According to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Francine strengthened and became better organized overnight and is expected to continue strengthening over the Gulf of Mexico before making landfall in Louisiana later today.
The forecast track and weather warnings have not changed since Tuesday night, but the storm is better organized and has a more pronounced eyewall, according to a 4 a.m. forecast from the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
Francine’s maximum sustained winds were 90 mph and the storm was moving northeast at about 10 mph. It is expected to increase in speed.
Further strengthening is expected later Wednesday. Francine’s maximum sustained winds are expected to reach 100 mph, equivalent to a Category 2 storm. However, it will face some wind shear that is expected to drive it further northeast and prevent further strengthening near landfall.
According to a 4 a.m. discussion from the National Weather Service in Slidell, Francine is expected to make landfall somewhere near Morgan City. But once it reaches land, it is expected to weaken quickly.
Wind speed forecast from Wednesday 4 a.m.
After landfall, the storm is expected to gradually turn northward, with its center moving over eastern Louisiana and Mississippi.
Francine is forecast to bring damaging winds, life-threatening storm surge and 4 to 8 inches of rainfall to southeastern Louisiana, which could lead to flash flooding.
Precipitation forecast from Wednesday 4 a.m.
Storm surge is expected to be 5 to 10 feet (1.5 to 3 meters) from Intracoastal City to Port Fourchon and Vermilion Bay. Storm surge is expected to be 4 to 7 feet (1.2 to 2.1 meters) from Port Fourchon to the mouth of the Mississippi River.
A hurricane warning is in effect for the Baton Rouge and Lafayette areas, a hurricane watch is in effect for the New Orleans area, and a flood warning is in effect for all of southeast Louisiana.
