mph. Continued strengthening to hurricane force is likely tonight with the potential that it could reach CAT2 status....100 mph before landfall.
It looks like landfall will be a little earlier during the afternoon Wednesday with a rapid motion inland into Mississippi Thursday.
The most likely landfall point is eastern Cameron Parish to western Vermilion Parish. Locally, this will likely generate wind gusts to 45 mph from Orange to Sabine Pass....30-40 mph gusts further to the northwest in the Beaumont area. Rainfall should not be heavy with 1-3 inches near the coast to around an inch in the Rayburn/Toledo Bend areas.