Hurricane Francine Brings Wind and Rain to Georgia
ATLANTA – Residents in Georgia should brace for a soaking and blustery weekend as Hurricane Francine shifts inland. The storm, which hit Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, as a category 2 hurricane on Wednesday evening, is set to impact the Peach State’s weather over the next few days.
As of 6 p.m. Wednesday, the storm’s center was about 30 miles south-southwest of Morgan City and approximately 86 miles west-southwest of New Orleans, carrying winds of 100 mph and moving northeast at 17 mph. Francine rapidly intensified by drawing heat from the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico before coming ashore.
In Morgan City, precautions were in full swing. Gas stations had plywood on windows, and bins were moved inside. Despite these measures, a few fuel pumps continued serving the small number of cars passing through early in the day. The Louisiana National Guard has been mobilized across various parishes, ready with food, water, vehicles, around 100 boats, and 50 helicopters for rescue operations.
The storm threatened deadly storm surges, widespread flooding, and damaging winds along the northern U.S. Gulf Coast. Residents hurriedly stocked up on essentials as forecasters issued stern warnings.
Morgan City, with its 11,500 residents, lies on the banks of the Atchafalaya River in south Louisiana. The city’s local website describes it as the “gateway to the Gulf of Mexico for the shrimping and oilfield industries.”
As Francine moves further inland, Georgia will experience its effects despite the storm center remaining well to the west. Wednesday saw breezy and mostly cloudy conditions. These clouds will continue to thickly gather throughout the evening, with increasing winds. Northern Georgia can expect showers and thunderstorms into the evening as the storm’s outer bands move through.
The main concern centers around areas west of Interstate 75, where there is a threat of isolated tornados until Friday. The rain, which could affect high school football games, is predicted to persist through Friday evening. Georgia might see heavy rainfalls of 1 to 2 inches, with isolated areas potentially getting more through to Sunday.
Winds are expected to ramp up over the next 24 hours, peaking on Thursday evening. Winds from the east are expected to reach 15 to 25 mph with gusts as strong as 35 to 40 mph. The positive side is cooler temperatures, dipping into the mid-70s over the weekend due to the rain and cloud cover.
Wind Advisories are in place for several counties including Dade, Walker, Catoosa, Whitfield, Murray, Fannin, Gilmer, Chattooga, Gordon, Pickens, Floyd, Bartow, and Cherokee. This advisory lasts from 8 a.m. Thursday to 5 a.m. Friday, predicting winds reaching up to 25 mph from the east with gusts of up to 35 mph.
It’s crucial for Georgians to stay informed and prepared for potential impacts from Francine’s push inland. Everyone is urged to stay safe and heed local advisories as the storm progresses.
