Hurricane Francine upgraded to a Category 2 storm just before landfall near MS Coast

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Hurricane Francine strengthened Wednesday afternoon to a Category 2 storm just before it made landfall on the Louisiana coast, the National Hurricane Center said.

The storm struck 30 miles south of Morgan City, Louisiana with maximum winds of 100 miles per hour.

Francine strengthened to forecasters surprise. Forecasters initially predicted Francine would strike as a Category 2, then downgraded those predictions on Tuesday because of strong western wind shear expected to stop Francine from strengthening.

But the storm defied those predictions by 4 p.m. Wednesday, and is now lashing Louisiana with 96 to 110 mile per hour winds.

The latest forecast also offered some relief: Francine has sped up since Wednesday morning and is expected to move fast inland, then weaken quickly as it heads north.

Hurricane-force winds extend 40 miles from Francine’s center. Tropical storm-force winds extend 140 miles from the eye wall.

The latest forecast did not change warnings on the Mississippi Coast , which forecasters said would face flash flooding, possible tornadoes and up to 6 feet of storm surge. The region is still under a storm surge and tropical storm warnings. Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties are also under a tornado watch through 11 p.m.

Tropical storm-force winds could arrive on the Coast by 8 p.m. Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center said.

Francine will move through southeastern Louisiana overnight then head for southwest and central Mississippi , where forecasters say it will weaken fast.