Francine makes landfall in Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane

Hurricane Francine made landfall on the coast of Louisiana at Category 2 strength Wednesday afternoon.

The center of the storm made land about 30 miles south-southwest of Morgan City, and about 100 miles west-southwest of New Orleans. The National Weather Service said maximum sustained winds had reached 100 mph.

On Wednesday evening, the storm was moving northeast at about 7 mph. It was forecast to move over southeastern Louisiana Wednesday night and over southern Missisippi on Thursday.

Tropical storm and hurricane conditions were already lashing parts of Louisiana's coastline with wind and rain earlier on Wednesday. As much as 12 inches of rain could fall in some areas in Louisiana, Mississippi and parts of Alabama and Florida through Thursday night. The National Weather Service says considerable flash flooding and river flooding are possible.

The storm was forecast to drive storm surge in coastal areas of Louisiana: as much as 5-10 feet between Burns Point and Port Fourchon, 4-6 feet in Lake Pontchartrain and 3-5 feet in Lake Maurepas.

The storm lost intensity over land and became a Category 1 storm a few hours after landfall.

Local officials said the storm had already downed trees and power lines and flooded roads in Morgan City.

More than 120,000 customers in coastal Louisiana parishes were without power Wednesday night, according to poweroutage.us . The National Hurricane Center urged residents to stay in shelter through the night.

Hurricane warnings are in place along the Louisiana coast, extending from Vermilion/Cameron Line eastward to Grand Isle. A hurricane watch is in effect for Lake Maurepas and Lake Pontchartrain, including the metropolitan New Orleans area.

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The hurricane had been churning over the last few days in the Gulf of Mexico as it drifted north toward Louisiana.

Kathryn Bowman of the Louisiana Public Service Commission said the state has 7,500 additional crew members ready to respond to the store.

Ahead of Francine's landfall, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry declared a state of emergency and asked President Joe Biden to declare the hurricane a federal disaster.

“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. This federal assistance is needed to save lives and property, and I look forward to President Biden quickly approving this request,” said Landry.

Landry has also urged those in evacuation zones to seek higher ground before the storm's landfall.

Once Francine makes landfall, its storm surge and winds are expected to subside, but heavy rain could extend far inland.

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"Francine is expected to bring heavy rainfall and the risk of considerable flash and urban flooding across southeastern Louisiana, Mississippi, far southern Alabama and northern Florida through Thursday night. Flash and urban flooding is probable across the Lower Tennessee Valley and Lower Mississippi Valley Wednesday night into Friday morning," wrote Brad Reinhart, National Hurricane Center senior hurricane specialist.