Simplify the following text for a Grade 12 native English-speaking person.
Original: Although still listed as a `` Tropical Storm '' by the weather service at the time , many laypeople in New Orleans were under the impression that Cindy was a hurricane , and referred to it as `` Hurricane Cindy '' before it was officially upgraded .
Simplified: Although at the time , Cindy was still listed as a `` Tropical Storm '' by the weather service , many in New Orleans thought that Cindy was a hurricane , and referred to it as `` Hurricane Cindy '' before it was officially upgraded .