Hurricane Francine officially formed Tuesday evening. It is expected to maintain its hurricane status through Wednesday morning. September 10, 2024.
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana. – Hurricane Francine has strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to make landfall in Louisiana on Wednesday. The storm is expected to bring significant flooding, a dangerous storm surge and destructive winds to the U.S. Gulf Coast.
Several Louisiana parishes have issued mandatory evacuation orders, while state and local officials have urged residents to prepare for the storm’s violence.
How to watch FOX WEATHER
Francine’s latest forecast cone.
(FOX Weather)
Preparations for Hurricane Francine underway in Texas and Louisiana
Heavy rains are hitting South Texas as the storm strengthens offshore Tuesday. Eventually, the rain will move north to places like Galveston, Houston and Beaumont, where an inch or two of rain could trigger flash flooding.
As Francine approached the coast of Texas and Louisiana, Shell took precautionary measures and paused drilling on its Perdido and Whale offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico – both of which are directly in the path of the storm.
How Francone’s movement through the oil-rich Gulf of Mexico could affect gas prices
FILE – At a depth of about 2,440 meters, Shell’s Perdido offshore drilling and production platform is the deepest offshore drilling rig in the world.
(Gary Tramontina/Corbis/Getty Images)
Louisiana will bear the brunt of this storm. The state could see up to 10 inches of rain, damaging hurricane-force winds, and a life-threatening storm surge of up to 10 feet on the coast.
Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Presiding Judge Anthony Bartie issued an emergency declaration Monday ahead of Francine’s arrival in Louisiana. The declaration activates emergency plans and protocols throughout the parish, including cities such as DeQuincy, Iowa, Lake Charles, Sulphur, Vinton and Westlake.
Jared Maze, Calcasieu’s director of homeland security and emergency preparedness, urged residents to prepare, especially those living in low-lying areas or in mobile homes. He encouraged them to prepare to evacuate if necessary. Sandbagging stations have also been set up across the state.
National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan reports on FOX Weather with the latest developments on Francine as dry air has temporarily prevented the storm from intensifying. However, there is still a chance that Francine could become a hurricane later Tuesday.
Evacuation orders have been issued for southern parts of Cameron Parish, including all areas south of the Kelso Bayou Bridge. Parish officials are also urging people who do not live in those parishes but in flood-prone areas to consider evacuating.
All public schools in New Orleans will dismiss students early on Tuesday as a precautionary measure ahead of the likely arrival of Hurricane Francine. Schools will be closed Wednesday and Thursday to assess the storm’s impact.
FRANCINE TRACKER: FORECAST CONES, SPAGHETTI MODELS, LIVE CONDITIONS AND MORE
In Baton Rouge, Mayor Sharon Weston Broome said she was in constant contact with the National Weather Service and local and state authorities as preparations were made for Francine’s landfall.
“This storm is expected to bring heavy rains, gusty to damaging winds and possibly some tornadoes,” she said. “I would encourage everyone to start preparing now.”
Hurricane Francine, a tropical storm, is coming at the height of the Atlantic hurricane season. Meteorologists are also monitoring two other areas this week for potential hurricane development.
What’s new about Hurricane Francine?
(FOX Weather)
According to the NHC’s latest warning, Francine is located about 135 miles (217 kilometers) east of the mouth of the Rio Grande, or about 360 miles (580 kilometers) southwest of Morgan City, Louisiana.
Atlantic hurricane season reaches its peak on September 10
Where are watches and warnings in effect for Hurricane Francine?
Current warnings for Hurricane Francine.
A hurricane warning is looming over the US Gulf Coast; warnings are in effect from Texas to Alabama.
The NHC has issued a hurricane warning for the Louisiana coast from Cameron to Grand Isle, which includes Baton Rouge. Tropical storm and storm surge warnings are now in effect from far eastern Texas to Mississippi.
WHAT TO DO IF HURRICANE OR TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES ARE ISSUED FOR YOUR CITY?
A hurricane warning has been issued for Lake Maurepas, Lake Pontchartrain and the New Orleans metropolitan area.
Where is Hurricane Francine heading?
(FOX Weather)
According to the NHC, Hurricane Francine is expected to remain just off the coast of Mexico’s northern Gulf Coast through Tuesday and then approach the coast of Louisiana and northern Texas on Wednesday.
Hurricane Francine is expected to continue to intensify before it makes landfall on Wednesday.
DOWNLOAD THE FREE FOX WEATHER APP
Rain forecast for Francine.
(FOX Weather)
The Texas Gulf Coast will experience heavy rainfall and storm surge as the storm increases in intensity and moves along the coast.
Places like Galveston, Houston and Beaumont are expected to see several inches of rain, which could cause flash flooding. Louisiana is expected to see 5 to 8 inches of rain, hurricane-force winds and life-threatening storm surges.
