Francine’s track moved east on Tuesday, approaching the New Orleans area and thus on the stronger side of the storm.

But before the storm makes landfall on Wednesday evening, there are likely to be further changes in the forecast. On Tuesday afternoon, the storm was expected to hit near Morgan City, about 85 miles southwest of New Orleans, where Jim Cantore of the Weather Channel is headed.

The severe weather warnings also shifted eastward. A tropical storm warning and flood warning are now in effect for the entire area. A storm surge warning is in effect for the areas near the water, with the exception of the communities of Jefferson and Orleans on Lake Pontchartrain.

“Remember – small changes in direction and intensity can impact what you experience,” tweeted the National Weather Service office in New Orleans.

Authorities warned residents of the New Orleans area that it was now time to make final preparations.

“Weather conditions are expected to worsen starting tonight, so we urge people to have all their preparations in place by this evening,” said meteorologist Megan Williams of the National Weather Service in Slidell.

A tropical storm warning means winds between 39 and 73 mph are possible over the next 36 hours. Williams said tropical storm force winds are expected to begin overnight and into the morning between 2 and 8 a.m.

From Tuesday to Thursday, rainfall of between 15 and 20 centimeters is also expected in New Orleans, and a flood warning is in effect until Thursday morning.

“Rain will be a particular problem because of the high amount of precipitation and the fact that New Orleans is an urban area,” Williams said.

The weather service also warned that rain east of the storm center could cause flooding in areas that don’t normally flood, and soil moisture from previous rains could make the situation worse.

Williams said Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas are also at risk of a 3- to 5-foot storm surge as the storm moves east.

What you should know: