Francine weakens to a tropical storm after making landfall in Louisiana as Category 2 hurricane (2024)

Flooding in Mandeville near Lake Pontchartrain as storm moves north

More than 340,000 customers were without power in Louisiana after Francine struck the state, badly affecting southeastern Louisiana, where it made landfall.

Across the state, 344,338 customers were without power, according to tracking website poweroutage.us.

Utility company Entergy had 259,678 customers affected, Eric Skrmetta, who is on the Louisiana Public Service Commission, said on X.

After pounding parts of Louisiana, including New Orleans, with heavy rain that flooded streets and homes, Francine weakened from a hurricane to a tropical storm tonight.

There were still hurricane-force wind gusts in the New Orleans area, the National Weather Service said in an 11 p.m. ET bulletin.

Maximum sustained winds were at 70 mph; a Category 1 hurricane has winds from 74 mph to 95 mph.

Hurricane warnings were discontinued, but tropical storm and storm surge warnings remained in the region.

Louisiana State University, Tulane University, Xavier University and other institutions closed campuses and announced remote instruction because of Hurricane Francine.

LSU closed its campus, and classes tomorrow are remote. Xavier will also have remote classes tomorrow, with an expected in-person return Friday.

Tulane announced that its campus is physically closed and that remote classes and work will continue through tomorrow evening.

River Parishes Community College closed its campus through tomorrow and told students to look out for further updates.

The University of Louisiana Lafayette said that there was little damage there and that campus will reopen at noon tomorrow.

Nunez Community College previously announced it would close campus today and tomorrow, switching to “virtual operations.”

A council member in Jefferson Parish told residents to stay off roads because of dangerous flooding from Hurricane Francine.

“We are in an extremely dangerous flooding situation. Do not get on the road unless you absolutely have to. Canals have overflowed and street flooding is widespread,” Parish Council member at-large Scott Walker said on X.

“We’re past the point where canals and pumps are overwhelmed. Just talked to our drainage director — 3-5 inches in the last 3 hours, 6-9 inches for the day and counting,” he said.

Jefferson Parish is just west and south of New Orleans and adjacent to the city.

Rain in the New Orleans area will begin to taper off as the hurricane moves north, the National Weather Service said, but it will hit the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain.

Even though the rain is tapering off in New Orleans, the weather service said that it is still dangerous there because of many flooded roads and that people should stay inside.

A bystander who went into a flooded underpass to rescue a pickup driver who drove into the floodwaters and saved him on live television said he is an ER nurse and used to high-stress situations.

“I guess it is a big deal, but it’s nothing out of the ordinary, so to speak,” the rescuer, Miles Crawford, told NBC affiliate WDSU of New Orleans.

Crawford used a hammer to break a rear window and help pull the driver of a pickup to safety during WDSU's live coverage of Hurricane Francine.

“I saw that there was a guy in there and the water was steadily rising," he said. “I was seeing if we could find anything to break the window, and so I ran back to my house and grabbed a hammer and ran back.”

“And I went in there and got him,” he said.

Crawford said he told the driver that he needed to get out of the vehicle and that the water was rising fast.

"He was, you know, looking for things, and I was like, 'no, we don't have time for that,'" he said. First responders arrived as the man was out of the truck and in safer waters, WDSU video showed.

New Orleans residents have been told to conserve water because of power outages that are causing problems at sewerage pump stations, a city emergency preparedness alert said.

It had initially said the Sewerage and Water Board was experiencing impacts at pump stations, but corrected its messaging to say it was at sewerage pump stations.

New Orleans officials said cell carriers reported that problems reaching 911 in the hurricane area have been resolved.

"AT&T and T-Mobile report resolution of issue with customers being able to reach 9-1-1 in hurricane impact area," said NOLA Ready, managed by the New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

Earlier, New Orleans police said the carriers reported problems and distributed an alternate number for emergencies.

The National Weather Service issued a “flash flood emergency” message for areas that include New Orleans until 11:45 p.m. local time as live video showed a dramatic rescue in a flooded part of the city.

