Meteorologist: Don’t underestimate Francine’s potential impact on New Orleans
Hurricane Francine poses a real and serious risk to New Orleans that should not be underestimated, Jon Porter, chief meteorologist at private weather forecasting company AccuWeather, said last night.
“AccuWeather hurricane experts are becoming increasingly concerned about the risk for damaging winds in the densely populated New Orleans metropolitan area,” Porter said in a media advisory note.
“Should Francine pass closer to the city, the storm’s eyewall, the most intense part of the storm can pass near or over parts of the city, which would increase the risk for wind gusts of 80-100 mph,” he added, noting that this could cause widespread and potentially long-lasting power outages.
People should, he advised, be prepared with enough food and water to last several days.
“There are a lot of other headlines in the news this week. We are concerned that this storm is not getting enough attention and that some people may be caught off guard by the strength and damaging impacts from Francine,” Porter said.
New Orleans residents stock up as Francine nears
Roxanne Riley, 42, stocks up on supplies at a Walmart as she prepares to shelter in place in New Orleans as Tropical Storm Francine barrels toward the Louisiana coast yesterday.
Francine could reach near-Category 2 hurricane strength, NHC warns
As Francine slowly makes its way toward the U.S. Gulf Coast, with landfall expected today, the National Hurricane Center warns that the storm could continue to strengthen and become almost a category 2 hurricane.
Category 1 storms have wind speeds of between 74 and 95 mph; Category 2 is from 96 to 110 mph. Francine has sustained wind speeds of 90 mph, the NHC said in a 2 a.m. update.
The NHC said its intensity forecast shows Francine nearing category 2 strength this morning.
“A notable increase in shear and intrusions of dry air should end the opportunity for strengthening just before Francine reaches the coast,” the NHC said.
Some positive news for people in its path: the cyclone will rapidly weaken once it moves inland.
Weather report: Hurricane Francine approaches the Louisiana coast
Residents across the Gulf Coast are bracing for the impact of Hurricane Francine. Most of Louisiana’s coastline is under a hurricane warning. NBC News meteorologist Violeta Yas has the latest forecast on Early Today.
Hurricane Francine barrels towards Louisiana
Satellite images released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration show Hurricane Francine in the Gulf of Mexico as it advances towards Louisiana late yesterday.
