Post Super Typhoon Yagi affected many regions of China and Vietnam proper week another tropical cyclone developed in the Gulf of Mexico. Hurricane Francine landed in Louisiana as a Category 2 storm in the Gulf , the 4th named hurricane and 6th named storm of the 2024 season.
The NOAA satellites closely tracked the Francine path since it formed in the southwest Gulf of Mexico. Initially, it was designated as a Potential Tropical Cyclone on 8th September, but it became a tropical storm that continues to intensify as it moves towards Louisiana.
Jeff Landry, Louisiana Gov., requested residents not to panic but to get prepared and follow the evacuation orders post the tropical storm warning. Also, people responded and started filling sandbags, stocking essentials and fueling their vehicles.
Tuesday morning
By late Tuesday morning, i.e. on 10th September, Francine remained a tropical storm and then intensified into a Category 1 hurricane by 7 pm, and by the following day on Wednesday, i.e. on 11th September, the storm had winds of about 90 mph. On the same day, till 4 pm, the Francine turned further to a category 2 hurricane with maximum winds of 100mph. On Wednesday, 12th September, Hurricane Francine landed in Louisiana as a Category 2 storm in the Gulf. It knocked out electricity to about a quarter million customers and also threatened widespread flooding as it sent deadly storm surges rushing inland with the Gulf Coast. But it lost much of its power as it moved over land and was starting to be downgraded to a tropical storm late Wednesday night. If you ask What category is Hurricane Francine, Hurricane Francine has been upgraded to Category 2 which left hundreds of people without power, brought floods and pounded the area with heavy winds and rain.
On Wednesday evening, tropical storm Louisiana crashed ashore in Terrebonne Parish about 30 miles southwest of Morgan City. Packing max sustained winds near about 100 mph, and after that, the storm-battered a fragile coastal region that has not even recovered fully yet from many hurricanes in 2020 and 2021.
The storm hit Terrebonne Parish by 30 miles southwest. To prepare in advance, Morgan City residents and businesses took action to safeguard property.
All gas stations boarded up windows and also shifted outdoor items indoors. Also, the National Guard was mobilised and equipped with boats, helicopters, water vehicles, etc, for rescue work.
Tropical storm Louisiana
The visual shows waves from closeby rivers, lakes and gulf waters thrashing sea walls severely. Water poured in almost all parts of the city streets, and all oak and cypress trees learned in high winds. Also, power outages in Louisiana topped 261000 hours post-hurricane tropical storms
, and blackouts affected many homes and businesses in coastal parishes. A Hurricane was in effect with a storm surge warning that extended from the Mississippi, Alabama border to the Alabama, Florida border. The New Orleans hurricane entirely changed the New Orleans weather and affected and disrupted public transportation, causing street flooding.
Even the forecasters predicted that storm surge may reach about 10 feet in a few areas. On Tuesday morning, Brad Reinhart, a senior hurricane specialist, said it’s the sixth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, and there’s a danger of life-threatening storm surge linked with this storm.
Hurricane tropical storms
According to Alvin Cockerham, Morgan City Fire Chief quickly flooded streets, disrupted power lines, and made tree limbs crash. Cocerham added, ‘It’s a little bit worse than what I expected to be honest with you,’. Also, according to the National Weather Service, Thibodaux, located about 30 miles east of Morgan City, witnessed about seven inches of rain in 24 hours.
Also, at the centre of Terrebonne Parish, Dan and Samantha Stevens lost the project of a thrift store at the time when hurricane tropical storms came through the aisles and destroyed its roof.
According to the Public Service Commission, over 149000 customers were without power across Louisiana due to tropical storm Francine. As per the National Hurricane Centre report, The storm continues to weaken Thursday, with the sustained winds dropping to 30 mph at 11 pm.
Also, hurricane francine path was centered about 50 miles west of Memphis and, after that, Tennessee and moving next north at about six mph. However, the storm was to shift its direction to a northwest track and to slow down on Friday.
According to the prediction of The National Hurricane Center, Francine will continue bringing the threat of heavy rainfall and tornadoes to areas of Alabama, western Georgia, Mississippi Delta, along with Panhandle. The center also said there can be a “Little change in strength is forecast during the next 24 hours.”
On Thursday, Francine weakened, and Hurricane Francine’s path changed and moved inland, and crews started clearing roads and restoring electricity. As Gov. Jeff Landry said, also the businesses began cleaning up the mess. However, there were no reports of deaths or any kind of injuries. He also told a news conference, “The human spirit is defined by its resiliency, and resiliency is what defines Louisiana. Certainly some times and situations try us, but it is also when we are at our very best.”
New Orleans
However, Francine is now losing strength but is still capable of inflicting dangerous storm surges, damaging winds, tornadoes and flash flooding. It’s more than 36 hours after the hurricane entergy’s workforce has returned its electrical power to about 65 percent of impacted people in New Orleans, Louisiana and Mississippi.
Crews are working continuously to restore power safely and quickly. The storm has disrupted the electrical service of many customers
Francine’s tour to the Mississippi Valley is almost completed, but there is more to track in the Atlantic after the Hurricane Francine tracker work. The storm might form along a stalled front offshore of the Carolinas and, afterwards, will sweep inland early the following week with heavy rain and gusty winds.
