A tropical depression has formed in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and two other nascent tropical systems are making their way westward.

Francine will likely batter Louisiana in the early afternoon hours Wednesday as a hurricane, according to the National Weather Service. The storm has continued to gain momentum as it slithers along the Gulf Coast.

Francine was a little more than 100 miles away from the South Texas coast, but the storm's track is keeping it well offshore.

As Tropical Storm Francine barreled toward the Louisiana coast Tuesday, residents made last-minute preparations, including filling sandbags, buying gasoline and stocking up on necessities to face

Hurricane center forecasters say Tropical Storm Francine is continuing to strengthen and is expected to become a hurricane later Tuesday as it moves across warm Gulf waters off the Texas and Louisiana coastlines.

Tropical Storm Francine's projected path shows it will likely miss Houston, but local agencies are still preparing for the potential arrival of severe weather.