The emergency, which was announced on X, also includes Metairie and Kenner. It instructs people to move to higher ground immediately.

As the emergency was declared, a live shot on NBC affiliate WDSU of New Orleans showed a pickup truck with someone inside driving into floodwaters, getting stuck and starting to sink.

The truck appeared stuck in the deep water near an underpass. Water went up to the nearly the windows, and eventually the entire front went underwater.

A bystander entered the water and broke a rear window, and the driver was seen crawling out, falling into the water and being helped by the rescuer to a guardrail, where he was able to hang on.

First responders then appeared.

Officials repeatedly warn drivers in hurricanes and other severe weather to never drive into floodwaters, using the phrase “turn around, don’t drown.”

Several vehicles were seen partially submerged in New Orleans, video from NBC affiliate WDSU of New Orleans showed.

A live broadcast of conditions showed two cars, both with water almost over their hoods.

Heavy rain is spreading across metropolitan New Orleans, the National Weather Service said at 9 p.m. ET. Lakefront Airport had sustained winds of 37 mph with a gust of 49 mph, the service said.

Francine is forecast to bring 4 to 8 inches of rain to southeastern Louisiana, with local amounts up to a foot.

Terrebonne Parish, where Hurricane Francine made landfall earlier today, is under a mandatory parishwide curfew until further notice, the sheriff’s office said.

“Authorities are working to assess and clear roadways of debris and powerlines but travel still remains a dangerous situation for motorists,” the sheriff’s office said on Facebook.

“The curfew will continue to be strictly enforced for the safety of our residents," it said. "Sheriff Soignet urges everyone to remain sheltered in place, and to abide by the active curfew."

NBC News meteorologist Bill Karins examines Hurricane Francine’s path over Louisiana, where the storm has slowed its progress, causing high rainfall totals. Karins also says tornadoes are a high risk overnight.

Reporting from Gulfport, Ms.

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves declared a state of emergency as Hurricane Francine made landfall in neighboring Louisiana. NBC News’ Steven Romo spoke with Gulfport residents about how they are preparing for the storm, which is expected in Mississippi tomorrow.

New Orleans police said customers for cell carriers AT&T and T-Mobile are reporting problems with contacting 911 in a "wide area" that includes Orleans Parish.

The police department on X instructed people who can't call 911 to instead call 504-671-3600.

There were 175,225 customers without power in Louisiana tonight after Hurricane Francine made landfall, a state public service commissioner said.

The most were in Lafourche, Terrebonne, Jefferson, Orleans and Ascension parishes, 1st District Commissioner Eric Skrmetta said on X.

The hurricane made landfall in Terrebonne Parish, southwest of New Orleans, at 6 p.m. ET.

Utility company Entergy warned that customers in the direct path of the storm could be without power for days.

“Based on historical restoration times, customers in the direct path of a Category 2 hurricane can experience outages for up to 10 days,” Entergy said in a statement.

The worst of Hurricane Francine has not made it to most of the area in the storm's path, the National Weather Service office in New Orleans said.

"NO ONE is out of the woods yet," the office said in a 7:20 p.m. CT post. "We have received many calls asking if it’s over. The worst hasn’t not approached any area except for Terrebonne and even then the south side of the eye wall is NOT on shore."

The office urged people to continue to shelter in place.

The storm is moving through Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, and causing issues with the sewer system, officials said.

Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng said stormwater is going through openings in the pipes, which, combined with the saturated soil, is overwhelming the sewer system.

Parish residents were asked to conserve water to help avoid backups. Sheng said the issue was the result of an aging system.

Crews will work to mitigate the issues tomorrow morning, Public Works Director Mark Drewes said. He said there were no major waterline breaks in the parish.

People were asked to continue sheltering in place as the worst of the storm blows through. Crews will assess the damage when it is safe for them to go out, Sheng said.

Jefferson Parish surrounds parts of Orleans Parish and includes the cities of Metairie, Kenner, Marrero and Jefferson.

