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Hurricane Frances
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Hurricane Frances
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Hurricane Frances
Frances at peak intensity north of Puerto Rico on August 31
Meteorological history
FormedAugust 24, 2004 (2004-08-24)
ExtratropicalSeptember 8, 2004
DissipatedSeptember 10, 2004 (2004-09-10)
Category 4 major hurricane
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds145 mph (230 km/h)
Lowest pressure935 mbar (hPa); 27.61 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities50 (7 direct, 43 indirect)
Damage$10.1 billion (2004 USD)
Areas affected
IBTrACSEdit this at Wikidata
Part of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Frances was the second most intense tropical cyclone in the Atlantic during 2004 and proved to be very destructive in Florida. It was the sixth named storm, the fourth hurricane, and the third major hurricane of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. The system crossed the open Atlantic in late August, moving to the north of the Lesser Antilles while strengthening. Its outer bands struck Puerto Rico and the British Virgin Islands while passing north of the Caribbean Sea. The storm's maximum sustained winds peaked at 145 mph (233 km/h), achieving Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. As the system's forward motion slowed, the eye passed over San Salvador Island and very close to Cat Island in the Bahamas. Frances was the first hurricane to impact the entire Bahamian archipelago since 1928 and almost completely destroyed their agricultural economy.

Frances then passed over the central sections of Florida, three weeks after Hurricane Charley, causing significant damage to the state's citrus crop, closing major airports and schools, and forcing the cancellation of a collegiate football game. The storm then moved briefly offshore from Florida, into the northeast Gulf of Mexico, and made a second U.S. landfall, on the Florida Panhandle, before accelerating northeast through the eastern United States near the Appalachians and into Atlantic Canada while weakening. A significant tornado outbreak accompanied the storm across the eastern United States, with a total of 103 confirmed tornadoes, making it the third highest number of tornadoes spawned from a tropical cyclone, behind Hurricane Beulah of 1967, which produced 115 tornadoes. Very heavy rains fell in association with this slow-moving and relatively large hurricane, which caused floods in Florida and North Carolina. 50 people died and damages totaled US$10.1 billion (2004 dollars).

Meteorological history

[edit]
Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

A strong tropical wave moved off the west coast of Africa on August 21.[1] Moving under the base of the subtropical ridge, it moved westward for several days, remaining disorganized despite favorable conditions.[2] Thunderstorms associated with the wave finally began organizing on August 24[3] and the system became a tropical depression early the next day.[4] Good upper-level outflow was observed in all but the eastern quadrants as the depression continued on its path,[5] and it strengthened to tropical storm status on August 25, approximately 1,420 miles (2,290 km) east of the Lesser Antilles.[6]

The tropical storm, now named Frances, further intensified on August 26 in an environment of low vertical wind shear as its track bent to the west-northwest.[7] Frances rapidly intensified, developing an eye and reaching hurricane strength late that afternoon.[8] An approaching upper-level trough caused Frances to move more northwesterly on August 27.[9] The cyclone reached its primary peak intensity of 135 miles per hour (217 km/h) on August 28.[10] The hurricane turned back to its original westward motion on August 29, as the upper trough moved away the region and the subtropical ridge strengthened to Frances's north.[11]

Photo of Hurricane Frances taken by Mike Fincke aboard the International Space Station on August 27, 2004

Over the next day, the hurricane underwent an eyewall replacement cycle, during which the maximum sustained winds decreased to 115 miles per hour (185 km/h).[12] This weakening trend was short lived, and the storm reintensified during the afternoon of August 30, as vertical wind shear remained low.[13] The storm continued strengthening as it turned west-northwestward, reaching its peak intensity of 145 miles per hour (233 km/h) on September 2 while 555 miles (893 km) east-southeast of West Palm Beach, Florida.[14] On September 2, Frances entered the Bahamas, passing directly over San Salvador Island and very close to Cat Island. The storm weakened to a Category 3 hurricane by 2 pm, which was initially attributed to inner core processes,[15] but increasing westerly winds aloft, and the resultant vertical wind shear, was later determined to be the cause.[12] On September 3, Frances passed into the vicinity of Abaco Island and directly over Grand Bahama while continuing to slowly weaken. The storm regained Category 2 hurricane intensity prior to passing over Grand Bahama Island and also slowed in forward speed due to a weakness in the subtropical ridge to its north. Parts of South Florida began to be affected by squalls and the outer rainbands of the hurricane at this time. Gusts from 40 miles per hour (64 km/h) to as high as 87 miles per hour (140 km/h) were reported from Jupiter Inlet to Miami.[12]

Frances moved slowly, between 5 and 10 miles per hour (8.0 and 16.1 km/h), as it crossed the warm Gulf Stream between the Bahamas and Florida, leading to the concern that it could restrengthen. However, Frances remained stable at Category 2 intensity with 105 miles per hour (169 km/h) maximum sustained winds while it battered the east coast of Florida between Fort Pierce and West Palm Beach for much of September 4. At 11 pm, the western edge of the eyewall began moving onshore. Because of its large eye, which was roughly 80 miles (130 km) across, and its slow forward motion, the center of circulation remained offshore for several more hours. At 1 am EDT on September 5 (0500 UTC), the center of the broad eye of Frances made landfall along the Florida coast, at the southern end of Hutchinson Island, near Sewall's Point, Jensen Beach, and Port Salerno, Florida.[12] Late on September 5, Frances picked up speed due to a strengthening high pressure system to its north and crossed the Florida Peninsula, emerging over the Gulf of Mexico near Tampa as a tropical storm. After a short trip over the Gulf of Mexico, Frances made a second landfall near St. Marks, Florida. Frances headed inland, weakening to a tropical depression and causing heavy rainfall over the southern and eastern United States. As Tropical Depression Frances turned northeast,[12] United States meteorologists at the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center continued issuing advisories on the system until it crossed the Canada–United States border into Quebec, where heavy rainfall also fell.[16]

