Tropical Storm Francine Weakens After Louisiana Landfall

Tropical Storm Francine made landfall in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, at 5 p.m. local time on Tuesday as a Category 2 hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm quickly lost strength after landfall, diminishing to a Category 1 hurricane within an hour.

By nightfall, Francine had further weakened to a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of around 70 mph. Despite its reduced intensity, the storm continues to pose significant threats, including life-threatening storm surges, strong winds, and heavy rainfall.

Tropical Storm Francine Weakens After Louisiana Landfall

As of 10 p.m. local time, Francine was located approximately 35 miles west-northwest of New Orleans and was moving northeast at 16 mph. Flooding from the storm has been severe, with a dramatic rescue captured live on television. A bystander broke a truck window to rescue a man trapped in a flooded pickup near a New Orleans underpass.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect from Intracoastal City, Louisiana, to the Alabama and Florida border. Additionally, a storm surge warning is active from Avery Island, Louisiana, to the Mississippi and Alabama border. Flooding is reported in Mandeville near Lake Pontchartrain as the storm continues its northerly path.