Francine continues to move inland across the southeastern region of Louisiana as a Category 1 hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The storm was about 20 miles east-southeast of Morgan City and 50 miles west-southwest of New Orleans, the hurricane center said in a 7 p.m. local time update.

Francine is tracking northeast at 17 mph and is expected to move into Mississippi tomorrow. Its maximum sustained winds were 85 mph, and winds were expected to weaken, turning it into a post-tropical storm by tomorrow night or Friday, the hurricane center said.

Francine is expected to douse southeastern Louisiana with 4 to 8 inches of rain, with up to 12 inches in some parts of the state, according to the hurricane center. Heavy rain could lead to considerable flash, urban and river flooding, it said.

Flooding is expected because of a dangerous storm surge and the tide. If the peak surge occurs at high tide, water could reach over 4 feet in some places, the hurricane center said.

The water from Burns Point to Port Fourchon could be 5 to 10 feet above ground; the mouth of Pearl River, Louisiana, to Ocean Springs, Mississippi, could reach 4 to 6 feet; and Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana could reach 4 to 6 feet, according to the hurricane center.

Conditions are worsening in the New Orleans area, with strong wind gusts of 55 to 65 mph, the National Weather Service office in New Orleans said in a 6:50 p.m. local time update.

Isolated gusts greater than 80 mph, combined with heavy rain, could enhance the flash flood threat, the office said.

A flash flood warning was issued for New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner, Chackbay, Boutte and Des Allemands until 9:30 p.m. local time. The warning was also issued for LaPlace, Luling and Destrehan through 9:45 p.m. CT.

Hurricane Francine was about 55 miles west-southwest of New Orleans at 6:55 p.m. local time.

Reporting from New Orleans

Hurricane Francine made landfall on Louisiana's Gulf Coast as a Category 2 storm with winds of 100 mph. Heavy rain and flooding were expected.

Forecasters said the storm was expected to weaken quickly as it moved inland. NBC News' Tom Llamas reported.

More than 100,000 customers in Louisiana are without power, with the regions near where Hurricane Francine made landfall hit the hardest.

According to a poweroutage.us, 109,544 customers were without power shortly after 6:15 p.m. local time.

Some parishes most affected were Terrebonne, where Francine made landfall, with 23,360 outages; Lafourche, with 24,137; and Assumption, with 5,157 customers without power.

Orleans Parish had 3,782 customers without power, and Jefferson Parish had 4,901.

Hurricane Francine has weakened to a Category 1 storm, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Although the hurricane has lost strength, forecasters are still calling the storm “life-threatening.” Maximum sustained winds were 90 mph, the hurricane center said.

A Category 1 hurricane has sustained winds of 74 to 95 mph.

The eye of the storm was just inland of southern Louisiana at 6 p.m. local time. Sustained winds of 68 mph were reported in Dulac, with peak gusts of 97 mph. A gust of 59 mph was reported in Patterson.

Francine made landfall about 5 p.m. local time as a Category 2 hurricane in Terrebonne Parish, about 30 miles south-southwest of Morgan City.

St. Mary Parish Sheriff Gary Driskell stressed the importance for residents to watch local news and listen to officials as Hurricane Francine made landfall in Louisiana.

Driskell said the area is expected to take a direct hit and has already had downed trees and power lines.

St. Mary Parish includes Morgan City, which is in the hurricane's path. Francine was about 30 miles southwest of Morgan City at 5 p.m. local time.

Reporting from New Orleans

Hurricane Francine is starting to lash Morgan City, Louisiana, an official said.

Police Capt. John Schaff said the city is at the heart of the storm and is starting to get strong winds.

“Abide by curfew — it’s not safe,” Schaff said.

All police units were pulled off the road because of lack of visibility and high winds, Schaff said. A seawall and lock systems on the levy are keeping water out for now, he said.

Schaff said authorities were rescuing a family whose trailer fell off its blocks because of high winds.

Francine made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane at 5 p.m. local time, about 30 miles from Morgan City. Maximum sustained winds are estimated at 100 mph.

