Francine makes landfall in southern Louisiana as Cat. 2 hurricane

CHARLOTTE — Francine made landfall Wednesday afternoon as a Category 2 hurricane near Morgan City in southern Louisiana.

Maximum sustained winds are about 100 mph and the storm is moving northeast at 17 mph.

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Hurricane Francine aftermath — Hurricane Francine HOUMA, LOUISIANA - SEPTEMBER 11: A first responder drives through town after the power went down on September 11, 2024 in Houma, Louisiana. Hurricane Francine has been upgraded to a Category 2 hurricane and continues to make landfall along the Louisiana coast. Weather analysts are predicting 90mph winds near the eye and a strong storm surge along the coast. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Tropical Weather Lazaro Cardoso, 11, leans far into the powerful winds coming from the eye wall of Hurricane Francine as he and his dad, Hugo Gonzales, stay at a hotel Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Houma, La., that was being powered by a generator. The family lives not far from the hotel but they decided to stay at it since they said they always lose power during powerful storms. (Chris Granger/The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate via AP) (Chris Granger/AP)

Life-threatening storm surge and hurricane-force winds are impacting Louisiana.

A hurricane warning was in effect along the Louisiana coast from the border with Texas eastward to Grand Isle, about 50 miles south of New Orleans, and a tropical storm warning extended eastward from there to the mouth of the Pearl River, according to the National Hurricane Center.

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How it will impact the Carolinas

In the Carolinas, skies will stay mild and calm through Wednesday but become more unsettled by Thursday night, according to Severe Weather Center 9.

The region will start to see a few light showers ahead of Francine and then that rain will become more widespread on Friday. The exact timing and rainfall amounts are still subject to change, but as of right now, impacts from Francine look minor.

West of Interstate 77 will see the most rain, with early amounts pushing over 2 inches. On average, totals look less than 1 inch.

Highs will trend below average in the upper 70s and 80s for the end of the week and into the weekend.

Long-term models are hinting at a system off the Carolina coast that may develop and bring a bigger rain threat our way early next week. But stay tuned, the tropics are waking up.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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