Francine is downgraded to tropical storm after making landfall in Louisiana

Francine made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane on Wednesday afternoon, bringing winds of 100 mph to Louisiana. Since Wednesday evening, Francine has been moving northeast and has been downgraded to a tropical storm, according to the National Hurricane Center.

“This general motion is expected to continue, carrying the system across southeastern Louisiana tonight and across Mississippi Thursday and Thursday night,” the hurricane center predicted.

The storm is forecast to bring up to “12 inches (of rain) across southeastern Louisiana, Mississippi, extreme southern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle” by Thursday night.

Flash floods and tornadoes may occur in these areas.

The storm will have far-reaching effects as it will flood the southern United States for the rest of the week.

“Parts of the lower Tennessee Valley, lower Mississippi Valley, northeast Florida and Alabama will experience rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches, with local amounts up to 8 inches, through Friday morning. These rainfall events could cause sudden flash flooding and urban flooding,” the NHC said.

The storm will reach northeast Arkansas and western Tennessee by Friday afternoon, and by early Saturday morning, Francine's effects are expected to be felt in southern Missouri, according to current forecasts.