Hurricane Francine

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Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
Disc Plain black.svg Tropical cyclone
Solid black.svg Subtropical cyclone
ArrowUp.svg Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

A tropical wave moved off of the west coast of Africa on August 25‒26. [2] The wave moved slowly across the tropical Atlantic, with occasional bursts of disorganized convection. [2] The wave reached the Lesser Antilles on September 2 as its forward speed increased due to a low-level easterly jet stream across the Caribbean Sea. [2] Late on September 5, deep convection began to increase as the northern portion of the wave crossed the Yucatan Peninsula and emerged over the Bay of Campeche early on September 7. [2] The tropical wave began interacting with a front associated with a non-tropical area of low pressure located over the northern Gulf of Mexico. [2] A separate low pressure system with an elongated surface circulation formed by 1800 UTC on September 7 over the Bay of Campeche. [2] By 1800 UTC on September 8, the surface circulation became well-defined about 310 n mi south-southeast of the mouth of the Rio Grande. [2] Winds near the newly formed low quickly increased to tropical-storm-strength on 8 September, likely due to the terrain effects of the Sierra Madre Oriental Mountains and the front. [2] By 1200 UTC 9 September, organized deep convection consolidated near the well-defined surface center, marking the formation of Tropical Storm Francine about 245 mi (394 km) southeast of the mouth of the Rio Grande. [2] A narrow mid-level ridge (meteorology) centered over Florida steered Francine slowly northwestward toward the coastlines of northern Mexico and southern Texas later on September 9, [2] bringing heavy rainfall to the region. Francine gradually strengthened and moved around the western periphery of the ridge early on September 10. [2] Later that day, the tropical storm turned sharply toward the northeast in the flow ahead of a shortwave trough moving across the southern United States. [2] Around 0000 UTC on September 11, Francine intensified to a hurricane over warm waters and in an area of light vertical wind shear about 305 n mi southwest of Morgan City, Louisiana. The hurricane continued to accelerate northeastward and strengthen as it approached the Louisiana coastline. Though strong upper-level winds imparted by the trough began to disrupt Francine’s structure on satellite imagery, aircraft observations indicated that the hurricane strengthened through landfall. Hurricane Francine made landfall on the Louisiana shoreline at 2200 UTC that day about 25 n mi south-southwest of Morgan City with an intensity of 90 kt as a Category 2 hurricane. Francine continued to move northeastward early on September 12, weakening to a tropical storm by the time it reached the western Lake Pontchartrain region at 0600 UTC. [2] The decaying storm turned northward and moved over central Mississippi by 1200 UTC where it weakened to a tropical depression. [2] By 1800 UTC on that day, Francine became an extratropical low, merging with a front and moving over northern Mississippi and central Arkansas before it occluded, drifted toward the southeast, and dissipated on September 14 over southeastern Arkansas. [2]

Preparations

Mexico

Tropical storm watches were issued from Barra del Tordo to the mouth of the Rio Grande. [3] Other parts of Northeast Mexico were placed under a tropical storm warning. [4] Tamaulipas shut down schools in Matamoros, San Fernando, and Valle Hermoso. [5]

United States

ExxonMobil and Shell canceled operations in the Gulf of Mexico and evacuated their employees. [1] Amtrak modified and/or suspended service to New Orleans from September 11–18. [6]

Texas

South Texas was placed under a tropical storm warning as Francine approached. [4] Galveston County raised their emergency management facility's level to two. [7] Governor Greg Abbott mobilized water rescue teams. [1]

Louisiana

Hurricane warnings were issued from Sabine Pass to Morgan City. [8] Louisiana was placed under a state of emergency by the governor. [9] The governor also sent 2,300 guardsmen of the Louisiana National Guard to parishes that were likely to be affected. [10] [11] Several school districts in Louisiana closed in preparation for Francine. [12] [13] Mandatory evacuations were issued for Grand Isle, Lafitte, and Barataria. [14] Lafourche, Terrebonne, and Washington Parishes issued curfews. [15] St. Mary and Terrebonne Parishes raised their floodgates. [16] Iberia Parish and Baton Rouge distributed sandbags. [17] [18]

Louis Armstrong International Airport canceled all flights. [19] Five USPS locations were shut down. [20] Port Fourchon, a major supplier of offshore oil producers, and the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port were closed. [21]

Elsewhere

The coast of Mississippi and Alabama was placed under a tropical storm warning. [22] [23] Governor of Mississippi Tate Reeves issued a state of emergency declaration. [24] Jackson, Mississippi, set up a shelter in the police training academy. [24] Several schools in the state were closed for Francine. [25]

