NOAA News Online (Story 2306)

OUTER SQUALLS OF DANGEROUS HURRICANE FRANCES MOVING OVER THE
FLORIDA EAST COAST; WEATHER SHOULD BEGIN TO DETERIORATE GRADUALLY

(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 satellite image of Hurricane Frances taken at 4:15 p.m. EDT on Sept. 3, 2004, as the storm’s outer edge begins to reach the east coast of Florida.

Sept. 3, 2004 — At 5 p.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Frances was located near latitude 25.9 north, longitude 77.5 west or about 90 miles east-southeast of Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, and 200 miles east-southeast of the Florida lower east coast, according to the NOAA Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Hurricane Frances taken at 4:15 p.m. EDT on Sept. 3, 2004, as the storm’s outer edge begins to reach the east coast of Florida. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Frances has been wobbling but in general is moving toward the west-northwest near 8 mph. A west-northwest to northwest motion, with some decrease in forward speed, is expected

NOAA close-up satellite image of Hurricane Frances taken at 2:15 p.m. EDT on Sept. 3, 2004, as the powerful storm continued its march toward the east coast of Florida.

during the next 24 hours. On this track, the core of Hurricane Frances will continue to move near or over the northwestern Bahamas Friday and will be near the Florida coast on Saturday. (Click NOAA close-up satellite image for larger view of Hurricane Frances taken at 2:15 p.m. EDT on Sept. 3, 2004, as the powerful storm continued its march toward the east coast of Florida. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Maximum sustained winds are 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.

Minimum central pressure reported by a hurricane hunter plane was 959 mb, 28.32 inches.

Storm surge flooding of 6 to 14 feet above normal tide Levels, along with dangerous battering waves, can be expected near the eye of Frances on the north side of Grand Bahama Island.

NOAA satellite image of Hurricane Frances taken at 2:15 p.m. EDT on Sept. 3, 2004, with its eye visible from space.

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 4 to 5 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. Storm surge flooding of 6 feet above normal lake water level is expected in Lake Okeechobee. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Hurricane Frances taken at 2:15 p.m. EDT on Sept. 3, 2004, with its eye visible from space. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Rainfall amounts of 7 to 12 inches, locally as high as 20 inches, are possible in association with Frances.

NOAA Melbourne, Fla., Doppler radar image of Hurricane Frances taken at 5:32 p.m. EDT on Sept. 3, 2004, as the outer most bands of the powerful storm being to reach the east coast of Florida.

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. (Click image for larger view of NOAA Melbourne, Fla., Doppler radar image of Hurricane Frances taken at 5:32 p.m. EDT on Sept. 3, 2004, as the outer most bands of the powerful storm being to reach the east coast of Florida. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

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 northwestern Bahamas.

A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours. Preparations to protect

NOAA image of 5 p.m. EDT Hurricane Frances tracking map for Sept. 3, 2004.

life and property should be rushed to completion.

At 5 p.m. EDT, a tropical storm warning was issued from north of Flagler Beach northward to Fernandina Beach. A hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning are now in effect from north of Flagler Beach northward to Fernandina Beach. (Click NOAA image for larger view of 5 p.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. The hurricane warning for the central Bahamas was discontinued.

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