Hurricane Francine

Hurricane Francine was a moderately strong tropical cyclone that brought extensive flooding to parts of the Gulf Coast of Mexico, especially Louisiana in September 2024. The sixth named storm and fourth hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, its formation brought the end to a significant quiet period in tropical cyclone formation in the Atlantic. Originating from a tropical wave that was initially spotted in the central Atlantic by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in late August, the disturbance that eventually became Francine began gradually organizing on September 7 as it exited the Yucatán Peninsula into the Bay of Campeche. The disturbance consolidated further and was designated by the NHC as ''Potential Tropical Cyclone Six'' on September 8. The next day, it became Tropical Storm Francine. It made landfall in Louisiana on September 11 as a Category 2 hurricane with wind speeds of , which left moderate damage in Louisiana and Mississippi. Afterward, it quickly weakened into a tropical storm on September 12, then a tropical depression the following day. Francine dissipated on September 14.

Meteorological history

On August 26, the NHC noted that a low-pressure area could form in the Central Tropical Atlantic. Two days later, they began tracking a tropical wave producing disorganized showers. Initially, showers from the wave were a bit more concentrated along its axis, becoming more organized by August 31. However, an unfavorable environment for development caused the wave to become disorganized. Several days later, on September 7, the wave crossed into the Bay of Campeche, becoming a low-pressure area the next day. As a result, a few hours later, it was designated ''Potential Tropical Cyclone Six'' at 21:00 UTC on September 8. Higher wind gusts in the system were enhanced by a barrier jet near the Sierra Madre Oriental. Early the next day, the disturbance intensified into ''Tropical Storm Francine''. The novel storm slowly moved northwest over the next day close to the Mexico–United States border before beginning to move more to the northeast due to a ridge of high pressure over the state of Florida. Steady intensification ensued, with Francine becoming a hurricane at 03:00 UTC on September 11.

Beginning to accelerate northeast towards the Gulf Coast of the United States, an eyewall began developing, even as wind shear began to increase and environmental conditions worsened. Despite this, a ragged eye developed on satellite imagery later that morning, leading to a peak intensity as a Category 2 hurricane. At its peak, the storm recorded maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 972 mb (28.7 inHg) at 21:00 UTC. Shortly thereafter, at 22:00 UTC, Francine made landfall in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, still maintaining Category 2 strength. Rapid weakening began after the hurricane made landfall, and at 03:00 UTC on September 12, Francine weakened into a tropical storm. The system further weakened overland, becoming a tropical depression then a post-tropical cyclone.

Preparations

Mexico

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

United States

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

Texas

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

Louisiana

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

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

Elsewhere

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

Impact

Mexico

Several areas in Matamoros flooded from of rain; aid from the Mexican Government was requested as a result. Water pumps were set up across the city in response. Plans DN-III and Tamaulipas were initiated to provide aid to areas affected by Francine.

United States

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

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

Texas

By September 9, Port O'Connor was experiencing flooding conditions. Rainfall in the state peaked at in Brownsville. Flooding causes the SpaceX Starbase to become inaccessible.

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. Storm surge was greater than . A tornado warning was issued for Plaquemines Parish. 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. Francine's winds downed numerous trees and power lines, which resulted in blocked roads. Numerous streets sustained flooding as a result of heavy rainfall. The flash flooding resulted in several flash flood emergency alerts being issued. Several rivers crested in Saint Tammany Parish. 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. 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. 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.

The federal government approved a FEMA declaration. According to property data company CoreLogic, insured losses caused by Francine could reach $1.5 billion. 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.

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. Other areas of the state also experienced downed trees and power lines. During the morning of September 12, 60,000 customers experienced power outages in Mississippi. Around 500 people were in state shelters. One injury was reported in Jones County. The highest recorded wind speed was in Starkville George Bryan Airport, with winds gusting to in Kemper County. The highest recorded rainfall was in Madison County.

Elsewhere

There were 39,000 reported power outages in Alabama. Trees and power lines were also downed in the western portion of the state. In Danville, rainfall accumulated to .

Tropical storm conditions occurred in the Florida Panhandle. Sustained winds of were observed at Pensacola Beach with higher gusts. The highest rainfall total was in Apalachicola, Florida with of rain.

Tennessee was buffeted by rainstorms for a few days.

See also

*Weather of 2024
*Tropical cyclones in 2024
* Timeline of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season
* List of Category 2 Atlantic hurricanes
* List of Louisiana hurricanes (2000–present)
*Hurricane Zeta (2020) – followed a similar track
* Hurricane Nicholas (2021) – followed a similar track

References

External links

* The National Hurricane Center'
advisory archive on Hurricane Francine

{{DEFAULTSORT:Francine (2024)
2024 Atlantic hurricane season
2024 in Louisiana
2024 in Mississippi
2024 in Alabama
2024 in Texas
September 2024 in Mexico
September 2024 in the United States
Category 2 Atlantic hurricanes
Hurricanes in Louisiana
Hurricanes in Mississippi
Hurricanes in Alabama
Hurricanes in Texas
Hurricanes in Campeche
Hurricanes in Tabasco
Hurricanes in Tamaulipas
Hurricanes in Veracruz
Hurricanes in Quintana Roo
Hurricanes in Yucatán