Hurricane Francine, the sixth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, made landfall in Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane. The storm originated as a tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico on Monday, September 9, and quickly intensified into a hurricane by Tuesday, September 10.
As it moved northeast in the Gulf, Francine continued to strengthen, eventually reaching Category 2 status before hitting Terrebonne Parish, La on Wednesday, September 11. With maximum winds of 100 mph, the storm brought dangerous storm surge, widespread flooding, and strong winds to the Deep South. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport reported a wind gust of 78 mph and 7.32 inches of rain in 24 hours.
Following its landfall, Francine caused power outages for approximately 450,000 people in Louisiana, mainly due to falling debris rather than structural damage. Emergency shelters housed around 500 individuals seeking refuge from the storm’s impact.
By Thursday morning, September 12, Francine had weakened to a tropical storm and later became post-tropical, although it continued to bring rainfall to the Deep South. The remnants of the storm also extended their reach, delivering rain to areas as far north as the Mid-Mississippi River Valley and Tennessee Valley.
The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season has proven to be active, with Francine marking the fourth hurricane of the season. Our team of meteorologists closely follows the development of such weather events, providing in-depth analysis and timely updates on weather data and information. For more weather-related stories and insights, be sure to explore our weather blogs section for a comprehensive view of current weather and climate trends.