Tropical Storm Francine was forecasted to reach hurricane status on Tuesday before making landfall in Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane with winds between 96 to 110 mph. A storm surge warning was in effect for an area from east of Houston to the mouth of the Mississippi River, indicating a possibility of life-threatening flooding. The Louisiana coastline, still recovering from hurricanes Laura and Delta from 2020 and Hurricane Ida from the following year, was preparing for significant impacts from Francine. The storm surge on the coast could reach up to 10 feet, posing a danger of dangerous winds and flooding.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry urged residents to be prepared and heed evacuation warnings, emphasizing the importance of not waiting until the last minute to evacuate and to have enough supplies, as well as fuel, to evacuate safely. Louisiana officials were closely monitoring the storm’s path and urged residents to prepare immediately while conditions allowed. Mandatory evacuations were ordered for several remote coastal communities, including areas like Holly Beach and Grand Isle, which have been severely impacted by past hurricanes.
Residents of Baton Rouge and New Orleans were also preparing for the storm, stocking up on supplies, filling sandbags, and making necessary arrangements for sheltering in place if needed. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell advised residents to finalize their storm plans and prepare for potential impacts such as heavy rain, gusty winds, and isolated tornado activity. The city was expected to receive up to 6 inches of rain and experience the most intense weather on Wednesday and Thursday.
The storm caused flooding in northern Mexico, leading to the closure of schools and evacuation of neighborhoods in Matamoros. The storm’s path was expected to move north-northeast through Mexico before accelerating towards the upper Texas and Louisiana coasts. Forecasters warned of potential flooding, high winds, and power outages in the affected areas from Tuesday afternoon through Thursday. Louisiana officials stressed the importance of preparing for the storm and urged residents to take necessary precautions to ensure their safety and well-being.