Preparations

[edit]
Radar mosaic of Hurricane Frances making landfall on Hutchinson Island near Port St. Lucie, Florida, on September 5

A tropical storm watch was issued for Frances for the Leeward Islands during the afternoon of August 29, which was upgraded to a warning that night and expanded to include the islands of Anguilla, Antigua, Barbuda, Nevis, Saba, Saint Kitts, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten. A hurricane watch was issued during the night of August 29 for the northern British Virgin Islands, the northern United States Virgin Islands, Culebra, and Vieques. On the morning of August 30, the hurricane watch for Vieques was downgraded to a tropical storm watch. That afternoon, hurricane watches were changed to tropical storm warnings across Puerto Rico, Culebra, Vieques, British Virgin Islands, and the northern U. S. Virgin Islands while a tropical storm watch was issued for St. Croix while all remaining hurricane watches were dropped. That night, tropical storm watches were issued for eastern portions of the northern coast of the Dominican Republic while a tropical storm warning was issued for Guadeloupe.[12]

Early on the morning of August 31, tropical storm warnings were dropped for Antigua, Barbuda, Nevis, and St. Kitts while hurricane watches were issued for the southeast Bahamas as well as the Turks and Caicos Islands. Hurricane watches were upgraded to hurricane warnings later that morning. Toward noon, tropical storm warnings were issued for the remainder of the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, a hurricane watch was issued for the central Bahamas, while all watches and warnings were dropped for northeast portion of the Dominican Republic and portions of the Lesser Antilles south of the British Virgin Islands. That afternoon, tropical storm warnings were dropped from Puerto Rico eastward. On the morning of September 1, a hurricane watch was issued for the northwest Bahamas while the watch for the central Bahamas was upgraded to a warning. That afternoon, warnings were dropped for the Dominican Republic.[12]

Hurricane Frances over Florida on September 5

On the evening of September 1, hurricane warnings were issued for the northwest Bahamas while hurricane watches were issued for the lower east coast of Florida and tropical storm watches were issued for the Florida Keys. There was the potential for catastrophic damage along Florida's heavily populated east coast, with warnings that damages from Frances could exceed the insured losses of Hurricane Andrew.[17] These damage estimates were in anticipation that Frances would strike Florida as a strong Category Four hurricane. Preparations for the storm were stepped up in Florida on September 1. Governor Jeb Bush declared a state of emergency,[18] Kennedy Space Center closed down,[19] and evacuations of 500,000 people were initially ordered. Eventually 41 counties received evacuation orders, covering 2.8 million residents, the largest evacuation in Florida's history.[20] The state education system also responded to the pending crisis. Many universities across Florida canceled classes. Both the University of Central Florida and the University of North Florida told all students to leave their dorms. Evacuation at the University of South Florida was performed on a dorm-by-dorm basis. Florida Atlantic University was closed for a week and a half. Most schools were shut down from southern Miami-Dade County to just south of Melbourne two days before the hurricane. The annual Florida State University-University of Miami college football game was rescheduled for the following week.[21] The entire Major League Baseball series between the Florida Marlins and Chicago Cubs was postponed as well.[22] Walt Disney World closed on September 4 and September 5  —[23] only the third time it had closed for a hurricane, but the second time in a month.[24]

Early during the morning of September 2, hurricane watches were extended southward to Craig Key. Later that morning, hurricane watches were upgraded to hurricane warnings for the lower east coast of Florida while a hurricane watch and tropical storm warning was raised for most of the Florida Keys and Florida Bay. Hurricane warnings were dropped for the Turks and Caicos Islands late on the morning of September 1 and for the Southeast Bahamas late that night. Late on the morning of September 3, hurricane watches were issued for the northeast coast of Florida, while early that afternoon tropical storm warnings were issued for the same area. Hurricane warnings were dropped for the central Bahamas that afternoon. That night, tropical storm warnings were issued for the southwest coast of the Florida peninsula with watches issued for the northwest Florida peninsula. On the morning of September 4, tropical storm warnings were extended northward to Anna Maria Island and along the Georgia coast. Tropical storm watches were extended northward to St. Marks, Florida. That afternoon, hurricane watches were dropped for most of the northwest Bahamas while warnings were extended up the coast to St. Marks, and watches were extended westward to Panama City, Florida.[12]

Early on morning of September 5, hurricane warnings were downgraded to tropical storm warnings south of Deerfield Beach, Florida, while tropical storm warnings were extended westward through the western Florida Keys. Later that morning, hurricane warnings were issued for most of the northwest Florida coast while hurricane watches were lowered for northeast Florida and hurricane warnings were dropped for the remainder of the northwest Bahamas. That afternoon, all warnings were dropped for southeast Florida south of Jupiter Inlet, while the remaining hurricane warnings along the east Florida coast were downgraded to tropical storm warnings. Hurricane warnings along the coast of western Florida were extended southward to Anna Maria Island. Late that night, tropical storm warnings were dropped south of Bonita Beach including all the Florida Keys. Early on the morning of September 6, all warnings were dropped in Florida south of Englewood and Cocoa Beach. Later that morning, hurricane warnings were downgraded to tropical storm warnings between Indian Pass and Destin as well as between Anna Maria Island and the Suwannee River while all remaining warnings were dropped south of Anna Maria Island, as well as the Florida east coast and the Georgia coast. That afternoon, all hurricane warnings were downgraded to tropical storm warnings, with all warnings dropped between west of St. Marks and south of the Suwannee river. On the night of September 6, all remaining tropical cyclone warnings were dropped.[12]

