Baton Rouge weather history: Hurricane Francine struck one year ago this week

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — One year ago this week, Hurricane Francine made landfall in south Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane.

Here in Baton Rouge, we are no strangers to hurricanes. Every year during hurricane season, we prepare for the possibilities of the season by creating evacuation plans, obtaining sandbags when needed, and stocking up on extra gasoline for generators. The 2024 season was no different.

Francine’s origins:

In late August, a tropical wave with disorganized rain showers moved off the west coast of Africa, entering the Atlantic Ocean. The wave continued to move west towards the Lesser Antilles by Sept. 2, and crossed the Yucatan Peninsula to emerge in the Bay of Campeche on Sept. 7. Francine was named as a tropical storm on Sept. 9, and just 24 hours later, it gained hurricane status. By Sept. 11 at 4 pm, Francine’s maximum sustained winds were 100mph, making it a category 2 just mere hours before landfall.

Francine’s impacts on Baton Rouge:

As Francine moved closer to the coastline, Baton Rouge began to move more and more into the Cone of Uncertainty with every update from the National Hurricane Center. Residents along the coast were advised to evacuate inland, most having to drive through Baton Rouge, in preparation for 5-8 feet of storm surge.

The good news for Baton Rouge residents came about when the storm turned to the east, narrowly missing direct impact on the city. Residents were largely spared from the worst of the impacts; however, some people still suffered damage.

In East Baton Rouge Parish, Francine produced tropical storm force winds with gusts exceeding 55mph, which downed many trees and power poles. Roads throughout East and West Baton Rouge parishes were blocked off for several days as emergency crews worked to clean up and restore power to the community.

Just 30 miles east in Livingston Parish, damage not only included blocked roads from downed trees and poles, but also flooding. Livingston accumulated 3-5″ of rain, but also experienced two feet of storm surge from Lake Maurepas.

To the south, Ascension Parish received 5-7″ of rain and strong winds that severely damaged numerous homes and trailers.

A year later, the effects of Hurricane Francine remain a defining chapter in Baton Rouge’s history, marking both the vulnerability of the region to powerful storms and the determination of its residents to move forward.

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