Impact

Mexico

Hurricane Francine
Francine 2024-09-11 1746Z.jpg
Francine near peak intensity while approaching Louisiana on September 11

Several areas in Matamoros flooded from 200 millimetres (7.9 in) of rain; [26] aid from the Mexican Government was requested as a result. [27] Water pumps were set up across the city in response. [28] Plans DN-III and Tamaulipas were initiated to provide aid to areas affected by Francine. [26]

Total Rainfall
StateTotal rainfall
Florida 12.75 in (324 mm)
Georgia 7.69 in (195 mm)
Louisiana 9.69 in (246 mm)
Mississippi 8.63 in (219 mm)
Missouri 3.47 in (88 mm)
Oklahoma 6.58 in (167 mm)
Tennessee 9.16 in (233 mm)
Texas 7.44 in (189 mm)
References: [29] [30] [31] [32]

United States

According to National Centers for Environmental Information (NECI), the damage across the United States was estimated at $1.3 billion. [33]

Exports out to the Gulf of Mexico were disrupted as a result of Francine, [21] and the storm knocked out 39% of oil and natural gas production. [34] Reductions in production caused crude oil national prices to jump by 2% on September 11. [35]

Texas

By September 9, Port O'Connor was experiencing flooding conditions. Rainfall in the state peaked at 7.44 in (189 mm) in Brownsville. [36] Flooding causes the SpaceX Starbase to become inaccessible. [37]

Louisiana

Francine made landfall in Southern Louisiana, Terrebonne Parish, with sustained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) at 22:00 UTC on September 11. [38] Storm surge was greater than 4 feet (1.2 m). [39] A tornado warning was issued for Plaquemines Parish. [15] Around 450,000 people suffered from power outages, most of which were caused by fallen debris, and around 500 people took refuge in emergency shelters. [40] Francine's winds downed numerous trees and power lines, which resulted in blocked roads. Numerous streets sustained flooding as a result of heavy rainfall. [41] The flash flooding resulted in several flash flood emergency alerts being issued. [42] Several rivers crested in Saint Tammany Parish. [43] The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted numerous water rescues northwest of Thibodaux after rising flood waters surrounded multiple housing units, and all residents, including many small children, were safely evacuated. Other water rescues were also carried out in other parts of the Thibodaux area as well as the Kraemer area. [44] Miles Crawford, a 39-year-old man, rescued another man who had water up to his head, from a sinking truck below an overpass in New Orleans by smashing the truck's back window with a hammer and pulling him out through it and cutting his hand in the process. [45] Two other people were injured: a Louisiana State Police officer who was struck by a falling tree while removing downed trees on Interstate 10, and a woman in Ascension Parish who was also hit and pinned by a fallen tree. [46] [47]

The federal government approved a FEMA declaration. [48] According to property data company CoreLogic, insured losses caused by Francine could reach $1.5 billion. [49] Moody’s Analytics estimates over $2 billion dollars in damage, and AccuWeather estimates over $9 billion in damage. As of January 2025, damage is estimated to be at US$1.3 billion. [50]

Mississippi

Strong winds swept through the Mississippi Coast before sunrise on September 12. The Jackson County Office of Emergency Services reported minor damage across the county, including power outages, downed trees, and flooded streets. As Francine moved further north, it was downgraded to a tropical depression, bringing heavy rainfall to Jackson and central Mississippi. South Mississippi faced significant flooding and related issues during the storm's passage. [51] Other areas of the state also experienced downed trees and power lines. [52] During the morning of September 12, 60,000 customers experienced power outages in Mississippi. [53] Around 500 people were in state shelters. [54] One injury was reported in Jones County. [55] The highest recorded wind speed was 35 mph (56 km/h) in Starkville George Bryan Airport, with winds gusting to 56 mph (90 km/h) in Kemper County. The highest recorded rainfall was 3.98 in (10.1 cm) in Madison County. [56]

Elsewhere

There were 39,000 reported power outages in Alabama. [54] Trees and power lines were also downed in the western portion of the state. [52] In Danville, rainfall accumulated to 11.11 in (282 mm). [57]

Tropical storm conditions occurred in the Florida Panhandle. Sustained winds of 44 mph (71 km/h) were observed at Pensacola Beach with higher gusts. [56] The highest rainfall total was in Apalachicola, Florida with 12.75 in (324 mm) of rain. [58]