Impact

[edit]

The economic effect was felt early, as the storm struck during Labor Day weekend, traditionally the final summer vacation weekend in the United States.[25] Many hotel reservations from South Carolina to Florida were canceled as people, seeing the destruction caused weeks earlier by Hurricane Charley, decided to avoid the coastal areas for safety. One death in the Bahamas, one in Ohio, and five in Florida were directly attributed to the storm. 42 more deaths - 32 in Florida, eight in Georgia, one in the Bahamas and one in Ohio, are indirectly attributed to Frances.[12]

The total civilian damage from Frances was determined to be approximately US$8.86 billion (2004 dollars). Add in the estimated US$100 million damage (2004 dollars) done to space and military facilities at Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and Patrick Air Force Base, Florida and the total damage was estimated to be about US$9 billion (2004 dollars), making it the fourth costliest hurricane in United States history at that time, behind Hurricane Andrew of 1992 and Hurricanes Charley and Ivan of 2004.[12] At the time, adjusted for inflation, it became the seventh costliest hurricane for the lower 48 United States.[26] Flooding was also reported in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Minor flooding happened along the banks of the three rivers and more damage was associated with river tributaries.[27]

Lucayan Archipelago

[edit]
Hurricane Frances over the Bahamas on September 3

Although the hurricane moved close to the Turks and Caicos Islands, only minor impact occurred there. More than a dozen homes sustained damage. One person was rescued after the roof blew off her residence.[28]

In the Bahamas, between 13 and 17 percent of the non-native Australian pine on San Salvador Island experienced damage, primarily from snapping, though some browning from salt spray was noted.[29] Frances destroyed five homes on the island, while eighty others experienced suffered roof damage.[30] San Salvador reported a wind gust of 120 mph (190 km/h), the strongest gust observed in the Bahamas.[12] The streets of the city capital of Nassau were littered with falling trees and satellite dishes.[28] At nearby Cable Beach, a grocery store completely lost its roof.[31]

Approximately 50% of residences in Coopers Town and North Abaco on the Abaco Islands sustained damage, with some losing a large amount of their roofs. Additionally, about 20 homes were flooded in Marsh Harbour.[30] Several people suffered injuries when the roof of a hospital collapsed in South Abaco; patients were evacuated to Nassau by helicopter.[32] On Grand Bahama, several feet of water flooded the international airport at Freeport, while about 1 ft (0.30 m) of water covered streets and surrounded homes nearby. Bahamian member of parliament Obie Wilchcombe reported that during the eye of the storm, he and others rescued approximately 70 people, who became trapped after storm surge entered their residences on the west end of the island.[31]

About 75% of the island chain lost power for a few hours during the storm.[31] Insurers and reinsurers estimated industry insured losses at about $300 million (2004 dollars) throughout the Bahamas.[33] All cool-season vegetable plantings, and the entire banana crop, were lost during Frances. The pineapple crop was significantly impacted by wind damage in Eleuthera, while the entire fruit crop was lost for similar reasons. The corn crop in Long Island and Cat Island was completely lost. Significant poultry losses were experienced.[34] Two people in the Bahamas were killed by the storm, one directly and the other indirectly.[12]

Florida

[edit]
Storm total Rainfall from Frances
A severely damaged mobile home in Pahokee

Prior to Frances weakening to a tropical storm, hurricane-force winds in Florida extended up to a width of 145 mi (235 km) from the cyclone's center.[35] The highest recorded sustained wind speed in Florida was 85 mph (137 km/h) at the United States Army Corps of Engineers's Port Mayaca station. Officially, wind gust observations in the state reached as high as 108 mph (174 km/h) in Fort Pierce, while an identical, unofficial wind gust was reported in Martin County.[12] Consequently, a peak total of 4,270,583 customers across Florida lost electricity.[35] Additionally, wind damage to citrus groves led to a near total loss near the coast of east-central and southeast Florida between Boca Raton and Melbourne, with lesser damage farther to the west across the Kissimmee River basin.[36] Between Hurricane Charley and Frances, citrus losses totaled $2 billion.[37]

Frances also produced heavy rains in the state, peaking at 16.61 in (422 mm) in Kent Grove, near Spring Hill.[38] Large portions of west-central and northeast Florida also reported precipitation amounts of at least 10 in (250 mm).[39] Significant storm surge impacted both coasts, with a surge up to 5.89 ft (1.80 m) above mean sea level recorded at the St. Lucie Lock. However, the National Weather Service estimated that storm surge may have reached as high as 8 ft (2.4 m) above ground near Vero Beach.[12] Extensive to moderate erosion impacted the Atlantic coast of Florida from Martin County to Volusia County,[40]: 12  resulting in substantial damage to 546 structures within the Coastal Building Zone.[40]: 16  On the Gulf Coast, however, erosion and coastal flood specifically relating to the storm often became difficult to determine due to Charley less than a month earlier and then Ivan and Jeanne shortly after Frances.[40]: 82 

Frances produced tropical storm-force wind gusts as far south as the Florida Keys. However, only minor damage was reported there.[41] In Southwest Florida, Glades and Hendry recorded sustained tropical storm-force winds and hurricane-force wind gusts.[42] The former suffered about $25 million in damage – $20 million to crops and $5 million to property.[43] Each county of the Miami metropolitan area – Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach – reported hundreds of thousands of power outages. Significant impacts occurred in parts of South Florida, especially Palm Beach County, where the southern eyewall of Frances crossed as it made landfall farther north.[42] Heavy rains, including 13.56 in (344 mm) at Palm Beach International Airport, caused a large sinkhole to develop on Interstate 95, which closed the highway to traffic.[44] Roughly 15,000 houses and 2,400 businesses in the county were inflicted some degree of damage. Frances left about $570 million in damage in Palm Beach County, with about $70 million incurred to crops. Broward and Miami-Dade counties suffered about $80 million and $34 million in damages, respectively.[42]

