7:10pm Wednesday Update on Hurricane Francine

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Radar at 7:04pm shows a widening eye that has fallen apart. Wind gusts at the New Orleans Louis Armstrong Airport have reached 65 mph. 

Unfortunately, power has gone out in a large area near and along the path of the storm. 

This will be the last update as the storm is inland. 


5pm -- official landfall


4pm radar
As I feared, the storm has officially intensified to 100 mph (Cat 2) with gusts to 120 mph. As predicted below, the highest winds will be moving into New Orleans in about an hour. 

The power outages are increasing rapidly.



---- 3:30p ----
3:30p The highest winds are in the hatched "W" area. They will be arriving in downtown New Orleans or the French Quarter after 4:30pm. Please make sure you are in sturdy shelter. 




2pm Update
The highest winds are in the "donut" marked with the W. It is moving toward New Orleans. 

First area of concentrated power outages in orange. There will be many more before the sun sets. 


----
We have our first tornado warning of the day (red, "TW") and our first tornado watch (dark red polygon). The eye (E) continues to move toward New Orleans or just to the west as of 12:45pm. The structure of the hurricane has improved considerably the past 90 minutes which implies some strengthening. Maximum sustained winds are about 95 mph with gusts to 110 mph. 

Power failures will be widespread and it may take a few days to get everyone restored. 

The tornado watch is in effect until 11pm.


Noon Update Below:
The eye has become better defined during the past hour. I've circled New Orleans and Baton Rouge on the radar image. They will both receive damaging winds with widespread power outages as will other areas between the two arrows. Flooding will occur in New Orleans. Please see below for storm surge forecast map as well as other pertinent information about the storm. 

Doppler radar shows increasing wind speeds around the eye which have been confirmed by gusts to 100 mph recorded by an anemometer on an oil platform 98 feet above the Gulf. 

It is time to make sure you have a quality shelter from the wind.


---- Info Below Still Valid ----

Here is the 11:15am satellite image. There are signs of an eye on the image along with lightning just to the west (colored dots). This indicates the storm's intensity is staying the same or may be strengthening just a bit. The winds in Louisiana will be increasing rapidly this afternoon. 
From the Hurricane Center....


--- 10:25am Report, Still Valid ---

Hurricane Francine will make landfall this afternoon and evening. 
Color codes (above):
  • Red = hurricane warning.
  • Pink = hurricane watch.
  • Blue = tropical storm warning (winds of 40 to 73 mph)
  • Yellow = tropical storm watch.
  • Amber = current area of 40 to 75 mph winds. 
  • Brown = hurricane force winds of 75 mph or stronger

This is the final forecast of storm surges. 

There is a risk of tornadoes, especially in the brown area.
Please follow me on Twitter @usweatherexpert for updates. 

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