NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – Hurricane Francine is expected to remain a Category 1 storm when it makes landfall in Louisiana on Wednesday. Officials say the evacuation window has passed and residents are now being told to ride out the storm as water levels could reach as high as 10 feet in some areas.

A tornado warning has been issued for the entire area until 11 p.m. Residents should be aware of rapidly developing tornado warnings as conditions deteriorate.

As of 2 p.m., the National Hurricane Center said tropical storm conditions and rainfall were moving inland, with conditions expected to deteriorate further over the next several hours. Francine was about 80 miles from Morgan City and was moving northeast toward the coast at 17 mph with sustained winds of 90 mph. Little change in strength is expected before landfall.

An oil rig southeast of downtown reported sustained winds of 92 mph (148 km/h) and a maximum gust of 112 mph (180 km/h).

The National Weather Service expects Francine to produce a “life-threatening” storm surge of 5 to 10 feet from the Cameron-Vermillion border to Port Fourchon. The hurricane is expected to make landfall around sunset Wednesday, so the severe weather threat from the hurricane will remain inland into the night.

The National Weather Service forecast calls for the storm to move inland near St. Mary and Terrebonne parishes, then northeast between Baton Rouge and Hammond before moving toward southwestern Mississippi Wednesday night.

Ultimately, the concern in southeast Louisiana will be the eyewall and landfall of Francine, which should approach the coast between 4 and 6 p.m. Wednesday evening. Conditions will rapidly deteriorate, resulting in hurricane-force winds, flooding and rainfall, and storm surge. All residents should remain alert to the weather today and complete their preparations as soon as possible.

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Mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders are in place in threatened coastal areas.

Francine gained fuel from the extremely warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday evening, strengthening from a tropical storm to a Category 1 hurricane.

Gov. Jeff Landry on Wednesday urged Louisiana residents who have not yet evacuated to stay put and shelter in place until Hurricane Francine passes.

“We are ready to handle whatever Francine throws at us,” Landry said Wednesday during a news conference in Baton Rouge.

“The time to evacuate is now over. It’s time to hunker down and hunker down,” said Jacques Thibodeaux, director of the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

Once Francine makes landfall, Landry said residents should stay put and avoid entering flooded roads, risking blocking emergency workers or utility companies repairing power lines.

Even after the storm passes, Landry said Louisiana residents should stay home and off the roads as much as possible. It will make it easier for emergency responders and utility workers to get around if there is less traffic, he said.

“Make sure you charge all of your devices so you maintain the maximum amount of charge,” Landry says.

Major General Thomas Friloux of the Louisiana National Guard said about 2,500 members will be helping with rescue and relief efforts. They are positioning themselves in southeast and south-central Louisiana to help respond to the storm.

The watch has 58 boats, 101 high-water vehicles and 61 aircraft ready to deploy after the storm passes, and has another 270 vehicles in reserve if needed, Friloux said.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has 150 law enforcement officers with trucks and boats on standby to help with the hurricane, Secretary Madison Sheahan said. More than 400 Louisiana State Police officers are also available to assist, according to Superintendent Col. Robert Hodges.

“If you are in the path of the storm, you may be without utilities for a while,” Landry said.

Francine’s rebuilding efforts are expected to begin in earnest Thursday. Gov. Jeff Landry received approval from President Joe Biden Tuesday night for a federal disaster declaration, which will speed up funding from Washington to help with things like storm cleanup and emergency housing.

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