Near the point of its first landfall, few structures were destroyed and ocean overwash across the barrier island was limited, though the extent of the damage far exceeded that of Hurricane Charley.[45] Significant tree damage was reported within golf courses along the Treasure Coast, with an average of 300-500 trees experiencing damage per course.[46] Throughout the tri-county region – Martin, Indian River, and St. Lucie – hundreds of businesses, homes, and mobile homes suffered destruction, while thousands of other structures experienced various degrees of damage.[47] The storm inflicted impacts on 1,319 homes in Martin County, 52 of which were destroyed.[48] In St. Lucie County, Frances destroyed the municipal marina in Fort Pierce and several hangars at the Treasure Coast International Airport.[49] A total of 1,129 dwellings in the county became uninhabitable.[50] A bridge carrying State Highway A1A was washed away and destroyed on Hutchinson Island.[49] At least 3,000 homes and about 50% of businesses were damaged in Indian River County.[51] Property damage in the Treasure Coast totaled approximately $4.5 billion, while roughly $88.8 million in crop damage also occurred in the region.[52]

Xenon lights illuminate the 525 ft (160 m) tall Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center, Florida where workers make repairs on September 30, 2004.

Just inland from the Treasure Coast, Okeechobee County likely experienced sustained hurricane-force winds in most areas. The storm damaged 22,688 homes, nearly 700 of which were demolished.[53] In Osceola County, Frances damaged 69 dwellings and 3 businesses.[51] Heavy rainfall caused major street flooding in Kissimmee and St. Cloud, while water entered some workplaces and residences.[54] The Orlando International Airport in Orange County reported sustained winds of 54 mph (87 km/h) and gusts up to 69 mph (111 km/h).[12] Across the county, the cyclone damaged some 3,000 homes and 1,600 businesses.[51]

Ground-level wind gusts in Brevard County reached 90 mph (140 km/h) at Merritt Island Airport.[49] Across the county, Frances damaged 12,130 homes to some degree. Additionally, the storm ripped off 820 4-by-10 foot aluminum panels covering the large Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center.[55] While Charley caused $700,000 damage, Frances's damage was significantly greater. Two external fuel tanks for the Space Shuttle were in the building but seemed undamaged. The Space Shuttle Discovery's hangar was without power.[56] Overall, Brevard County experienced about $277.6 million in damage,[51] with more than one-third of that figure, $100 million, incurred to space and military facilities around Cape Canaveral.[12] Volusia County was also among those experiencing the most extensive effects. Throughout the county, Frances damaged 478 businesses, 19,958 single-family homes, 4,800 mobile homes, and 1,414 agriculture-related structures. The hurricane left about $238.5 million in damage in the county.[49]

Mosaic Hazardous Waste Release

[edit]

On September 5, 2004, acidic process water was released from the Mosaic Fertilizer, LLC storage containment system during Hurricane Frances. By the following day, an estimated 65 million gallons had emptied into Archie Creek Canal, Hillsborough Bay, and surrounding wetlands.[57]

Georgia

[edit]

Frances dropped significant rain on Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and North and South Carolina. The passage of tropical depression Frances into Georgia dumped up to 5 inches (130 mm) of rain onto the state and caused the closings of schools in 56 counties. Across Georgia, winds of 30 to 40 miles per hour (48 to 64 km/h), with gusts to 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) led to the downing of tree branches and power lines.[58] At one point on September 7, a total of 380,000 residences were without power.[59] Significant crop damage was seen, particularly to the cotton and the peanut crops. On average, 30 percent of the crops were lost during Frances.[60]

Carolinas

[edit]

Flooding was reported even in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast states, particularly along the Appalachian Mountains. A strip of upslope-induced rainfall along the Blue Ridge escarpment produced as much as 23 inches (580 mm) of rain in some areas of western North Carolina as the warm tropical air surged up and over the mountains.[39] Flooding along the Swannanoa River near Asheville, North Carolina caused a major break in Asheville's water distribution system, leaving the city without water for several days. The Pigeon River flooded in Haywood County, leaving many homeless and many businesses closed, including the town hall of Canton. Significant crop damage was seen into North Carolina, which reported $55 million in crop damage.[61] Frances also spawned 101 tornadoes from Florida to as far north as Virginia, shy of the single storm tornado record set during Hurricane Beulah.[12] Power outages affected up to six million people. Over 20 airports closed during the storm.

Canada

[edit]

As an extratropical cyclone, Frances passed through southern Ontario. The storm dropped up to 5.39 inches (137 mm),[62] washing out roads and causing localized flooding in Quebec, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland. This rainfall smashed all-time rainfall records in a 24-hour period (most of the rain fell in a 6 to 8 hour-period). Ottawa's O-Train Trillium Line was halted because of a landslide that obstructed the railroad corridor. Several major roads in Gatineau and Ottawa were under several inches of water, locally chest-high. More than $45 million (2004 CAD; US$41 million) in insured damage was reported in Ontario.[63]

Aftermath

[edit]

Bahamas

[edit]

Frances is the first hurricane to impact the entire archipelago since 1866. On September 4, teams from the Ministry of Works, the Department of Environmental Health Services, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and the Royal Bahamas Police Force were used to clear roadways of tree debris while utilities attempted to restore power and water in New Providence. The Family Islands were surveyed on September 5 and 6, when it was noted that major damage occurred within the island group. Telecommunications were restored to most of the island chain within 24 hours. As of September 21, electricity had been restored to half of the Bahamians who had lost power. Western sections of Grand Bahama Island remained without power into Hurricane Jeanne, which was the most significantly impacted island. The onion crop was expected to be late in 2005 due to the loss of seedbeds and seedlings during the storm.[34]

Florida

[edit]
President George W. Bush helps deliver water at a relief center in Ft. Pierce, Florida.

