Tropical Storm Francine is expected to reach hurricane strength Wednesday when it comes ashore in Louisiana/National Hurricane Center

Editor's note: This updates with Fort Pickens at Gulf Islands National Seashore closing, along with parts of the Natchez Trace Parkway in Mississippi.

With Tropical Storm Francine expected to be at hurricane force when it reaches Louisiana on Wednesday, several units of the National Park System closed in advance of the storm.

Both Jean Lafitte National Historical Park in the New Orleans area on the coast and Cane River Creole National Historical Park a bit further inland were closing on Tuesday. The French Quarter Visitor Center for New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park in New Orleans also closed Tuesday.

"Francine is predicted to make landfall on Wednesday afternoon west of New Orleans with tropical storm conditions set to unfold across the city," Accuweather predicted. "The worst of the storm is likely to occur in New Orleans between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. CDT Wednesday, with wind gusts up to 60 mph and more than a month’s worth of rain. Up to 6 feet of storm surge can also cause flooding along Lake Pontchartrain."

Gulf Islands National Seashore on Tuesday afternoon closed the Mississippi District, including Davis Bayou Area, Davis Bayou Campground, and barrier islands (Cat, Horn, Petit Bois, West Petit Bois, and Ship Islands), with campers having to leave the areas by noon. Later Tuesday the park staff also announced closure of the Fort Pickens area in the Florida District.

In Mississippi, staff at the Natchez Trace Parkway planned to close Rocky Springs Campground and the grounds of Mount Locust Inn by sunset Tuesday. Additional locations along the parkway may close during incoming storm, the staff added.

Motorists were advised to avoid traveling Natchez Trace Parkway and to use alternate routes if travel is required during the incoming storms. The entire Natchez Trace Parkway may be impacted with heavy rain and strong winds, the Park Service said. Trees will come down, and park staff will not remove downed trees until it is safe for them to do so, the agency added.

“Safety is our main concern at Natchez Trace Parkway. We want to ensure visitors are aware of the incoming potential risks with Tropical Storm Francine,” said Chief Ranger Prashant Lotwala. “If motorists get stuck or are involved in a crash, the response time may be many hours, especially during active severe weather.”    The National Weather Service said Francine could dump as much as a foot of rain on parts of Louisiana and Mississippi.