Francine made landfall in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, at 6 p.m. ET as a Category 2 hurricane.
The storm started as a disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico and strengthened into a hurricane Tuesday evening. After making landfall Wednesday, it lost some of its strength and weakened to a Category 1 hurricane.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had predicted above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin this year, forecasting 17 to 25 total named storms — which is defined as having winds of 39 mph or higher — with eight to 13 forecast to become hurricanes. The above-normal activity was forecast because of near-record warm ocean temperatures in the Atlantic, La Niña conditions in the Pacific, reduced Atlantic trade winds and less wind shear.
