Francine slammed into the Louisiana coast as a powerful Category 2 hurricane on Wednesday and was downgraded to a tropical storm on Thursday after 100 mph winds blew roofs off buildings and dozens of residents were trapped inside their homes by rising floodwaters from torrential rains.
The eye of Hurricane Francine made landfall in Terrebonne Parish at 5:00 pm CST, bringing hurricane-force winds to the southern part of the state near Baton Rouge.
Winds raged through the region on Wednesday and Thursday as Francine approached, made landfall and moved inland, with winds of 78 mph and gusts of 76 mph reported in New Orleans, a 97 mph gust reported in Dulac and maximum wind gusts of 105 mph recorded in Eugene Island.
With ferocious winds and heavy rainfall, Tropical Storm Francine has now left more than 400,000 utility customers without power in southeastern Louisiana and Mississippi.
A rare flood emergency was issued Wednesday night in parts of the New Orleans metropolitan area after half an inch of rain fell in just nine minutes and 4.5 inches in three hours, causing life-threatening flooding.
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) recorded its second-wettest September day on record on Wednesday, receiving 7.33 inches of rain. It was also the ninth wettest day citywide since 1946.
Dozens rescued in Lafourche Parish as floodwaters intensify
Relentless rains lashed the region, resulting in numerous reports of flooding and rising water levels trapping residents inside their homes.
More than 20 people, including children, required rescue due to flooding, according to information provided by Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre.
The sheriff's office said deputies responded to a call from a resident who was trapped in a home in Thibodaux after floodwaters cut off evacuation routes.
All residents were safely evacuated and taken to emergency shelters.
Power outage in St. Charles Parish during live updates
Power companies cannot make repairs or attempt to restore power until the situation in the entire area improves.
As of Thursday morning, more than 388,000 customers were without power in Louisiana, and outages were beginning to surge in Mississippi.
About 53,000 power outages were reported in Mississippi as of Thursday morning. Power Out.
St. Charles Parish President Matthew Jewell was giving residents an important update on Facebook Live Wednesday night when the room went dark.
“Are you still here?” Jewel asked.
“We're broadcasting live,” someone replied.
The lights were quickly restored, a reminder that while the worst of the storm's effects were subsiding, the danger remained.
“Backup generators have been brought back up,” Jewell said, “and as you can see, we're still experiencing quite a bit of rain and wind.”
Travel affected, curfew imposed
As Francine pounded the region, travel was significantly affected with flooded roads and cancelled flights.
AP
Officials at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport said the airport would remain open but that all flights in and out of the area were canceled Wednesday, with other flights canceled Thursday morning.
“Each airline will decide when to cancel or resume flights based on local weather conditions.” Airport officials said in an update:“Passengers planning to travel in the next few days are advised to contact their airline directly for the latest flight information before coming to the airport.”
Some parishes also had mandatory curfews in place, which began Wednesday and will continue through at least Thursday morning, including Cameron Parish, which was then experiencing flooding before Hurricane Francine made landfall.
AP
President Joe Biden approved a state of emergency for Louisiana ahead of the hurricane's arrival.
“After declaring a state of emergency, I determined that this storm is too severe for state and local governments to respond effectively,” said Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry. “We need federal assistance to protect lives and property.”
Where will Francine go next?
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Francine is expected to slow and gradually shift northward, a path that will move the center of Tropical Storm Francine into parts of central and northern Mississippi early Friday.
Weather warnings, including wind watches, flood watches and other hazardous weather warnings, have been issued as far north as southern Missouri and as far east as Tennessee as the remnants of the tropical storm move through the South.
Including Francine, eight hurricanes have made landfall in Louisiana since 2000. FOX weather reporter Robert Ray has covered most of them.
“These guys are so tough,” Ray said Wednesday in Houma, Louisiana.
Francine will become a hurricane on September 10, marking the peak of the 2024 hurricane season, when a named storm is most likely to move through the Atlantic basin. As Francine moves northward and eventually dissipates, the NHC is also tracking several other systems in the Atlantic.
Francine is the third hurricane to make landfall on the continental United States during the 2024 season. Hurricane Beryl made landfall in Matagorda, Texas, as a Category 1 storm on July 8. About a month later, Hurricane Debbie strengthened to a Category 1 storm and made landfall near Steinhatchee, Florida, on August 5.
