Hurricane Francine makes landfall in Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane

Hurricane Francine grew to Category 2 strength with 100 mph winds and made landfall on the Louisiana coast Wednesday while the National Hurricane Center began advisories on a new tropical depression and tracked three more Atlantic systems. As of the hurricane center’s 6 p. m. advisory, the center of Francine had moved over the Parish of Terrebonne. By 8 p.

m. , the system had dropped back to Category 1 strength with 85 mph sustained winds, and the center had moved inland about 20 miles east-southeast of Morgan City, Louisiana, and 55 miles west-southwest of New Orleans moving northeast at 17 mph. Hurricane-force winds extend up to 40 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend out 140 miles. The storm was forecast to cross southeastern Louisiana on Wednesday night before moving through Mississippi on Thursday and Thursday night. “Rapid weakening is expected, and the system is forecast to become post-tropical Thursday night or Friday,” the hurricane center said.

A Weatherflow observation in Dulac recently reported a sustained wind of 68 mph and a peak gust of 97 mph. A gust to 59 mph was recently measured in Patterson. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry urged residents, who have often faced threats of hurricanes, to “stay off the roads, stay home and stay put. ” Since the mid-19th century, 57 hurricanes have tracked over or made landfall in Louisiana, according to The Weather Channel.

Among them are some of the strongest, costliest and deadliest storms in U. S. history. “I know that we have been through a lot here in Louisiana, but I urge everyone to take the necessary preparations,” Landry said. The governor said the Louisiana National Guard was being sent to parishes that could be impacted by Francine.

They have food, water, nearly 400 high-water vehicles, about 100 boats and 50 helicopters to respond to the storm, including possible search-and-rescue operations. President Joe Biden granted an emergency declaration that will help Louisiana secure federal money and logistical assistance from partners such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Both Landry and Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves also declared states of emergency, authorizing them to quickly free up resources for disaster assistance. Francine is expected to bring total rainfall of 4 to 8 inches, with local amounts to 12 inches, into Friday morning.

This rainfall could lead to the risk of considerable flash and urban flooding. The biggest storm surge threat could bring 5- to 10-foot-higher levels than normal in Louisiana from the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge to Port Fourchon and Vermilion Bay, with lower levels to the east and west. “The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the east of the landfall location, where the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves,” the hurricane center stated. “Storm surge is not expected to pose a threat to the risk reduction system levees. However, there may be some overtopping of local levees.