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    • Storm targets Louisiana
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    Storm targets Louisiana

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    Louisiana residents were preparing to make landfall Wednesday after Francine intensified into a hurricane, threatening the Gulf Coast with devastating winds, up to a foot of rain and storm surges of over 10 feet in some places.

    The Category 1 hurricane was bringing sustained winds of 90 mph Wednesday morning, and meteorologists warned that the storm was expected to hit the central Louisiana coast Wednesday afternoon or evening. The National Weather Service in New Orleans said the storm’s effects from Wednesday morning through Thursday morning included coastal flooding, high winds, torrential rain and a few tornadoes.

    “Life-threatening storm surge and hurricane-force winds are expected to develop in Louisiana later today,” the National Hurricane Center warned.

    The center said significant strengthening was likely Wednesday, and AccuWeather computer models used to forecast possible intensification showed Francine approaching or reaching Category 2 strength. Increased wind shear and dry air intrusion mean the hurricane is not expected to continue strengthening toward landfall, but will continue to pose a “significant risk” after it reaches the Louisiana coast, the center said.

    Francine is expected to move into Mississippi and then move north into the Mississippi Valley as a tropical depression, reaching Memphis on Thursday evening.

    Developments:

    ∎ Francine was found about 245 miles (395 kilometers) from Morgan City, Louisiana, on Wednesday morning, according to the hurricane center.

    ∎ President Joe Biden approved Louisiana’s state of emergency late Tuesday night after state officials sent a letter urging him to approve the request. The federal emergency declaration will help with response and disaster relief.

    ∎ In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott called a “high probability” of life-threatening storm surge and urged residents along the Gulf Coast to follow local authorities’ advice, including possible evacuations.

    Louisiana Prepares for Land Attack: Francine grows into a hurricane:

    The National Weather Service office in New Orleans warned that areas along and west of the Pearl River should prepare for damaging winds, while areas through the bayou parishes and some lower river parishes should prepare for hurricane-force winds. Other likely problems include power outages and damage to trees, mobile homes and roofs.

    “Conditions will deteriorate during the day! Make sure you have all preparations completed as soon as possible!” the office tweeted. “Then prepare to hole up and take shelter during the night hours!”

    Francine is expected to bring a total of 4 to 8 inches of rain. Local amounts of up to 12 inches are possible in southeastern Louisiana, Mississippi, extreme southern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle through Thursday night, the hurricane center said. The rainfall could lead to “significant” flash and urban flooding.

    Mandatory and voluntary evacuations were in effect in many Louisiana parishes, including Terrebonne and Lafourche. Shelters were opened in Terrebonne Parish. Mandatory evacuations in Lafourche Parish included residents in a FEMA-provided housing unit or a state-issued RV.

    The storm caused oil and gas companies in the Gulf of Mexico to halt production. Energy companies shut down 412,070 barrels of oil per day — about 24% of production — and evacuated personnel from 130 production platforms, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said Tuesday.

    About 26% of the Gulf’s natural gas production was offline, according to reports filed with the offshore regulator. The region is home to about 15% of U.S. oil production and 2% of natural gas production, Reuters reported.

    Sources familiar with operations at Exxon Mobil Corp’s Baton Rouge, Louisiana, refinery also told Reuters it was cutting production as Francine was expected to pass just east of the site. The company plans to cut output to as low as 20% of the refinery’s 522,500 barrels per day capacity by Wednesday, when Francine makes landfall.

    Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, who previously declared a state of emergency, urged residents to “make a plan of action, listen to local officials and monitor local news” to minimize Francine’s impact.

    Parts of the state could experience storm surges of 5 to 10 feet, depending on the area, with widespread flooding and up to a foot of rain in isolated locations. Mandatory evacuations were ordered in some coastal communities in Texas and Louisiana.

    Some schools were closed and sandbags were distributed.

    Francine could become the third hurricane to make landfall on the Gulf Coast this year. Debby made landfall near Steinhatchee, Florida, and Beryl near Matagorda Bay, Texas.

    The most recent hurricane to hit Louisiana was Ida in 2021, according to AccuWeather. “Between 2019 and 2021, Louisiana had eight tropical storm or hurricane landfalls, including major hurricanes Laura and Ida,” AccuWeather meteorologist Alyssa Glenny said in an online report.

    Francine is also the fourth hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic season. According to Phil Klotzbach, senior hurricane scientist at Colorado State University, the average fourth Atlantic hurricane forms on September 16.

    Contributors: Doyle Rice, USA TODAY; Reuters

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