Hurricane Francine made landfall as a Category 2 storm at 5 p.m. local time in Terrebonne Parish, about 30 miles south-southwest of Morgan City.

Its maximum sustained winds are estimated to be near 100 mph, the National Hurricane Center said.

Hurricane Francine is expected to make landfall within the next hour, according to the National Weather Service in New Orleans.

Francine is now a Category 2 hurricane and is expected to bring life-threatening conditions, power outages and damage to trees, power lines and some homes, according to the weather service's posts on X.

Reporting from New Orleans

New Orleans is not seeing any major problems as Hurricane Francine approaches landfall, a City Council member said.

Council member Eugene Green said there are no major power outages or issues at this point.

He said the city is working to get homeless people into shelters and anticipates that could get too dangerous when winds pick up.

Energy utility Entergy listed fewer than 350 customers without power in Orleans Parish at 4:50 p.m. local time.

Hurricane Francine has grown into a Category 2, bringing a life-threatening storm surge and hurricane conditions as it approaches the Louisiana coast, the National Hurricane Center said.

As of 4 p.m. CT, the storm was 40 miles south-southwest of Morgan City, Louisiana, and 100 miles west-southwest of New Orleans, the NHC said.

Maximum sustained winds were recorded at 100 mph, and the storm was moving northeast at 17 mph, it said.

Francine's strength is not expected to change much before landfall, which is expected in the next few hours, and the storm is expected to weaken afterward.

It is forecast to cross southeastern Louisiana tonight and move north across Mississippi tomorrow, the NHC said.

Hurricane Francine’s northern eyewall is nearing southern Louisiana, according to the National Hurricane Center. Residents were urged to remain inside and away from windows.

The storm was churning about 60 miles south-southwest of Morgan City, Louisiana, and 115 miles southwest of New Orleans at 3 p.m. local time, according to the NHC. Its maximum sustained winds were 90 mph.

An oil platform east of the NHC local offices reported sustained winds of 74 mph, and peak gusts of 92 mph, at an elevation of 102 feet, the center said.

Winds on Eugene Island were reported at 54 mph, with peak guests of 70 mph, according to the NHC.

Eugene Island is in the Gulf of Mexico, about 170 miles southwest of New Orleans.

Parts of southeast Louisiana, including New Orleans and the surrounding area, face a significant risk of flooding.

Areas such as Mobile, Alabama, and Tallahassee and Jacksonville, Florida, are under a slight flooding risk.

The remainder of Florida, along with Shreveport, Louisiana, and surrounding areas are under a marginal risk.

The Louisiana National Guard has more than 2,300 guardsmen ready to supportareas affected by the hurricane.

Guardsmen have been mobilizing and deploying across the state since Monday and have over 370 high-water vehicles and 87 boats prepared to assist with evacuations, searches and rescues. More than 60 aircraft from multiple agencies are ready to provide aid if needed, the state's National Guard said in a news release.

More than 1 million liters of water, 416,400 sandbags and 55,000 tarps have also been strategically placed for potential distribution.

Following the storm, crews have been assembled to help clear roads and debris.

All flights after 12 p.m. have been canceled due to Hurricane Francine, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport said in a post on X, telling travelers it "will remain open unless conditions become unsafe."

Airlines canceled the flights ahead of the hurricane's arrival this evening. Some flights for tomorrow morning have also been canceled.

Francine is about 95 miles southwest of Morgan City, Louisiana, with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph, the National Hurricane Center said in its afternoon update.

The storm is moving at 16 mph.

Tropical storm conditions are battering the Louisiana coast with life-threatening storm surge and hurricane-force winds expected to begin in the next several hours.

A tornado watch was issued for parts of Louisiana and Mississippi, with the National Weather Service cautioning that several tornadoes are likely. The watch is in effect until 11 p.m. local time, the agency said in a post on X.

A tornado warning is in effect for Louisiana areas including Port Sulphur, Empire and Buras until 1 p.m. local time.

