Tropical Storm Francine churned in the Gulf of Mexico with increasing strength and is expected to reach hurricane status on Tuesday before reaching landfall in Louisiana. A storm surge warning was in effect for an area stretching from just east of Houston to the mouth of the Mississippi River south of New Orleans. People lined up Monday in south Louisiana to buy gas and essentials. Some also filled sandbags to protect homes. Francine is the sixth named storm of the hurricane season and is expected to crash ashore Wednesday afternoon on Louisiana's coast. Rains from Francine also drenched parts of northeast Mexico on Monday, causing flooding and closing schools.
