NOAA News Online (Story 2305)

HURRICANE FRANCES BRINGS WIND GUSTS OF 115 MPH IN THE ABACOS

(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 image of Hurricane Frances taken at 9:45 a.m. EDT on Sept. 3, 2004, as it batters the Bahamas with its powerful 120 mph winds.

Sept. 3, 2004 — At 11 a.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Frances was located by surface observations from the Bahamas and a reconnaissance plane near latitude 25.5 north, longitude 76.7 west or about 40 miles northwest of Eleuthera Island and 220 miles east-southeast of the Florida lower east coast, according to the NOAA Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla. (Click NOAA image for lager view of Hurricane Frances taken at 9:45 a.m. EDT on Sept. 3, 2004, as it batters the Bahamas with its powerful 120 mph winds. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.)

NOAA image of Melbourne, Fla., Doppler radar image of Hurricane Frances taken at 11:53 a.m. EDT on Sept. 3, 2004, as the outer most bands of the powerful storm get ever closer to the east coast of Florida.

Frances is moving toward the northwest near 9 mph. A west-northwest to northwest motion, with some decrease in forward speed, is expected during the next 24 hours. On this track, the core of Hurricane Frances will continue to move near or over the northwestern Bahamas Friday. (Click NOAA image for lager view of Melbourne, Fla., Doppler radar image of Hurricane Frances taken at 11:53 a.m. EDT on Sept. 3, 2004, as the outer most bands of the powerful storm get ever closer to the east coast of Florida. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 115 mph with higher gusts. Some fluctuations in intensity are forecast during the next 24 hours.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 85 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 185 miles. Eleuthera is

NOAA image of Hurricane Frances taken at 8:45 a.m. EDT on Sept. 3, 2004, with Florida very much its target.

now reporting westerly winds of near 60 mph and a minimum pressure of 958 mb, 28.30 inches. Little Harbor in the Abacos just reported a wind gust of 115 mph. (Click NOAA image for lager view of Hurricane Frances taken at 8:45 a.m. EDT on Sept. 3, 2004, with Florida very much its target. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Storm surge flooding of 6 to 14 feet above normal tide levels, along with large and dangerous battering waves, can be expected near the eye of Frances on the west side of Eleuthera Island and on the north side of Grand Bahama Island. Storm surge flooding of 4 to 6 feet above normal tide levels can be expected on the west side of the other islands of the Bahamas. Coastal storm surge flooding of 5 to 10 feet above normal tide levels, along with large and dangerous battering waves, can be expected near and to the north of where the center makes landfall in Florida.

NOAA image of Hurricane Frances taken at 8:45 a.m. EDT on Sept. 3, 2004, as it looms off the Florida east coast while pummeling the Bahamas.

Rainfall amounts of 7 to 12 inches, locally as high as 20 inches, are possible in association with Frances. (Click NOAA image for lager view of Hurricane Frances taken at 8:45 a.m. EDT on Sept. 3, 2004, as it looms off the Florida east coast while pummeling the Bahamas. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Swells generated by Frances will be affecting portions of the southeastern coast of the United States. These swells could cause dangerous surf and rip currents.

A hurricane warning is in effect for the east coast of Florida from Florida City northward to Flagler Beach, including Lake Okeechobee. A hurricane warning also remains in effect for the central and northwestern Bahamas.

NOAA image of 11 a.m. EDT Hurricane Frances tracking map for Sept. 3, 2004.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect for the middle and upper Florida Keys from south of Florida City southward to the Seven Mile Bridge, including Florida Bay. (Click NOAA image for larger view of 11 a.m. EDT Hurricane Frances tracking map for Sept. 3, 2004.)

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.

At 11 a.m. EDT, a hurricane watch was issued from north of Flagler Beach northward to Fernandina Beach. The hurricane watch for the middle and upper Florida Keys from south of Florida City southward to the Seven Mile Bridge, including Florida Bay was discontinued.

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation’s coastal and marine resources. NOAA is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.