In the aftermath of the storm, many colleges and school districts across Florida remained closed. President George W. Bush declared all of Florida a federal disaster area.[64] Kennedy Space Center did not restore its complete work force until September 13 due to relief operations, as well as a lack of gasoline, ice, and water in the area.[65] A total of 8000 members of the National Guard helped out with recovery efforts soon after the storm left the Florida peninsula. Residents in the areas of impact after the storm were under a boil water order, because of the lack of electricity to area water systems.[44] Churches prepared meals for people without power and food.[66] Federal employees were granted excused absences if they helped with law enforcement and the cleanup.[67] Thousands of portable generators were sent to the state by Home Depot and Lowe's home improvement stores.[68] The United States Army Corps of Engineers installed blue tarpaulins on 41,556 damaged roofs statewide.[69] Damage to the Florida citrus crop caused orange futures to rise four cents a pound.[70] After the destruction of the Fort Pierce City Marina from Frances, cleanup took more than one year.[71] The marina was rebuilt and 19 new artificial islands to protect the marina from storm surge were constructed.[72] The project, which costed $18 million (2013 USD), was completed in 2013.[71]

Georgia and the Carolinas

[edit]

On September 24, the southern two-thirds of Georgia was declared a disaster by President Bush.[73] The state lost 50 percent of its pecan crop due to Frances, which led to a price rise in pecans by late October.[74] Lost peach trees were expected to lower output during 2005, and increase peach prices.[75] A disaster declaration was made for the northeast section of South Carolina on October 7.[76] On September 10, President Bush declared 34 counties within North Carolina a disaster area, making them eligible for US$6.5 million (2004 dollars) in public assistance. A Wildlife Commission removed its North Carolina Mountain State Fair exhibit due to Frances midway through the fair. Over 100,000 trout were lost due to the storm in the Pisgah, Table Rock, Marion, and Armstrong state fish hatcheries.[77] Red Cross volunteers distributed over 200,000 gallons of water by its 600 volunteers in four days. After Frances and Hurricane Ivan, Asheville determined that it needed $14 million in order to buy out willing businesses and homes within the floodplain.[78]

Retirement

[edit]
See also: List of retired Atlantic hurricane names

Because of the hurricane's effects in the United States, the name Frances was retired from the rotating lists of tropical cyclone names in the spring of 2005 by the World Meteorological Organization, and will never again be used for an Atlantic basin tropical cyclone.[79] The name was replaced with Fiona for the 2010 season.[80]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Hurricane Frances

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Hurricane Frances was a large and destructive Cape Verde-type hurricane that developed from a tropical wave in the eastern Atlantic Ocean on August 25, 2004, and persisted until September 8, becoming extratropical shortly thereafter. It rapidly intensified to Category 4 status on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, with peak sustained winds of 145 mph (233 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 935 millibars (27.61 inHg), before weakening and making multiple landfalls: first as a Category 3 in the Bahamas on September 2, then as a Category 2 near Hutchinson Island, Florida, on September 5 with 105 mph (165 km/h) winds, and finally as a tropical storm in the Florida Panhandle on September 6. The storm's slow movement and expansive size—hurricane-force winds extending 85 miles (140 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds up to 185 miles (295 km) out—prolonged its impacts across the southeastern United States, spawning 101 tornadoes from Florida to Virginia and producing heavy rainfall exceeding 18 inches (460 mm) in parts of North Carolina. Frances was the sixth named storm, fourth hurricane, and second major hurricane of the record-breaking , following and preceding Hurricanes Ivan and Jeanne, all of which struck within six weeks. Originating from an African easterly wave that exited the west coast of Africa on August 21, the system organized into a tropical depression 655 nautical miles west-southwest of the Cape Verde Islands before tracking west-northwestward across the tropical Atlantic. It brushed north of on August 30, entered archipelago as a major hurricane, and crossed from east to west over nearly 24 hours, leading to widespread power outages affecting millions and significant coastal flooding from storm surges of 2 to 8 feet (0.6 to 2.4 m). After emerging into the , Frances accelerated northeastward, impacting the and Mid-Atlantic states with gusty winds and torrential rains before completing its transition to an over on September 9 and fully dissipating over the by September 10. The hurricane caused catastrophic damage, particularly in and , with total U.S. losses estimated at $16.3 billion ( dollars), making it the fourth-costliest hurricane in U.S. at the time of its occurrence. In alone, it resulted in 37 of the 50 total fatalities (7 direct from the storm including wind and surge, 43 indirect primarily from , traffic accidents, and generator-related incidents), alongside widespread destruction of thousands of homes and damage to critical infrastructure like the . reported $300 million in damages and one direct death, while the storm's effects extended to Georgia, the , and , including one direct death in from a fallen tree due to storm winds. Frances' impacts were exacerbated by its occurrence just three weeks after Charley, straining recovery efforts and highlighting vulnerabilities in 's building codes and emergency preparedness during the hyperactive 2004 season.

