Hurricane Francine Threatens Louisiana with Life-Threatening Storm Surge and Damaging Winds

Hurricane Francine poses a severe threat to Louisiana with dangerous storm surges and destructive winds.

Hurricane Francine Threatens Louisiana with Life-Threatening Storm Surge and Damaging Winds

 

BATON ROUGE, La. — Hurricane Francine intensified Tuesday evening as it barreled toward the Louisiana coast, gaining strength over the unusually warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. With maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph), the Category 1 hurricane is expected to make landfall on Wednesday, possibly escalating to a Category 2 storm with winds between 96 and 110 mph (155 to 175 kph). Coastal residents scrambled to prepare for what could be a devastating impact, securing homes, filling sandbags, and stocking up on essential supplies.

 

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry urged residents in the storm’s path to complete their preparations within 24 hours. “Batten down all the hatches,” Landry warned at midday, while Francine was still classified as a tropical storm. As the storm rapidly strengthened, residents in low-lying areas faced the daunting prospect of life-threatening storm surges and extensive flooding.

 

Francine, the sixth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, was centered 350 miles (560 kilometers) southwest of Morgan City, Louisiana, by Tuesday evening, moving northeast at 10 mph (17 kph). A hurricane warning was in effect for the Louisiana coast from Cameron to Grand Isle, while a storm surge warning stretched from the Mississippi-Alabama border to the Alabama-Florida border, raising concerns of severe flooding.

 

Experts point to the Gulf’s exceptionally warm waters as a critical factor in Francine’s rapid intensification. Water temperatures in the storm's path are around 87 degrees Fahrenheit (31 degrees Celsius), with the Gulf’s ocean heat content at a record high for this time of year. “The ocean heat content averaged over the entire Gulf is the highest it’s been on record for the date,” said Brian McNoldy, a senior research associate at the University of Miami.

 

The warm waters have allowed Francine to strengthen quickly, and forecasters expect the storm to unleash dangerous winds and a potentially catastrophic storm surge along Louisiana's vulnerable coastline. Some areas could see storm surge levels as high as 10 feet (3 meters), especially from Cameron to Port Fourchon and Vermilion Bay.

 

In New Orleans, preparations were in full swing as residents lined up for sandbags and stocked up on essential supplies. Roxanne Riley, a 42-year-old resident, was among those gathering food and water at a local Walmart. She planned to shelter at a family member’s home on higher ground but remained prepared to evacuate if the situation worsened.

 

“It’s very frustrating every time a storm comes in,” Riley said. “I’ll just make sure my car is ready to roll in case I need to go by tomorrow.”

 

Wayne Grant, 33, who moved to New Orleans last year, is experiencing his first major hurricane in the city. His apartment flooded during a storm last year, and he’s taking no chances this time around. “It was like a kick in the face,” Grant said. “We’ve been trying to stay up on the weather ever since.”

 

For some, the storm evokes memories of past hurricanes. Coy Verdin, a resident of Dulac in Terrebonne Parish, is still recovering from the devastation wrought by Hurricane Ida in 2021. Having just finished rebuilding his home, Verdin is now preparing to evacuate to his daughter’s house in Thibodaux.

 

“We had to gut the whole house,” Verdin recalled. Despite the challenges, he’s determined to stay in his coastal home for as long as possible. “As long as I can. It’s getting rough, though,” he said.

 

Governor Landry confirmed that the Louisiana National Guard is fully mobilized, deploying food, water, high-water vehicles, boats, and helicopters to regions at risk. With search-and-rescue operations likely after landfall, authorities urge residents to stay off the roads to avoid impeding first responders.

 

Forecasters predict the storm will bring 4 to 8 inches of rainfall, with some areas receiving as much as 12 inches. This heavy rain is expected to cause flash and urban flooding across Louisiana, Mississippi, and the Florida Panhandle. As Francine moves inland, considerable flooding could also impact the lower Mississippi Valley and lower Tennessee Valley through the end of the week.

 

The storm is poised to hit a region still reeling from past hurricanes. The Louisiana coastline has struggled to recover since Hurricane Laura and Delta devastated Lake Charles in 2020, followed by Hurricane Ida in 2021. Just this past weekend, the city of Lake Charles demolished a 22-story building that had stood as a symbol of the destruction left in Ida’s wake.

 

As Francine draws nearer, residents across the Gulf Coast are preparing for yet another test of resilience in the face of nature’s fury.