Hurricane Francine is barreling towards Louisiana, with forecasters warning of life-threatening floods and winds upon its expected landfall. Strengthening into a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds near 150 km/h, the storm is set to hit the state later today. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has declared a state of emergency and requested federal assistance, which President Joe Biden swiftly approved.
The Louisiana National Guard is mobilizing resources for evacuations and search and rescue efforts, while schools and universities in Baton Rouge have closed preemptively until Friday. Louisiana, known for the devastating Hurricane Katrina in 2005, is a critical trade hub and relies heavily on the oil and gas industry.
The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season started strong but has only seen three hurricanes so far, including the early Category 5 Hurricane Beryl. Scientists attribute the rapid intensification of storms to climate change, as warmer oceans provide more energy for storms to grow.