Hurricane Francine makes landfall as in the Parish of Terrebonne in southern Louisiana early Wednesday night. According to the National Hurricane Center, maximum sustained winds are estimated to be almost 100 mph, making Francine a category 2 hurricane. Sept. 11, 2024.
BATON ROUGE, La. – Hurricane Francine barreled into southern Louisiana on Wednesday evening as a category 2 storm, making landfall with destructive 100 mph winds and dangerous storm surge along the Bayou state’s coastline.
The eye of Francine moved onshore at 5 p.m. CT in Terrebonne Parish continuing to bring hurricane-force winds inland into the southern region of the state near Baton Rouge. Minutes after landfall, power outages spiked in Louisiana to more than 42,500 without power.
Hurricane Francine landfall on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024.
As stormy conditions arrived Wednesday afternoon, Louisiana officials urged residents to stay put until first responders could safely reach them if needed. Conditions created by Francine also brought the threat of tornadoes and severe thunderstorms, which will continue into Wednesday night and early Thursday.
LOUISIANA RESIDENTS SCRAMBLE FOR SUPPLIES AHEAD OF HURRICANE FRANCINE
(FOX Weather)
As of the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Francine is located about 30 miles southwest of Morgan City, Louisiana, or about 85 miles southwest of New Orleans, and moving northeast at about 17 mph. Maximum sustained winds are near 100 mph with higher gusts.
Power outages continued to creep up on Wednesday, across Louisiana, according to Poweroutage.us. These outages will continue to rise as Francine moves farther north, impacting southeast Louisiana and Alabama.
(FOX Weather)
By Wednesday around 8 p.m., hurricane-strength winds could reach western Metro New Orleans.
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Entering the eyewall of Francine in southeastern Louisiana on Sept. 11, 2024 ( )
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Floodwater fills a neighborhood as Hurricane Francine moves in on September 11, 2024 in Dulac, Louisiana. Hurricane Francine maintains its Category 1 classification and is projected to make landfall along the Louisiana coast later this afternoon. Weather analysts are predicting 90mph winds near the eye and a strong storm surge along the coast. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) ( )
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Porkchop Singleton, 78, prepares his generator ahead of Hurricane Francine on September 11, 2024 in Morgan City, Louisiana. (Brandon Bell)
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Lucius Rhone fishes as a storm rolls through the coast ahead of Hurricane Francine on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024 in Galveston. (Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle)
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Hurricane Francine debris in Cameron Parish, Louisiana on Sept. 11, 2024. (Louisiana DOT)
Francine halts New Orleans travel with emergency responders standing by
Conditions deteriorated enough by Wednesday afternoon that all flights into and out of New Orleans International Airport were canceled.
Ahead of Francine’s arrival, President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration for the Bayou State.
“After declaring a state of emergency, we have now determined that this storm is of such severity that an effective response is beyond the capabilities of the state and local governments,” Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said. “This federal assistance is needed to save lives and property.”
FOX Weather Storm Chaser Vince Waelti captured images of water beginning to spill across a coastal road in Dulac, Louisiana. Sept. 11, 2024.
Some parishes issued mandatory curfews from Wednesday afternoon until sunrise on Thursday, including Cameron Parish where flooding was already happening prior to landfall.
Heavy rain and flooding were occurring in New Orleans on Wednesday evening, where FOX Weather Meteorologist Bob Van Dillion reported businesses along Bourbon Street remained open.
(FOX Weather)
Where is Francine headed next?
The NHC said Francine is expected to take a gradual turn toward the north, bringing the center of Francine across southeastern Louisiana and southwestern and central Mississippi on Thursday.
(FOX Weather)
Francine became a hurricane on Sept. 10, marking the peak of the 2024 hurricane season when a named storm is most likely to be roaming the Atlantic Basin. As Francine heads north and eventually dissipates, the NHC is also tracking several other systems in the Atlantic.