The storm was packing sustained winds of 75 miles (120 kilometers) per hour, and was about 150 miles east of the mouth of the Rio Grande, according to an NHC advisory.
"Francine has about 24 (hours) to strengthen over warm water before it encounters strong shear near the Louisiana coast," the NHC said.
A hurricane warning was in place for part of the Louisiana coast, and the NHC warned the storm could intensify rapidly over the Gulf of Mexico -- but was due to weaken quickly once it made landfall.
The NHC forecast life-threatening storm surge across the Louisiana and Mississippi coastlines, as well as heavy rainfall and flooding across the Gulf coast to the Florida panhandle by Thursday.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry requested that US President Joe Biden declare a state of emergency.
"This federal assistance is needed to save lives and property, and I look forward to President Biden quickly approving this request," he said.
Mississippi's governor Tate Reeves said he had declared a state of emergency there.
The Louisiana National Guard said on X that it was mobilizing helicopters, boats and supplies for evacuations and search and rescue.
Louisiana was the site of one of the most devastating hurricanes in US history, Hurricane Katrina, which killed more than 1,800 people in 2005.
The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which began on June 1 and will end on November 30, was expected to be busy but has seen just three hurricanes so far, reportedly puzzling scientists.
Hurricane Beryl, a Category 5 storm, was the most significant, reportedly killing dozens when it tore through the Caribbean before hitting the southern US states of Texas and Louisiana.
Scientists say climate change likely plays a role in the rapid intensification of storms because there is more energy in a warmer ocean for them to feed on.
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