The outer rain bands of Francine are spreading over southern Louisiana with hurricane-force winds expected to hit the region within the next hour or two.

As the storm continues its approach, flood watches have been issued for about eight million people from Louisiana to northeast Florida.

New Orleans, Baton Rouge and surrounding urban areas could see up to 5 inches of rainfall per hour, triggering rapid flash flooding. Southern Louisiana into southern Mississippi could see rainfall between 4 and 8 inches.

Strong winds remain a concern with possible wind gusts up to 80 mph.Widespread power outages are likely.

Jacques Thibodeaux, the director of the governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, said the “time to evacuate has now passed.”

“It is the time to go to ground and hunker down,” he said at a news conference. “We are no longer in the 'prepare for a hurricane,' we are now in the 'respond to a hurricane.'”

Gov. Jeff Landry urged residents to “take the necessary steps preparing for the storm.”

“It is on our doorstep as we speak,” he said.

The governor reminded residents to remain in their homes after the storm so crews could swiftly assess the damage and begin cleanup.

A curfew is in effect for Morgan City, Louisiana, beginning today at 11 a.m. local time and ending tomorrow around 6 a.m. local time, police said.

The city is expected to see wind gusts upward of 90 mph. Police Chief Chad M. Adams urged residents to shelter in place during the hurricane and to keep streets clear so that damage could be accessed after the storm passes.

Morgan City is located about 70 miles west of New Orleans, "right in the middle of everywhere," according to the city's website.

President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration for Louisiana, making federal disaster assistance available to the state, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced today.

"The President’s action authorizes FEMA to coordinate disaster relief efforts to alleviate the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population and to provide appropriate assistance to save lives, to protect property, public health and safety and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the designated areas," the agency said.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry will provide updates and address what the state is doing to prepare for the hurricane during a news conference at 11:30 a.m. local time.

The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airportwill remain open as long as conditions are safe, airport officials said in a post on Facebook. Passengers are being told to check with their airline for any delays or cancellations.

More than 140 flights into and out of the airport have been canceled.

Alabama should be prepared for strong winds, flooding and possible tornadoes, the state’s Emergency Management Agency said. Baldwin and Mobile counties are under a tropical storm warning and a flood watch, the agency said. A flood watch is also in effect for Washington County.

Threats of tornadoes have increased and a few are possible in the southwestern parts of the state from this afternoon through early tomorrow. The entire state could see tornadoes beginning late tomorrow morning into the evening.

The agency cautioned that tornadoes in a tropical system often develop fast with little advanced warning and can be “rain-wrapped,” making them difficult to see.

“If a warning is issued for your area, take immediateaction by getting to the lowest floor of a sturdy building,” EMA said.

Francine is expected to bring wind gusts at or above 40 mph in rain bands and nonprecipitation wind gusts of 25 mph to 40 mph. Heavy rainfall is also a threat with 2 to 4 inches of rain forecasted for much of the state through early Friday.

The rain could trigger local flooding in urban areas and coastal flooding in low-lying areas.

Hurricane Francine is likely to make landfall between Avery Island and Houma, Louisiana, between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. ET today.

This will be the seventh hurricane to make landfall in Louisiana in the last eight years. Here is a rundown of the main threats.

Rain

As much as 12 inches of rain could fall in some areas across southern Louisiana and southern Mississippi.

The sheer amount of rain, between 3 and 5 inches per hour, could cause rapid flash flooding especially in urban areas such as Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

Flood watches are in place for 8 million people from Louisiana to northeast Florida, with the threat of heavy rain and flooding moving north and east tomorrow from the Florida Panhandle into southern Illinois.

Storm surge

The highest storm surge of between 5 and 10 feet is possible along the southcentral Louisiana coast between Vermillion Bay and Port Fourchon.

Areas around Lake Pontchartrain could experience 4 to 6 feet of storm surge.Areas on the northern periphery of Lake Pontchartrain will be at higher risk for inundation because that part is not as heavily leveed as the southern end.