Seasonal and Synoptic Background

2004 Atlantic Hurricane Season Overview

The was one of the most active on record, featuring 15 named storms, 9 of which intensified into hurricanes and 6 reaching major hurricane status (Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale), marking the highest number of major hurricanes since 1995. This activity level represented 234% of the long-term average from 1944 to 2003, surpassing the typical seasonal norms of about 10 named storms, 6 hurricanes, and 2-3 major hurricanes. The season's intensity contributed to over 3,100 deaths basin-wide and record U.S. damages exceeding $45 billion, underscoring its devastating impact. Several environmental factors fueled this hyperactive period, including unusually warm sea surface temperatures across the tropical Atlantic and —the second warmest on record since —which provided ample energy for development and intensification. Additionally, below-normal vertical in the and western Atlantic minimized disruption to nascent systems. Hurricane Frances emerged as the season's sixth named storm, fourth hurricane, and second major hurricane, developing in late August amid this favorable backdrop. It followed , which formed in early August and made landfall along the coast, and , a powerful Category 4 system that struck in mid-August, while the formidable was already organizing in early as another major threat.

Pre-Formation Disturbance

Hurricane Frances originated from a vigorous that emerged from a off the coast of on August 21, 2004. This disturbance initially featured disorganized as it progressed westward across the tropical at approximately 15 mph (24 km/h). During this period, the system remained a broad area of low pressure with scattered thunderstorms, showing little vertical structure. By , satellite observations indicated gradual improvement in the disturbance's organization, revealing a broad with increasing convective banding near its center. These early estimates from confirmed the system's potential for further development as it continued westward.

Meteorological History

Formation and Initial Development

Hurricane Frances originated from a vigorous tropical wave that departed the coast of Africa on August 21, 2004. By August 25, the system had organized sufficiently for the National Hurricane Center to classify it as Tropical Depression Six at 0000 UTC, with its center located at 11.1°N 35.2°W in the far eastern tropical Atlantic. The depression moved westward initially and exhibited gradual organization amid a favorable environment. On August 25, it strengthened and was upgraded to tropical storm status at 1800 UTC, receiving the name Frances, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (35 kt). Its track then began curving to the northwest, influenced by a mid-level high pressure system to its north. By August 26, Frances developed a and an initial eyewall structure, marking further consolidation. It reached hurricane strength at 1800 UTC that day, attaining Category 1 status on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (65 kt). This steady intensification was supported by sea surface temperatures of 28-29°C and low vertical .

Intensification to Major Hurricane

After reaching hurricane strength on August 26, Frances rapidly intensified over the tropical Atlantic, attaining Category 2 status with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (90 kt) by 1200 UTC on August 27. The storm continued to strengthen, becoming a major Category 3 hurricane later that day at 1800 UTC with winds of 115 mph (100 kt) and a minimum central of 962 mb. This phase of deepening was supported by favorable environmental conditions, including warm sea surface temperatures exceeding 28°C and low vertical , allowing the cyclone's outflow to expand effectively. Frances achieved its initial peak intensity as a Category 4 hurricane on August 28 at 1800 UTC, with maximum sustained winds of 132 mph (115 kt) and a central of 948 mb, located approximately at 17.7°N 52.3°W. However, the system soon underwent a concentric eyewall cycle, which temporarily disrupted intensification and led to slight weakening to 127 mph (110 kt) by August 29. Reintensification commenced on amid continued westward motion steered by the western periphery of the Bermuda-Azores high-pressure ridge, culminating in a secondary peak of 145 mph (125 kt) and 942 mb at 1800 UTC on August 31, positioned at 20.3°N 65.0°W north of the . The hurricane maintained major intensity through early September, with winds fluctuating between 120 and 125 kt during additional brief eyewall replacement cycles on September 1 and 2. Its structure featured a well-defined eye approximately 20 nautical miles in diameter surrounded by concentric eyewalls, as observed by reconnaissance aircraft and satellite imagery. The lowest confirmed central pressure of 935 mb was recorded at 0700 UTC on September 1 at 21.1°N 68.1°W, marking the storm's overall intensity maximum during this open-ocean phase. Throughout this period, Frances tracked west-northwestward at 10-13 mph, with minor adjustments in direction influenced by a developing mid-level trough to the north, though the subtropical ridge remained the dominant steering mechanism.

Landfall and Post-Landfall Weakening

As Hurricane Frances approached , it began to weaken due to increasing westerly vertical . By September 2, the storm had diminished from its peak Category 4 intensity to a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 knots (127 mph). This shear disrupted the storm's upper-level outflow, preventing further intensification and gradually eroding its as it neared the islands. The hurricane made its first landfall on in the southeastern at 1930 UTC on September 2 as a Category 3 storm with winds of 110 knots (127 mph) and a minimum central pressure of 948 millibars. It then made landfall on the northern end of Cat Island at 0530 UTC on September 3, followed by Island in the northwestern around 1000 UTC on September 3 as a Category 2 hurricane with sustained winds of 95 knots (109 mph) and pressure of 956 millibars. The storm made a final landfall in the on Island at 1000 UTC on September 4 as a Category 2 hurricane with sustained winds of 90 knots (104 mph) and pressure of 961 millibars. The storm's large size, with tropical-storm-force winds extending over 200 miles from the center, prolonged its effects across the archipelago despite the downgrading. Frances continued westward, making a landfall on the U.S. east coast near —specifically at the southern end of Hutchinson Island—at 0430 UTC on September 5 as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum winds of 90 knots (104 mph) and a central pressure of 960 millibars. Friction from the terrain and persistent shear caused rapid weakening as the storm moved slowly west-northwestward across , downgrading to a tropical storm with winds of 50-55 knots (58-63 mph) by early September 6. The system briefly re-emerged into the northeastern near New Port Richey before making a final landfall as a tropical storm near the mouth of the Aucilla River in Florida's region at 1800 UTC on September 6, with 50-knot winds and 982-millibar pressure. Post-landfall, Frances tracked northwestward into eastern and western Georgia, where it weakened to a tropical depression early on September 7 amid increasing and cooler air masses. The remnants stalled briefly over the , leading to prolonged heavy rainfall, before accelerating northeastward; the system underwent extratropical transition over early on September 9. It fully dissipated over the in late on September 10.

