NOAA News Online (Story 2310)

LARGE HURRICANE FRANCES REMAINS STALLED

(DISCLAIMER: See the NOAA National Hurricane Center for the latest information and more frequent updates on this storm. Complete advisories are posted at 11 a.m., 5 p.m., 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. All times are Eastern. Advisories are posted more frequently as the storm nears the USA mainland.)
Latest NOAA Satellite Image of Frances (Visible)	Latest NOAA Infrared Satellite Image of Frances	Latest NOAA Melbourne, Fla., Radar Image	NOAA Satellite/Radar Time Conversion

NOAA Òfalse colorÓ close-up satellite image of Hurricane Frances taken at 2:45 p.m. EDT on Sept. 4, 2004, as the large eye of the storm continues to move closer to the east coast of Florida.

Sept. 4, 2004 — At 5 p.m. EDT, the large eye of Hurricane Frances was located by NOAA radar and surface observations near latitude 26.9 north, longitude 79.3 west or about 50 miles east-northeast of Palm Beach, Fla. Frances has been nearly stationary for the past several hours, but the hurricane should begin to move between the west and west-northwest near 5 mph soon. On this track, the strongest winds surrounding the large eye of Frances will move across the Florida east coast Saturday night, according to the NOAA Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla. (Click NOAA “false color” close-up satellite image for larger view of Hurricane Frances taken at 2:45 p.m. EDT on Sept. 4, 2004, as the large eye of the storm continues to move closer to the east coast of Florida. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

NOAA National Weather Service Melbourne, Fla., Doppler radar image of Hurricane Frances taken at 3:20 p.m. EDT on Sept. 4, 2004, as the eye of the powerful and large storm slowly edges toward the Florida east coast.

Maximum sustained winds are near 105 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is possible before landfall. (Click NOAA National Weather Service Melbourne, Fla., Doppler radar image for larger view of Hurricane Frances taken at 3:20 p.m. EDT on Sept. 4, 2004, as the eye of the powerful and large storm slowly edges toward the Florida east coast. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 75 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 205 miles. Strong winds are already affecting the east coast of Florida and will be spreading inland where warnings for hurricane and tropical storm force winds have been issued.

Estimated minimum central pressure is 962 mb, 28.41 inches.

NOAA image of 5 p.m. EDT Hurricane Frances tracking map for Sept. 4, 2004.)

Storm surge flooding of 3 to 5 feet above normal tide levels can still be possible on the west side of islands of the northern Bahamas. (Click NOAA image for larger view of 5 p.m. EDT Hurricane Frances tracking map for Sept. 4, 2004.)

Coastal storm surge flooding of 4 to 6 feet above normal tide levels, along with large and dangerous battering waves, is expected near and to the north of where the center makes landfall in Florida. Storm surge flooding of 5 feet above normal levels is expected in Lake Okeechobee. Along the southwest Florida coast storm surge flooding of 1 to 3 feet above normal tide levels is expected south of the path of Frances.

Storm total rainfall amounts could reach 20 inches in the northwest Bahamas. Rainfall amounts of 8 to 12 inches, with locally higher amounts to near 20 inches, are expected over the Florida peninsula in association with Frances.

NOAA satellite image of Hurricane Frances taken at 8:45 a.m. EDT on Sept. 4, 2004, as the storm begins to lash the east coast of Florida.

Isolated tornadoes are possible over portions of central and south Florida Saturday night. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Hurricane Frances taken at 8:45 a.m. EDT on Sept. 4, 2004, as the storm begins to lash the east coast of Florida. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

A hurricane warning remains in effect for the east coast of Florida from Florida City northward to Flagler Beach, including Lake Okeechobee. A hurricane warning remains in effect for Grand Bahama, Abaco, Bimimi and the Berry Islands.

NOAA close-up satellite image of Hurricane Frances taken at 7:49 a.m. EDT on Sept. 4, 2004, as the large storm moved closer to the Florida east coast.

At 5 p.m. EDT, the hurricane warning is discontinued for the remainder of the northwestern Bahamas. (Click NOAA close-up satellite image for larger view of Hurricane Frances taken at 7:49 a.m. EDT on Sept. 4, 2004, as the large storm moved closer to the Florida east coast. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.

NOAA satellite image of Hurricane Frances and Tropical Storm Ivan taken at 2:45 p.m. EDT on Sept. 4, 2004, as both storms churn in the Atlantic.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect from north of Flagler Beach to Altamaha Sound. A hurricane watch remain in effect from north of Flagler Beach to Fernandina Beach. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Hurricane Frances and Tropical Storm Ivan taken at 2:45 p.m. EDT on Sept. 4, 2004, as both storms churn in the Atlantic. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

At 5 p.m. EDT, the tropical storm warning was extended northward along the Florida west coast to St. Marks. A tropical storm warning is now in effect for the Florida peninsula on the west coast from St. Marks southward around the southern end of the peninsula to just south of Florida City on the southeast coast, and for the middle and upper Keys from south of Florida City to the Seven Mile Bridge and for Florida Bay.

The tropical storm watch was extended along the Florida panhandle from west of St. Marks to Panama City.

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