Francine weakened to a tropical storm late Wednesday after striking Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane that blacked out more than 275,000 homes and businesses, sent storm surge rushing into coastal communities and raised flood fears in New Orleans and beyond as drenching rains spread over the northern Gulf Coast.
JACK BROOK and SARA CLINEFrancine made landfall Wednesday evening in south Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane with powerful winds and dangerous storm surge.
There were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries. TV news broadcasts from coastal communities showed waves from nearby lakes, rivers and Gulf waters thrashing sea walls. Water poured into city streets amid blinding downpours. Oak and cypress trees leaned in the high winds, and some utility poles swayed back and forth.
Sheltering at her mother's home just outside Morgan City, Laura Leftwich said blasts of wind had swept away two large birdhouses outside. She had a generator powering an internet connection so she could video chat with friends, holding her computer to a window to show them water overflowing in the street.
In addition to torrential rains, there was a lingering threat of spin-off tornadoes from the storm Thursday. Since the mid-19th century, some 57 hurricanes have tracked over or made landfall in Louisiana, according to The Weather Channel. Among them are some of the strongest, costliest and deadliest storms in U.S. history.
Hurricane Francine Francine Tracker Tracker Francine Louisiana Power Outages Blackouts 15294449
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Francine gains strength and is expected to be a hurricane when it reaches US Gulf CoastToday's Video Headlines: 9/9/24
Read more »
Francine gains strength and is expected to be a hurricane when it reaches US Gulf CoastTropical Storm Francine churned in the Gulf of Mexico with increasing strength and is expected to reach hurricane status on Tuesday before reaching landfall in Louisiana.
Read more »
Francine weakens moving inland from Gulf Coast after hurricane winds cause blackoutsFrancine has weakened to a tropical storm after slamming into Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane, causing widespread power outages and sending a dangerous storm surge rushing into coastal communities.
Read more »
Francine weakens moving inland from Gulf Coast after hurricane winds cause blackoutsFrancine weakened to a tropical storm late Wednesday after striking Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane that blacked out more than 275,000 homes and businesses, sent storm surge rushing into coastal communities and raised flood fears in New Orleans and beyond as drenching rains spread over the northern Gulf Coast.
Read more »
Francine gains strength, expected to be a hurricane when it reaches US Gulf CoastFrancine, the sixth named storm of the hurricane season, is expected to crash ashore Wednesday afternoon on Louisiana's coast.
Read more »
Francine gains strength, expected to be a hurricane when it reaches U.S. Gulf CoastTropical Storm Francine is churning in extremely warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico with increasing strength.
Read more »