Preparations and Warnings

Caribbean and Bahamian Alerts

As Hurricane Frances began to pose a threat to the region, the issued a tropical storm watch for the northern [Leeward Islands](/page/Leeward Islands), including , , , St. Maarten, , Saba, St. Kitts, and St. Eustatius, on August 29, 2004, at 2100 UTC. These watches were upgraded to tropical storm warnings early the next day at 0300 UTC on August 30, prompting initial preparations across the islands. Concurrently, tropical storm watches were extended to parts of the , such as St. Barthelemy, St. Martin, , Culebra, Vieques, the , and the northern U.S. , with warnings following later on August 30 at 2100 UTC. A tropical storm warning was also issued for and the northern coast from Manzanillo Bay to Cabo Engano on August 31 at 0300 UTC. With intensifying into a major hurricane, attention shifted northward as a hurricane watch was issued for the southeastern Bahamas and the on August 31 at 0900 UTC, upgraded to a hurricane warning six hours later at 1500 UTC. This prompted urgent preparations in the , where authorities opened and relocated emergency operations centers due to unsafe conditions; hundreds of residents were evacuated, including approximately 100 people to a on Grand Turk (with a capacity of 1,500) and over 360 to three on by late afternoon on September 1. Ports, schools, and airports were closed in anticipation of the storm's arrival, with non-essential services halted to facilitate safety measures. The alert system expanded across the Bahamas as a hurricane watch was issued for the central Bahamas on August 31 at 1500 UTC and upgraded to a warning on September 1 at 1500 UTC; a watch for the northwestern Bahamas followed on September 1 at 1500 UTC, becoming a warning on September 2 at 0000 UTC. Bahamian officials coordinated with the and regional agencies like the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency to issue comprehensive warnings covering all islands by early September 3, emphasizing the storm's slow movement and potential for prolonged impacts. Mandatory evacuations were ordered for low-lying areas, affecting thousands of residents; authorities urged movement to higher ground or public shelters, particularly on outer islands such as Abaco and , where vulnerability to was high. By the storm's closest approach, over 1,300 people had sought refuge in public shelters across Abaco, , , and other northwestern areas.

United States Evacuations and Declarations

On September 1, 2004, Governor issued 04-192, declaring a in anticipation of Hurricane Frances's approach, which facilitated the mobilization of state resources and coordination with federal agencies. This declaration enabled the ordering of mandatory evacuations for approximately 2.5 million residents along 's east coast, beginning on , marking the largest such evacuation in the state's history at that time. These evacuations targeted low-lying coastal areas and mobile home communities particularly vulnerable to and high winds, with officials urging residents to seek shelter inland or in designated facilities. The National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane watch for Florida's east coast from Florida City to Flagler Beach early on September 2, which was extended northward to cover areas up to South Carolina by September 3, providing advance notice of potential hurricane-force winds. By September 4, this was upgraded to a hurricane warning from Jupiter Inlet, Florida, to Edisto Beach, South Carolina, emphasizing the storm's broad threat of heavy rainfall, storm surge up to 10-15 feet, and winds exceeding 100 mph along the coast. In response, Florida authorities closed major highways such as Interstate 95 in segments for southbound traffic to aid evacuation flows, shuttered public schools across multiple counties, and halted operations at Orlando-area theme parks including Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and SeaWorld, affecting millions of visitors and employees. To bolster flood defenses, state and local officials distributed sandbags to thousands of residents and businesses in flood-prone regions, with distribution sites operating around the clock in counties like Palm Beach and Brevard. The mobilized approximately 5,000 troops to support evacuation efforts, secure infrastructure, and prevent looting, working alongside to manage traffic and distribute emergency supplies. Federally, the (FEMA) pre-positioned supplies including water, meals, generators, and tarps in strategic locations across ahead of landfall, coordinating with the state to ensure rapid deployment once the hurricane struck. In adjacent states, preparations were more limited but focused on the risks of inland flooding from the storm's heavy rainfall, which was forecast to exceed 10 inches in parts of Georgia and the . Georgia Governor issued a on , activating the for potential flood response and advising residents in eastern counties to prepare for power outages and rising rivers. Similarly, and extended tropical storm watches along their coasts by September 4, with local officials in flood-vulnerable areas like the basin urging voluntary evacuations and sandbagging, though no large-scale mandatory orders were issued.

Regional Impacts

Bahamas

Hurricane Frances marked the first time since that a hurricane struck the entire Bahamian archipelago, affecting islands from the southeast to the northwest over several days in early 2004. The storm made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane on on September 2 with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph, before weakening slightly to Category 2 strength for subsequent landfalls on Cat Island, , and between September 2 and 4. Peak wind gusts reached 120 mph on and 111 mph at Settlement Point on , causing widespread structural damage, uprooted trees, and downed power lines across the affected islands. Heavy rainfall triggered flash flooding and significant storm surge reaching 20 feet in some areas, inundating low-lying regions and airports on and Abaco. Power outages impacted about 75% of residents, leaving major islands like , Abaco, and without electricity for days or weeks. The hurricane inflicted severe agricultural losses, nearly obliterating the archipelago's agricultural economy, including substantial destruction to citrus crops that represented a key sector. Marine infrastructure also suffered, with docks and coastal facilities damaged by the surge. The storm resulted in two fatalities: one person killed by a falling tree on and another who drowned off . Hundreds of homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed, particularly in low-lying and coastal communities, with examples including over 50% structural damage in parts of Abaco and severe impacts to nearly all homes in certain settlements. Insured economic losses were estimated at $300 million, reflecting the broad devastation to property, agriculture, and utilities across the islands. Preparatory evacuations had been ordered for vulnerable areas, helping to mitigate potential casualties.

