Francine downgraded to tropical storm hours after landfall in Louisiana's Terrebonne Parish as Cat 2 storm
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Hurricane Francine made landfall in Louisiana's Terrebonne Parish just after 6 p.m. ET as a dangerous Category 2 storm. Dangerous conditions worsened throughout the day as the storm brought life-threatening storm surges and destructive winds to the state's coastline.
By late Wednesday evening, Francine had been downgraded to a tropical storm, but the threat of flooding and tornadoes loomed.
Hurricane Francine barreled into the Louisiana coast Wednesday with destructive 100 mph winds and a dangerous storm surge, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of electrical customers and pummeling the region with several inches of rain, prompting flash flooding emergencies.
New Orleans reported gusts of 78 and 76 mph as Francine's eyewall came through the city Wednesday evening, while Dulac recorded a gust of 97 mph.
After landfall, the cyclone quickly weakened back down to a tropical storm but promised to spread impacts well inland.
Where is Hurricane Francine located?
Late Wednesday, Francine was located about 35 miles west-northwest of New Orleans. It was moving northeast at about 16 mph. The storm had weakened back to a tropical storm around 11 p.m. with maximum sustained winds at 70 mph with higher gusts.
Tropical Depression 7
Tropical Depression 7 formed early Wednesday over the Eastern Atlantic and is expected to remain over water for many days, the National Hurricane Center said.
The system is 485 miles west of the Cabo Verde Islands and moving west-northwest at 17 mph. Its maximum sustained winds are 35 mph.
It's expected to become a tropical storm on Wednesday night or Thursday. Gordon is the next name on the list.
Two other disturbances
Located in the central tropical Atlantic, Invest 92L is producing disorganized shower and thunderstorm activity. It has a low (30%) chance of development.
"The disturbance is expected to reach an area of stronger upper-level winds on Thursday, likely ending its chances for development," the NHC said.
Another area of low-pressure east of the Leeward Islands, classified as Invest 94L, is located near dry air, which the NHC said is expected to reduce additional development over the next couple of days. It has a low (10 %) chance of formation over the next seven days.
Forecasters are also watching the area just off the Carolinas, where there is potential for tropical development in the next week.
