Hurricane Francine downgraded to Category 1 as New Orleans faces flood warning

Hurricane Francine made landfall on Wednesday afternoon as a Category 2 hurricane in southern Louisiana, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The hurricane is the third one to make landfall in the United States this year, after hurricanes Beryl and Debby reached the mainland over the summer. Hurricane Beryl made landfall in Texas in July, and Debby hit Florida last month.

Hurricane Francine had maximum sustained winds of nearly 100 mph when it made landfall, CNN reported. The storm is expected to weaken as it travels across land, but heavy rain and winds are still expected in Louisiana over the next 24 hours. It is expected to hit the greater New Orleans area on Wednesday night.

“After landfall, the center [of the storm] is expected to cross southeastern Louisiana tonight, then move northward across Mississippi on Thursday and Thursday night,” the National Hurricane Center said in an update at 5 p.m. Eastern.

The hurricane has since been downgraded to a Category One storm, with maximum winds of up to 90 mph, and New Orleans issued a flash flood warning as conditions worsen in the southern city.

“Conditions are quickly getting worse in the NOLA Metro as the strongest winds and heaviest rain approach," National Weather Service New Orleans said in a post on X. "We are getting consistent gusts of 55-65MPH across the metro and higher to the southwest. Flooding also likely. Shelter in place and stay away from windows!"

The city has already received approximately one to two inches of rain so far, and could receive an additional 2-4 inches, per CNN.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just the News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.