Wind gusts

While Francine is expected to rapidly weaken after landfall, wind gusts up to 80 mph will still be possible across southern Louisiana.

Widespread power outages are likely and tornadoes are also a formidable risk today, especially across southeast Louisiana into southern Mississippi and the western Florida Panhandle through the night.

New Orleans: Rain begins around 10 a.m. ET with the heaviest downpours likely between 12 p.m. and 12 a.m. ET; wind gusts up to 60 mph, peaking between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m.

Baton Rouge: Rain begins around 10 a.m. ET with heaviest downpours between 1 p.m. and 12 a.m. ET; wind gusts up to 50 mph, peaking between 7 p.m. and midnight.

Lafayette: Rain beings around 9 a.m. ET, with the heaviest rain between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET; wind gusts up to 50 mph, peaking around 6 p.m.

Gulfport: Heavy rain begins by 12 p.m. ET and continues into the early morning hours tomorrow; wind gusts up to 60 mph, peaking around midnight.

Jesse Kirsch

Al Roker

Jesse Kirsch and Al Roker

Reporting from New Orleans

A state of emergency is in effect for Louisiana as Hurricane Francine gains strength through the Gulf of Mexico. There could be as much as 6 feet of storm surge. NBC’s Jesse Kirsch reports and the "TODAY" show’s Al Roker tracks the latest forecast.

A group of teenagers from the small community of Lafitte, Louisiana, south of New Orleans, spent 14 hours stacking sandbags yesterday, NBC affiliate WDSU of New Orleans reported.

The group, part of a sports teams, had been working alongside their coach since 6 a.m. yesterday and planned to come back early today to carry on protecting the low-lying area.

There is a mandatory evacuation order in place for Lafitte and the surrounding area.

A long list of schools are shut today and tomorrow across Louisiana. WDSU has the details.

Reporting from New Orleans

Tropical storm Francine was expected to make landfall as a Category 1 or 2 hurricane along the Gulf Coast today, with storm surge the biggest threat along the coast. NBC News’ Jesse Kirsch reports on how New Orleans is preparing for the storm.

Hurricane Francine poses a real and serious risk to New Orleans that should not be underestimated, Jon Porter, chief meteorologist at private weather forecasting company AccuWeather, said last night.

"AccuWeather hurricane experts are becoming increasingly concerned about the risk for damaging winds in the densely populated New Orleans metropolitan area," Porter said in a media advisory note.

“Should Francine pass closer to the city, the storm’s eyewall, the most intense part of the storm can pass near or over parts of the city, which would increase the risk for wind gusts of 80-100 mph," he added, noting that this could cause widespread and potentially long-lasting power outages.

People should, he advised, be prepared with enough food and water to last several days.

"There are a lot of other headlines in the news this week. We are concerned that this storm is not getting enough attention and that some people may be caught off guard by the strength and damaging impacts from Francine," Porter said.

Roxanne Riley, 42, stocks up on supplies at a Walmart as she prepares to shelter in place in New Orleans as Tropical Storm Francine barrels toward the Louisiana coast yesterday.

As Francine slowly makes its way toward the U.S. Gulf Coast, with landfall expected today, the National Hurricane Center warns that the storm could continue to strengthen and become almost a Category 2 hurricane.

Category 1 storms have wind speeds of between 74 and 95 mph; Category 2 is from 96 to 110 mph. Francine has sustained wind speeds of 90 mph, the NHC said in a 2 a.m. update.

The hurricane center said its intensity forecast shows Francine nearing category 2 strength this morning.

"A notable increase in shear and intrusions of dry air should end the opportunity for strengthening just before Francine reaches the coast," it said.

Some positive news for people in its path: the cyclone will rapidly weaken once it moves inland.

Residents across the Gulf Coast are bracing for the impact of Hurricane Francine. Most of Louisiana's coastline is under a hurricane warning. NBC News meteorologist Violeta Yas has the latest forecast on "Early TODAY."

Satellite images released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration show Hurricane Francine in the Gulf of Mexico as it advances toward Louisiana late yesterday.