tropical storms

Forecasters say a new tropical storm is expected to form in the Caribbean and will bring heavy rain to Jamaica and the Cayman Islands before strengthening to a hurricane and likely hitting Cuba.

The IRS is giving Louisiana taxpayers more time to file their tax returns and make payments as they recover from Francine.

Officials are ordering mandatory and voluntary evacuations for residents along the Louisiana coast ahead of Tropical Storm Francine, which is forecast to bring heavy rain and storm surge to much of the state this week.

As Hurricane Francine approaches the Louisiana coast, City-Parish officials in Baton Rouge have positioned sand and sandbags at nine different locations in the area.

Francine strengthened into a hurricane Tuesday evening as the storm inched closer to the Louisiana coast.

Some Louisiana parishes are offering sandbags to residents ahead of Francine as the storm strengthens and approaches the state.

Some schools will begin closing Tuesday to give students and staff time to prepare for Francine, which is expected to strengthen in the Gulf of Mexico and make landfall in Louisiana Wednesday.

Gov. Jeff Landry placed all of Louisiana under a state of emergency on Monday as Tropical Storm Francine churns in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Louisiana coast is under a hurricane warning as Francine strengthens and approaches the state.

In a Tuesday evening update, the City of New Orleans said it continues to monitor Hurricane Laura, still predicted to reach land as a Category 3 hurricane…