Hurricane Francine, which made landfall on Wednesday afternoon, has left hundreds of thousands without power and caused extensive flooding across Louisiana.
The storm, which hit Morgan City as a Category 2 hurricane at 17:00 local time (23:00 GMT), brought winds of up to 100 mph (155 km/h), according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
The hurricane’s fierce winds and torrential rains prompted a flash flooding emergency for New Orleans, where between six and eight inches (15-20 cm) of rain fell. As Francine moved north-west of the city, it was downgraded to a tropical storm but still maintained winds of up to 70 mph.
Governor Jeff Landry urged residents to “stay off the roads, stay home and stay put,” as both Louisiana and neighboring Mississippi declared states of emergency.
The NHC forecasts that Francine will continue to weaken as it traverses the state, though it is expected to bring additional rainfall, potential tornadoes, and damaging winds to much of central and eastern Louisiana.
As of Wednesday night, more than 330,000 homes and businesses in Louisiana were without power, according to Poweroutages.us. In Jefferson Parish, part of Greater New Orleans, officials have warned residents to stay indoors due to “severe street flooding,” while the Morgan City Police Department reported “unusual amounts of flooding” and urged people not to drive on affected streets.
The storm has also led to significant disruptions in transportation and communication. All flights in and out of New Orleans airport were canceled, and some mobile phone users reported difficulties contacting emergency services. In response, New Orleans has set up a backup police hotline for emergencies.
A tornado watch has been issued for southeastern Louisiana, southern Mississippi, southwestern Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle until 06:00 local time on Thursday (12:00 BST). Residents in these areas, along with those in eastern Louisiana and western Florida, have been warned of a life-threatening storm surge. The surge could cause water levels to rise up to 10 feet (3 meters) above the coastline, posing a significant risk to life and property.
Several coastal parishes in Louisiana have issued voluntary or mandatory evacuation orders, and many schools and colleges have closed. US oil and gas companies operating in the Gulf of Mexico, including Exxon Mobil and Shell, have evacuated staff and paused some operations. Jefferson Parish has requested residents to conserve water to prevent sewer system backups.
Louisiana, still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, which struck 19 years ago and killed over 1,800 people, has mobilized resources and water rescue teams in anticipation of Francine’s arrival. The state is prepared to call on the National Guard if necessary.
Francine’s arrival follows an unusually quiet August and early September for the Atlantic hurricane season, which typically extends through November. Weather experts had anticipated a busier season, with Francine becoming the sixth named storm of 2024. Historically, this period is peak hurricane season, and the last time no named storms occurred during this period was in 1968.
Sarah Keith-Lucas, a weather presenter noted, “The previous named storm in the region was Ernesto, back on 12 August. The hurricane season typically sees increased activity during this time, but Francine is making its mark after a notably quiet spell.”
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