Tracking Hurricane Francine

Hurricane Francine made landfall in southern Louisiana after rapidly intensifying into a Category 2 storm. Below is Wednesday's live blog, featuring curated updates and insights from Weather & Radar meteorologists as Francine impacted the U.S.

Francine will continue to weaken overnight as it moves northward into Mississippi. Although the storm is expected to downgrade to a tropical depression by Thursday, it will still bring heavy rainfall and gusty winds to large parts of the Mississippi River Valley and Southeast.

Flash flooding remains one of the main concerns tomorrow across the greater Southeast. Use our app to stay updated on conditions in your area! Start by searching for your location.

Power outages have doubled to over 200,000 in less than 2 hours as Hurricane Francine continues to track north and affect larger cities like New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Meanwhile, officials in Jefferson Parish are urging residents to conserve water to reduce the risk of the sewer system being overwhelmed by storm runoff.

Damaging winds and very heavy rainfall continue to affect southeastern Louisiana and southern Mississippi, particularly in the bayou parishes and the metro New Orleans area. Multiple flash flood warnings are in effect. Rainfall rates in the eyewall are reaching up to 2 inches per hour.

Approximately 1-2 inches of rain have already fallen in the city, with an additional 2-4 inches possible.

The number of customers without power increased more than tenfold in under four hours. At 3:30 p.m. CT, there were nearly 9,000 reported outages. By 6:30 p.m., that figure had risen to over 100,000, according to poweroutage.us, as Hurricane Frances brought its strongest winds ashore.

Orleans Parish, which includes the city of New Orleans, reported approximately 7,700 customers without power, representing about 4% of tracked customers. The video below shows rain bands impacting the city earlier today.

After only about an hour overland, Francine has weakened to a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph. Land weakens hurricanes by disrupting the storm's primary energy source: warm ocean waters, which fuel its intensity. As the hurricane moves over land, friction increases and moisture supply decreases, causing the storm to lose strength, sometimes quite quickly.

Hurricane Francine is tracking northeast across southeastern Louisiana, edging closer to New Orleans. The storm is forecast to gradually weaken, becoming a tropical storm by tonight and later downgrading to a tropical depression as it moves further north along the Mississippi Valley.

Hurricane Francine, the strongest storm to hit the U.S. this year, made landfall in southern Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane. It came ashore about 30 miles south-southwest of Morgan City with sustained winds of 100 mph, striking just one day after the peak of hurricane season.

Heavy rain and tropical storm-force winds are battering much of Louisiana, with New Orleans expected to receive 4 to 6 inches of rainfall, heightening the risk of significant flash flooding. Outside the city's levee system, life-threatening storm surge remains a threat.

Additionally, the latest forecast trends have shifted Francine's track slightly east, bringing the Greater New Orleans area 50 miles from the storm's center—that is, closer to the core of the strongest winds. Hurricane-force winds extend about 32 miles from the storm's center. Widespread power outages and wind damage are a growing concern for the city.

Winds will continue to increase across most of Louisiana as we head into the evening. Here are some recent wind gusts across the state.

The landfall of Hurricane Francine will occur in the next 1 to 2 hours. However, some of the strongest winds associated with this storm will already likely be affecting portions of Louisiana by this time. You can use the WindRadar to track Hurricane Francine as the eye moves ashore.

Francine has been upgraded to a category 2 hurricane with sustained winds of 100 mph as it nears landfall along the central Louisiana Coast. Meanwhile, the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport has canceled all flights today, with some cancellations extending into Thursday morning.

The storm's center is approximately 40 miles from Morgan City, Louisiana, and around 100 miles from New Orleans.

Hurricane-force wind gusts are moving onshore. Now is the time to stay inside and away from windows.

Power outages are starting to grow. More than 8,500 homes and businesses are without power in southern Louisiana, and more will lose power as Francine's winds come ashore.

The northern eyewall is just a few miles away from Terrebonne Parish in Louisiana.

Tornadoes are also a concern through the evening hours as Francine makes landfall. A Tornado Watch is in effect through 11 p.m. CT.

Tropical storm conditions are now moving into southern Louisiana. Keep track of the worsening conditions with our WindRadar.

Weather reporter Jonathan Petramala has a report from Cocodrie, La., ahead of Francine's landfall. The video at the top of this blog shows current conditions.

While Francine is expected to make landfall in Louisiana, impacts are being felt along the Gulf Coast. Orange Beach, Ala., is closed to swimmers today, and up to four feet of storm surge is possible along the Alabama coast.

Tropical Depression 7 has formed in the eastern Atlantic. We are also keeping an eye on two tropical waves in the central Atlantic.

Weather & Radar meteorologist Becca Parker will be live on YouTube with the latest forecast at 12:30 p.m. CT/1:30 p.m. ET.

Power outages are a significant concern. Make sure your devices are charged and you are prepared to be without power for an extended period of time.

Francine is a Category 1 storm with winds sustained at 90 mph and moving northeast at 12 mph. Landfall in Louisiana is forecasted for this evening. Keep an eye on this storm with our WeatherRadar.