NOAA News Online (Story 2309)

FRANCES HESITATES, EXPECTED TO RESUME ITS MOTION TOWARD FLORIDA
LATER SATURDAY

(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 2 p.m. EDT, the large eye of Hurricane Frances was located by NOAA radar and reconnaissance aircraft near latitude 26.9 north, longitude 79.0 west or about 70 miles east of Palm Beach, Fla. Data from radar and a reconnaissance plane indicate that Frances has barely moved during the past hour. However, the hurricane is expected to resume a west to west-northwest track near 5 mph Saturday. On the forecast track, the center of the large eye of Hurricane Frances will be very near the Florida east coast by late Saturday night or early Sunday morning, 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.”)

Maximum sustained winds are near 105 mph with higher gusts. Stronger winds, especially in gusts, are possible on high rise buildings. Some strengthening is possible before landfall.

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

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 105 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 185 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. Sustained winds of 80 mph were recently reported at Jupiter Inlet. (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.”)

Minimum central pressure reported by a reconnaissance plane was 962 mb, 28.41 inches.

Storm surge flooding of 3 to 5 feet above normal tide levels can be expected on the west side of islands of the northern Bahamas.

NOAA image of 11 a.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. (Click NOAA image for larger view of 11 a.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, 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 central florida Saturday and Saturday night.

Swells generated by Frances are affecting portions of the southeastern coast of the United States. These swells could cause dangerous surf and rip currents. (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 also remains in effect for the northwestern Bahamas.

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.

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

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 for the Florida peninsula on the west coast from Anna Maria Island 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. A tropical storm watch remains in effect for the Florida west coast to just north of Anna Maria Island to St. Marks. (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.”)

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