Tennessee was buffeted by rainstorms for a few days. [59]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Yousif, Nadine; Drenon, Brandon (September 11, 2024). "Louisiana braces as Hurricane Francine barrels in". BBC. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Bucci, Lisa; Alaka, Laura (March 10, 2025). National Hurricane Center Tropical Cyclone Report Hurricane Francine (AL062024) (PDF) (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  3. ↑ Chinchar, Allison; Norman, Gene; Raffa, Elisa; Gilbert, Mary (September 8, 2024). "Potential Tropical Cyclone Six forms in Gulf with tropical storm watch issued for Mexico". CNN. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  4. 1 2 DiMichele, Angie; Schutz, David; Ballard, Victoria (September 9, 2024). "Tropical Storm Francine likely to become hurricane soon, forecasters say". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Suspenden clases por tormenta Francine en municipios de Tamaulipas". ContraRéplica (in Spanish). September 9, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Amtrak Advisory | Service adjustments due to Hurricane Francine". www.amtrak.com. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  7. ↑ Flury, Jade (September 9, 2024). "Galveston businesses brace for Tropical Storm Francine". FOX 26 Houston. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  8. ↑ Dakss, Brian; Czachor, Emily Mae (September 9, 2024). "Tropical Storm Francine forms in Gulf of Mexico, expected to hit Louisiana as hurricane - CBS News". CBS News. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Gov. Landry declares a state of emergency for Louisiana ahead of Francine". WWNO. September 9, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  10. ↑ Cline, Sara; Brook, Jack (September 11, 2024). "Hurricane Francine could bring storm surge and flooding to Louisiana's coast". AP News. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  11. ↑ Burke, Minyvonne (September 11, 2024). "Louisiana National Guard has more than 2,300 guardsmen ready to assist". NBC News. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  12. ↑ Lowrey, Erin (September 9, 2024). "LIST: Schools closed ahead of expected tropical weather". WDSU. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  13. ↑ Morris, Athina (September 10, 2024). "List: Parish-by-parish school closures ahead of Francine". WWNO. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  14. ↑ Lowrey, Erin (September 9, 2024). "Mandatory evacuation ordered for Grand Isle, Lafitte, Barataria". WDSU. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  15. 1 2 Jennifer, Torres (September 11, 2024). "Curfews, closures and safety warnings issued as Louisiana parishes brace for Hurricane Francine". gulflive. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  16. ↑ Haczek, Ángela Reyes (September 9, 2024). "La tormenta tropical Francine obliga a evacuar a lo largo de la costa del Golfo; Louisiana bajo advertencia de huracán" [Tropical Storm Francine obligates evacuations along the Gulf Coast; Louisiana is under hurricane warnings]. CNN (in Spanish). Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  17. ↑ Damico, Dawson (September 9, 2024). "'As prepared as we can be:' Iberia Parish preps for Tropical Storm Francine". KLFY-TV . Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Luisiana bajo advertencia de huracán por tormenta Francine" [Louisiana under hurricane warning for Storm Francine]. DW (in Spanish). September 10, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  19. ↑ "All flights cancelled at MSY ahead of Hurricane Francine's landfall". WDSU. September 11, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  20. ↑ Lee, Bernadette (September 11, 2024). "Louisiana Post Office Closures: What You Need To Know". KPEL 96.5. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  21. 1 2 Parraga, Marianna; Seba, Erwin; Polansek, Tom (September 11, 2024). "Hurricane Francine disrupts Louisiana energy hubs, crop exports". Reuters. Houston/Chicago . Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  22. ↑ Beven, Jack (September 11, 2024). "Tropical Storm Francine Advisory Number 9". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  23. ↑ Doubek, James (September 10, 2024). "Francine takes aim at Louisiana, where it's expected to hit as a hurricane". NPR. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  24. 1 2 Muhammad, Shaunicy (September 10, 2024). "Mississippi Braces For Hurricane Francine". Mississippi Free Press. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  25. ↑ Corder, Frank (September 11, 2024). "Mississippi braces for heavy rains, possible power outages from Hurricane Francine". Magnolia Tribune. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  26. 1 2 Tovar, Sandra (September 9, 2024). "Francine deja inundaciones en colonias de Matamoros" [Francine leaves floods in Matamoros colonies]. El Universal (in Spanish). Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  27. ↑ "Francine strengthens into a Category 1 hurricane as it churns toward Louisiana". ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. September 9, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  28. ↑ Caicedo, Santiago (September 9, 2024). "Tracking Tropical Storm Francine: Flooding reported in several Matamoros neighborhoods". KRGV. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  29. ↑ Weather Prediction Center (September 12, 2024). "Storm Summary Number 5 for Heavy Rain and Wind Associated with Francine". Iowa Environmental Mesonet (Press release). National Weather Service. Archived from the original on September 13, 2024. