Hurricane Francine to Hit Louisiana Wednesday Bringing Storm Surge, High Winds, and Flooding

Hurricane Francine is approaching Louisiana and is expected to make landfall late Wednesday, bringing significant storm surge, high winds, and heavy rainfall. As a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph, Francine is forecast to intensify to Category 2 before landfall. Areas from southern Louisiana to Mississippi and Alabama are under storm surge and hurricane warnings, while tropical storm warnings extend as far as the Florida Panhandle.

The greatest threats include storm surges of 5 to 10 feet, widespread flooding, and damaging winds. Flooding from heavy rainfall may impact Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle through Thursday, with some areas receiving up to 12 inches of rain. Additionally, the storm could trigger isolated tornadoes near its landfall. Francine’s remnants may linger in the Southeast and cause localized flooding through the weekend, as far north as the Ohio and Tennessee valleys.

Residents in the affected areas should monitor local authorities for evacuation instructions and prepare for extended power outages due to wind damage and flooding.