Attached you will find an update with the latest on Hurricane Francine. The slides for the update are attached.
Changes from previous update:
- Francine is now a category 2 hurricane with sustained winds estimated near 100 mph.
- No changes to expected impacts.
Overview:
- Francine is currently a category 2 hurricane moving northeast.
- It will make landfall within the next hour or so.
- Timing of worst conditions will depend on location, but will generally be between now and midnight
- Wind and rain should gradually improve after midnight, but any flooding could be slow to recede
Impacts:
- Widespread rainfall totals of 4-8″ are forecast through tomorrow, with most rain through tonight. Locally higher amounts remain possible. With saturated soils from recent heavy rains, this could quickly lead to ponding of water in low lying and poor drainage areas and scattered areas of flash flooding.
- Based on the current rainfall forecast, minor flooding is now forecast along several area rivers from the north shore through the Mississippi coast. However, forecasts will continue to change (and could change significantly) depending on exactly where the heaviest rain falls.
- Moderate to life-threatening coastal flooding is expected. Some low lying roads, lots and access routes will likely flood, with the greatest impacts through Thurs morning. While there is no threat to the federal levee systems, some lower local levees may be overtopped and areas outside of the levees could experience life-threatening flooding and become cut off. The highest water levels are generally expected west of Port Fourchon. Water levels will be slow to recede Thursday.
- Sustained hurricane force winds will be limited to areas near where Francine’s center tracks, but could reach inland as far as areas just southwest of Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas. Elsewhere, all areas west of the Pearl River should continue to prepare for potentially sustained strong tropical storm winds. The strongest winds will occur now through tonight depending on location as Francine makes landfall and moves through the area. Impacts from damaging winds could include scattered to widespread power outages, as well as damage to trees, mobile homes, and some roofs. Damage will be most concentrated where Francine’s center tracks.
- Several tornadoes are possible with any outer bands of Francine that move through today through early Thursday morning.
