Hurricane Francine is to weaken throughout Thursday as heavy rain continues and more than 250,000 households were left without power after it struck the Louisiana coast.
Across the states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, an estimated total of around half a million people are currently without power.
The latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center at 7am CDT indicates that Francine has weakened to a tropical depression as it passes over Mississippi with maximum sustained winds of around 35mph.
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However, heavy rain and flooding is still a risk.
“Francine is expected to bring storm total rainfall of 3 to 6 inches across portions of Mississippi, eastern Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and the Florida Panhandle,” they said.
“Localized amounts up to 10 inches are possible within rain bands over portions of central and northern Alabama and over the Florida Panhandle.
“This rainfall could lead to locally considerable flash and urban flooding.”
A tornado watch is also in place between the Florida Panhandle and north-central Alabama as the storm moves north.
Storm surge warnings are also still in effect for the mouth of the Pearl River to the Mississippi/Alabama Border, Lake Maurepas and Lake Pontchartrain.
Francine made landfall as a Category 2 storm in Louisiana yesterday evening with maximum sustained winds near 100mph, resulting in widespread flooding as life-threatening storm surges rushed inland.
The arrival of the hurricane quickly flooded streets, brought trees down and snapped power lines, resulting in power outages.
Alvin Cockerham, Fire Chief in Morgan City, located 30 miles away from where the storm made landfall in Terrebonne Parish, said that it had been worse than anticipated.
“It’s a little bit worse than what I expected to be honest with you,” he said.
“I pulled all my trucks back to the station - it’s too dangerous to be out there in this.”
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry said the National Guard would reach out to parishes impacted by Francine.
He added that they had food and water supplies as well as almost 400 high-water vehicles, around 100 boats and 50 helicopters to respond to the storm.