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  30. ↑ Weather Prediction Center (September 12, 2024). "Storm Summary Number 4 for Heavy Rain and Wind Associated with Francine". National Centers for Environmental Prediction (Press release). College Park, Maryland: National Weather Service. Archived from the original on September 12, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  31. ↑ Kelly, Larry. "Hurricane Francine Tropical Cyclone Update". National Hurricane Center . Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  32. ↑ "Storm Summary Number 8 for Southeast Heavy Rainfall associated with Francince and its Remnants". Weather Prediction Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. September 14, 2024. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  33. ↑ "Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters". National Centers for Environmental Information. 2025. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  34. ↑ Randolph, Ned (September 12, 2024). "Hurricane Francine lands in Louisiana, hitting New Orleans with wind and rain". Reuters. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  35. ↑ Francis, Maria. "Hurricane Francine made US landfall as Cat 2: How will it impact the Northeast?". North Jersey Media Group. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  36. ↑ Hurricane Francine Floods Parts Of The Deep South After Landfall In Louisiana (RECAP), The Weather Channel, September 14, 2024
  37. ↑ Bucci, Lisa; Alaka, Laura (March 10, 2025). "Hurricane Francine Tropical Cyclone Report" (PDF). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
  38. ↑ Cangialosi, John; Bucci, Lisa (September 11, 2024). "Hurricane Francine Tropical Cyclone Update". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  39. ↑ Ferrell, Jesse (September 13, 2024). "Hurricane Francine disrupted oil industry and roared ashore in Louisiana with high winds, flooding". Accuweather. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  40. ↑ Torres, Jennifer (September 12, 2024). "Louisiana hurricane recovery: Officials give updates on power restoration, FEMA funds, closed roads". GulfLive. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  41. ↑ Wells, Carlie; Brasted, Chelsea (September 11, 2024). "Live updates: Hurricane Francine makes landfall in Louisiana". Axios. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  42. ↑ Hurricane Francine triggers Flash Flood Emergency for New Orleans as torrential rainfall causes water rescues, Fox Weather, September 13, 2024
  43. ↑ Jones, Shawanda (September 13, 2024). "River levels being monitored after Hurricane Francine". WDSU. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  44. ↑ "Deputies rescue 26 people from rising waters caused by Francine". WLBT . September 12, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  45. ↑ McGill, Kevin (September 12, 2024). "An ER nurse says it was 'second nature' to rescue a man trapped in hurricane floodwaters". Associated Press . Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  46. ↑ "Storm Francine: Thousands without power as severe rain and wind hit the Gulf Coast". NBC News . September 12, 2024. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  47. ↑ Chatman, Rian (September 12, 2024). "Woman rescued after being pinned under fallen tree during Hurricane Francine". WAFB . Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  48. ↑ Planas, Antonio (September 12, 2024). "Louisiana governor: 'Power is the most important thing that we need right now'". NBC News. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  49. ↑ Truong, Thanh (September 16, 2024). "Francine's roughly $1.5B in insured losses adds pressure on uninsured homeowners". Fox 8. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  50. ↑ NCEI.Monitoring.Info@noaa.gov. "Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)". www.ncei.noaa.gov. Retrieved January 11, 2025.
  51. ↑ Perez, Mary (September 12, 2024). "Curfews over, South Mississippi surveys flooding after Francine's landfall".
  52. 1 2 Belles, Jonathan; Dulce, Chris; Erdman, Jon; Tonks, Sara (September 12, 2024). "Francine Packs Inland Flooding, Tornado Threats". The Weather Channel. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  53. ↑ Corder, Frank (September 12, 2024). "Francine making its way through Mississippi". Magnolia Tribune. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  54. 1 2 "Francine lashes Louisiana, leaves hundreds of thousands without power - CBS News". CBS News. September 12, 2024. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  55. ↑ "Damage Report #1 from Hurricane Francine - MEMA". Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. September 13, 2024. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  56. 1 2 POST TROPICAL CYCLONE REPORT (PDF) (Report). Retrieved March 28, 2025.
  57. ↑ Remnants of Francine soak South as flash flooding prompts water rescues in Alabama, Fox Weather, September 14, 2024
  58. ↑ Hurricane Francine Floods Parts Of The Deep South After Landfall In Louisiana (RECAP), The Weather Channel, September 14, 2024
  59. ↑ Leyva, Diana. "Francine-related scattered showers to continue in Middle Tennessee through the weekend". The Tennessean. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
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