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FRANCES WEAKENING AS IT MOVES ACROSS THE FLORIDA PENINSULA, HEADING FOR THE GULF OF MEXICO
(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.)

NOAA close-up satellite image of Hurricane Frances taken at 7:26 a.m. EDT on Sept. 5, 2004, as the very large storm covers the entire state of Florida with its pounding winds and rain.Sept. 5, 2004 — At 2 p.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Frances was located by NOAA radar near latitude 27.9 north, longitude 81.7 west or about 55 miles east of Tampa, Fla. The large circulation of Frances is moving toward the west-northwest near 9 mph. A continued west to west-northwest track across the peninsula is expected Sunday, and Frances should move over the Gulf of Mexico late Sunday night or Monday morning, according to the NOAA Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla. (Click NOAA close-up satellite image for larger view of Hurricane Frances taken at 7:26 a.m. EDT on Sept. 5, 2004, as the very large storm covers the entire state of Florida with its pounding winds and rain. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Radar wind velocity data suggest that maximum sustained winds have decreased to 75 mph with higher gusts. Some additional weakening is expected Sunday afternoon as the core of Frances moves over land.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 200 miles. Stronger winds, especially in gusts, are likely in high rise buildings. A wind gust of 74 mph was recently reported at Daytona Beach.

NOAA overhead satellite image of Hurricane Frances taken at 11:15 a.m. EDT on Sept. 5, 2004, as the storm covers the state of Florida with its furious winds and heavy rains.Estimated minimum central pressure is 980 mb, 28.94 inches. (Click NOAA overhead satellite image for larger view of Hurricane Frances taken at 11:15 a.m. EDT on Sept. 5, 2004, as the storm covers the state of Florida with its furious winds and heavy rains. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Coastal storm surge flooding of 4 to 6 feet above normal tide levels, along with large and dangerous battering waves, is still possible near and to the north of where the center made landfall on the Florida east coast but should gradually subside. 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 a.m. EDT Hurricane Frances tracking map for Sept. 5, 2004.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 a.m. EDT Hurricane Frances tracking map for Sept. 5, 2004.)

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

A hurricane warning is in effect for the Gulf Coast of Florida from the mouth of the Suwannee River to Destin.

A hurricane warning remains in effect for the east coast of Florida from north of Deerfield Beach northward to Flagler Beach, including Lake Okeechobee. The hurricane warning for this area will likely be downgraded to a tropical storm warning later Sunday afternoon.

NOAA oblique satellite image of Hurricane Frances taken at 12:15 p.m. EDT on Sept. 5, 2004, as the storms lumbers across the state of Florida.
(Click NOAA oblique satellite image for larger view of Hurricane Frances taken at 12:15 p.m. EDT on Sept. 5, 2004, as the storms lumbers across the state of Florida. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”) 		NOAA image of Hurricane Frances taken at 11:40 p.m. EDT on Sept. 4, 2004, as the very large eye of the storm makes landfall.
(Click NOAA image for larger view of Hurricane Frances taken at 11:40 p.m. EDT on Sept. 4, 2004, as the very large eye of the storm makes landfall. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)
NOAA image of Hurricane Frances taken at 11:15 a.m. EDT on Sept. 5, 2004, as the very large storm slowly makes its way across the state of Florida and now Hurricane Ivan seemingly following in her footsteps.(Click NOAA image for larger view of Hurricane Frances taken at 11:15 a.m. EDT on Sept. 5, 2004, as the very large storm slowly makes its way across the state of Florida and now Hurricane Ivan seemingly following in her footsteps. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”) NOAA image of Hurricane Frances taken at 11:15 a.m. EDT on Sept. 5, 2004, as the very large storm slowly makes its way across the state of Florida and now Hurricane Ivan seemingly following in her footsteps.
(Click NOAA image for larger view of Hurricane Frances taken at 11:15 a.m. EDT on Sept. 5, 2004, as the very large storm slowly makes its way across the state of Florida and now Hurricane Ivan seemingly following in her footsteps. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)


A tropical storm warning remains in effect for the Florida peninsula on the west coast from the Suwannee River southward around the peninsula to Deerfield Beach and for all of the Florida Keys, including Florida Bay and the Dry Tortugas.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect from north of Flagler Beach to Altamaha Sound.

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.

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Relevant Web Sites
NOAA National Hurricane Center — Get the latest advisories here

NOAA Hurricane Frances Archived Images from the NOAA Visualization Lab

NOAA Satellite Services Division — Latest Images

NOAA 3-D Satellite Images

NOAA Enhanced Satellite Images

NOAA Atlantic Hurricanes Database — 150 Years of Atlantic Hurricanes

Above-normal 2004 Atlantic Hurricane Season Predicted

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale

NOAA Flood Products

NOAA Inland Flooding Information

Significant River Flood Outlook

NOAA Rainfall Graphics
24-hour Observed Precipitation as of 8 a.m. today

Latest rainfall data as of 8 a.m. EDT today

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NOAA Tides Online

NOAA Satellite Images — The latest satellite views

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NOAA Hurricanes Page

NOAA Storm Watch — Get the latest severe weather information across the USA

Media Contact:
Frank Lepore, NOAA Hurricane Center, (305) 229-4404