Louisiana - As of 5 PM, Hurricane Francine has strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph, as it makes landfall on the Louisiana coast. The storm's eye is expected to bring life-threatening storm surge and hurricane conditions to southeastern Louisiana.

Currently located about 40 miles south-southwest of Morgan City and 100 miles west-southwest of New Orleans, Francine is moving northeast at 17 mph. This general motion is expected to continue through the afternoon, with the storm making crossing southeastern Louisiana tonight. On Thursday and Thursday night, the center is forecast to move northward across Mississippi.

Reports from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that little change in strength is expected before landfall. However, Francine is anticipated to rapidly weaken after landfall, and the system is forecast to become post-tropical by Thursday night or Friday.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 40 miles from the center, and tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles. An oil platform southeast of the center recently reported sustained winds of 79 mph and a peak gust of 93 mph at an elevation of 82 ft. The National Ocean Service station at Eugene Island, Louisiana, also reported sustained winds of 76 mph and a wind gust of 99 mph.

The estimated minimum central pressure based on Hurricane Hunter aircraft data is 972 mb.