Article first published: Wednesday, Sep. 11, 2024, 5 a.m. ET
Article last updated: Wednesday, Sep. 11, 2024, 8 a.m. ET
The National Hurricane Center's 8 am Wednesday advisory reported that Category 1 Hurricane Francine is 195 miles southwest of Morgan City Louisiana and 260 miles east-northeast of Mouth of the Rio Grande, with maximum sustained wind of 90 mph. It’s moving 12 mph to the northeast.
"After landfall, the center is expected to move northward across Mississippi on Thursday and Thursday night." forecasters wrote. "Francine is expected to weaken quickly after it moves inland."
YESTERDAY (Tuesday):
Yesterday, Francine became a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 90 mph after intensifying from a tropical storm.
Forecasters alert: a hurricane warning in effect for eastward along the Louisiana coast.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for:
- Cameron Louisiana to the Mississippi/Alabama Border
- Vermilion Bay
- Lake Maurepas
- Lake Pontchartrain
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:
- The Louisiana coast from Vermilion/Cameron Line eastward to Grand Isle
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for:
- Mississippi/Alabama Border to the Alabama/Florida Border
- Mobile Bay
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for:
- Lake Maurepas and Lake Pontchartrain, including metropolitan New Orleans
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:
- Louisiana coast east of Sabine Pass to Vermilion/Cameron Line
- East of Grand Isle Louisiana to the Alabama/Florida border
- Lake Maurepas and Lake Pontchartrain, including metropolitan New Orleans
A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, during the next 36 hours in the indicated locations. A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours.
For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov. This is a life-threatening situation. Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions. Promptly follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials.
A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area, in this case within 24 hours. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.
A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area, in this case within 24 hours.
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area, in this case within 24 hours.
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND:
WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected within the hurricane warning area this afternoon, with tropical storm conditions arriving in the warning area this morning. Hurricane conditions are possible in the hurricane watch area this afternoon and tonight.
Tropical storm conditions are expected in the warning area along the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama today and tonight.
RAINFALL: Francine is expected to bring storm total rainfall of 4 to 8 inches, with local amounts to 12 inches across southeastern Louisiana, Mississippi, far southern Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle through Thursday night. This rainfall could lead to considerable flash and urban flooding.
For a complete depiction of forecast rainfall associated with Francine, please see the National Weather Service Storm Total Rainfall Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at1.shtml? Rainqpf and the Flash Flood Risk graphic at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at1.shtml? Ero.
STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...
Intracoastal City, LA to Port Fourchon, LA...5-10 ft Vermilion Bay...5-10 ft Port Fourchon, LA to Mouth of the Mississippi River, LA...4-7 ft Mouth of the Pearl River, LA to Ocean Springs, MS...4-6 ft Lake Pontchartrain...4-6 ft Ocean Springs, MS to MS/AL Border...3-5 ft Cameron, LA to Intracoastal City, LA...3-5 ft Lake Maurepas...3-5 ft
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. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances. Storm surge is not expected to pose a threat to the risk reduction system levees. However, there may be some overtopping of local levees.
For a complete depiction of areas at risk of storm surge inundation, please see the National Weather Service Peak Storm Surge Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at1.shtml? PeakSurge.
TORNADOES: A few tornadoes are possible today and tonight across parts of southeast Louisiana, southern Mississippi, southern Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle.
SURF: Swells generated by Francine are affecting much of the northern and northwestern Gulf Coast, likely causing life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
Source: National Hurricane Center
This article was generated by the Sun Herald Bot, artificial intelligence software that analyzes information from the National Hurricane Center and applies it to templates created by journalists in the newsroom. We are experimenting with this and other new ways of providing more useful content to our readers and subscribers. You can report errors or bugs to mcclatchybot@mcclatchy.com . Full hurricane coverage at sunherald.com/news/weather-news/
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