Hurricane Francine has wreaked havoc across Louisiana, leaving hundreds of thousands without power and resulting in significant flooding as it made landfall along the Gulf Coast.
Making landfall in Morgan City as a Category 2 storm at 5:00 PM local time, Hurricane Francine brought winds reaching 100 mph (155 km/h), according to the National Hurricane Center.
New Orleans is facing a flash flooding emergency, with reported rainfall accumulations of six to eight inches (15-20 cm).
As of late Wednesday, the storm had been downgraded to a tropical storm but retained wind speeds of up to 70 mph as it progressed northwest of New Orleans, the NHC reported.
Both Louisiana and Mississippi declared states of emergency, urging residents to take shelter and prepare for the storm’s impact.
Governor Jeff Landry emphasized at a press conference that residents should “stay off the roads and remain indoors.”
Forecasters predict that Francine will quickly diminish in strength as it moves across the state, but it is expected to bring additional rainfall of 4-8 inches (10-20 cm), potential tornadoes, and damaging winds to central and eastern Louisiana.
Over 330,000 homes and businesses in Louisiana experienced power outages by Wednesday night.
A tornado watch has been issued for parts of southeastern Louisiana, southern Mississippi, southwestern Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle until 6:00 AM local time Thursday.
Officials in Jefferson Parish, part of the Greater New Orleans area, warned residents to stay inside due to “severe street flooding.”
The Morgan City Police Department reported “unusual amounts of flooding” and advised against driving on flooded streets.
Residents from eastern Louisiana, Mississippi, southern Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle have received warnings regarding a life-threatening storm surge, with water levels possibly rising to 10 feet (3 meters) in some areas.
All flights at New Orleans airport were canceled for Wednesday due to the storm’s conditions.
Several coastal parishes in Louisiana are under voluntary or mandatory evacuation orders, and numerous schools and colleges have closed.
Gulf Coast oil and gas companies undertook precautionary measures by evacuating staff and pausing operations in the wake of the hurricane.
Jefferson Parish has urged residents to conserve water to prevent backups in the sewer system.
Emergency services reported mobile phone customers in New Orleans having difficulty reaching 911, and a backup police hotline was established for emergencies.
This storm hits close to the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which resulted in over 1,800 fatalities and extensive destruction across Louisiana.
In anticipation of Francine’s arrival, Louisiana mobilized resources and deployed water rescue teams, with the governor stating they were ready to activate the National Guard if necessary.
Following a quiet August and early September in the Atlantic hurricane season, Hurricane Francine’s development was notable, given predictions for a busier hurricane season earlier this summer.
Hurricane Francine marks the sixth named storm of the 2024 season, reinforcing that peak hurricane activity typically occurs during this period.
Hurricanes are categorized on a scale of one to five, with Category five storms being the most severe, featuring winds exceeding 157 mph (250 km/h).
Last year saw a total of 19 named storms during the hurricane season.
