NOAA News Online (Story 2311)

LARGE HURRICANE NEARS FLORIDA EAST COAST

(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 “false color” close-up satellite image of Hurricane Frances taken at 11:15 p.m. EDT on Sept. 4, 2004, as the western portion of the storm’s large eye moves inland on the east coast of Florida.

Sept. 4, 2004 — At 11 p.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Frances was located near latitude 27.1 north, longitude 79.7 west or about 35 miles northeast of West Palm Beach, Fla. Frances is moving toward the west-northwest near 5 mph. The western portion of the eyewall has already moved over portions of Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties. A continued slow west-northwest motion is expected to move the center of the hurricane inland on Sunday, 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 11:15 p.m. EDT on Sept. 4, 2004, as the western portion of the storm’s large eye moves inland on the east coast of Florida. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Maximum sustained winds are near 105 mph with higher gusts. There is still an opportunity for some strengthening in the several hours before the center moves inland.

NOAA National Weather Service Melbourne, Fla., Doppler radar image of Hurricane Frances taken at 11:34 p.m. EDT on Sept. 4, 2004, as the western edge of the powerful storm’s center moves inland on the Florida east coast.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 85 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 200 miles. (Click NOAA National Weather Service Melbourne, Fla., Doppler radar image for larger view of Hurricane Frances taken at 11:34 p.m. EDT on Sept. 4, 2004, as the western edge of the powerful storm’s center moves inland on the Florida east coast. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Estimated minimum central pressure is 960 mb, 28.35 inches.

Storm surge flooding of 3 to 5 feet above normal tide levels can still be possible on the west and south sides of islands of the northern Bahamas.

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 on the Florida east coast. 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 surge flooding of up to 4 to 6 feet above normal tide levels is expected along the northeast Gulf Coast of Florida.

NOAA image of 11 p.m. EDT Hurricane Frances tracking map for Sept. 4, 2004.

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. (Click NOAA image for larger view of 11 p.m. EDT Hurricane Frances tracking map for Sept. 4, 2004.)

Isolated tornadoes are possible over portions of central and north Florida through early Sunday.

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.

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.

NOAA close-up satellite image of Hurricane Frances taken at 5:15 p.m. EDT on Sept. 4, 2004, shown here about 50 miles east-northeast of West Palm Beach, Fla., with sustained winds of 105 mph and higher guts.

A tropical storm warning remains 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. (Click NOAA close-up satellite image for larger view of Hurricane Frances taken at 5:15 p.m. EDT on Sept. 4, 2004, shown here about 50 miles east-northeast of West Palm Beach, Fla., with sustained winds of 105 mph and higher guts. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

A tropical storm watch remains in effect along the Florida panhandle from west of St. Marks to Panama City.

For storm information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by NOAA National Weather Service local forecast offices and statements from local emergency management officials.

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.