As Hurricane Francine edges closer to Louisiana, thousands of residents are experiencing power outages, primarily in Jefferson Parish. WGNO reports that a total of 5,970 customers were left without electricity Wednesday in the Kenner and Metairie areas, while a later update indicated that the number dropped to 1,678 residents without power in Jefferson Parish as of 12:30 p.m.

The blackout occurred as the region braces for Hurricane Francine, anticipated to bring sustained winds of 90 mph, with a storm surge, flood threats, and increased risk of tornadoes. The hurricane is expected to strengthen to a Category 1 as it approaches land this afternoon or evening. Meanwhile, Entergy Louisiana has identified, a substation issue as the cause of the outages in the Metairie area – which is not directly storm related. "We’ve taken proactive steps such as trimming trees and limbs away from critical power lines," Entergy spokesperson Brandon Scardigli reported to Nola.com. This was confirmed prior to the storm's expected landfall.

As preparations for the imminent storm continue, outages have spread to additional neighborhoods. According to the Entergy Louisiana's social media updates, they are actively preparing for further disruptions during the storm. On the West Bank of Jefferson Parish, as tracked by WDSU, there were 1,600 customers without power as of 1 p.m. Wednesday.

Utility companies remain vigilant as the situation unfolds, while Cleco is not reporting any significant outages at this time, the focus is on Entergy's efforts to restore power amidst a looming natural threat. The latest forecasts indicate a slight eastward shift in Hurricane Francine's path, which may affect how the storm impacts the region and its power grid. Residents are urged to take caution and prepare for the possible escalation of weather conditions, and accompanying disruptions.