Florida

Hurricane Frances made landfall near Vero Beach in , shortly after 1:00 a.m. EDT on September 5, 2004, as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (169 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 960 millibars. The storm's expansive size—nearly 500 miles in diameter—and slow forward speed of about 8-10 mph across the peninsula prolonged its impacts, leading to sustained hurricane-force winds along the east coast from Palm Beach County northward to Brevard County for up to 12 hours. Gusts reached 108 mph at Vero Beach Municipal Airport, snapping trees, damaging roofs, and shattering windows in coastal communities. Coming just three weeks after , which had already strained infrastructure in , Frances compounded recovery challenges for many residents. The hurricane's sluggish movement dumped excessive rainfall across central and eastern , with totals exceeding 15 inches in many areas and isolated reports of up to 16 inches near High Springs in Alachua County, triggering widespread freshwater flooding that inundated streets, low-lying neighborhoods, and agricultural fields. along the reached 5-6 feet above normal tide levels, exacerbating in Martin and St. Lucie counties. Power outages were extensive, affecting approximately 4.5 million customers statewide—more than half of 's total—at the storm's peak, with restoration efforts hampered by downed lines and debris, leaving some rural areas without electricity for nearly two weeks. Approximately 1.5 million evacuees who had fled mandatory orders in 15 counties returned to discover homes with severe , fallen trees blocking access, and structural issues rendering many uninhabitable. Frances spawned 101 tornadoes across its path from to the Mid-Atlantic, with 23 confirmed touchdowns in alone, primarily weak EF0 to EF1 events that caused structural damage to homes, mobile homes, and outbuildings in at least 20 counties, including Flagler, Volusia, and Brevard. The storm claimed 37 lives in , of which 5 were directly attributed to its winds and surge, such as drownings and wind-related accidents, while the remainder stemmed from indirect causes like from generators and traffic incidents during evacuations. Economic losses in the state totaled around $8.9 billion in civilian damages, including severe impacts to where the citrus industry suffered about $2 billion in combined losses from Frances and Charley, accounting for roughly 50% of the grapefruit crop and 10-30% of orange yields due to fruit drop, tree uprooting, and defoliation in key groves from Polk to Indian River counties. A significant environmental incident occurred on September 5 when heavy rains overwhelmed a stack at Fertilizer's Riverview plant in Hillsborough County, causing a breach that released approximately 65 million gallons of acidic wastewater into tributaries of the Alafia River and , leading to massive fish kills, contamination of beds, and pH levels dropping below 4 in affected waterways. Infrastructure damage was profound, with tens of thousands of utility poles snapped and extensive power lines felled, alongside moderate to severe beach erosion along 100 miles of the Atlantic coast from to Daytona Beach, where dunes were scoured and overwash deposited sand inland in some spots.

Southeastern United States

The remnants of Hurricane Frances stalled over on September 6 and 7, 2004, producing widespread rainfall of 5 to 10 inches across the state, with isolated maxima exceeding 11 inches near Helen. This heavy precipitation led to significant freshwater flooding and power outages affecting approximately 380,000 residences at the storm's peak. Agricultural sectors were particularly hard-hit, with excessive moisture causing substantial losses to and crops as part of combined 2004 hurricane damages exceeding $100 million statewide. In the Carolinas, the system's northward progression brought even more intense rainfall, peaking at over 23 inches in near , which triggered severe river flooding along the French Broad, Swannanoa, and Nolichucky Rivers. These rains, drawn from the moisture-laden air mass following Frances's landfall in , caused widespread inundation in flood-prone valleys and led to evacuations of roughly 200,000 people from low-lying areas, along with multiple highway closures due to washouts and debris. Additionally, the remnants spawned 101 tornadoes across the Southeast, including 45 in that damaged or destroyed numerous homes, particularly in rural communities, and 11 in that exacerbated local flooding. Georgia reported eight indirect deaths associated with the storm, including at least two from during power outages as residents used generators indoors without proper ventilation. reported approximately $55 million in crop damages, primarily from waterlogged fields that delayed harvests and promoted fungal diseases in peanuts, cotton, and tobacco. Overall, insured losses in the region approached $200 million, underscoring the emphasis on inland rural flooding and agricultural disruption rather than coastal wind damage seen farther south.

Canada

After undergoing extratropical transition, the remnants of Hurricane Frances entered 's Response Zone as a tropical storm at 2200 UTC on September 8, 2004, before accelerating northeastward through southeastern on September 9. The system produced heavy rainfall across the region, with a peak of 137 mm (5.39 inches) recorded in , and 135 mm near , marking a one-day record for the capital. Further east, totals of 50–70 mm fell in , , and Newfoundland. Accompanying the precipitation were marginal gale-force winds near southeastern , with gusts reaching up to 60 mph (97 km/h). The heavy rains led to widespread flooding in southeastern and localized flooding along rivers in , resulting in numerous road washouts and disruptions to local infrastructure. Gusty winds caused minor tree damage in affected areas, though no fatalities were reported from the event in . Insured damages in Ontario exceeded $45 million CAD (approximately $40 million USD at the time), primarily stemming from water-related issues such as basement flooding and road repairs. The extratropical low continued eastward through , interacting with frontal boundaries before dissipating over the late on September 10, 2004. Overall, the system's impacts in were limited compared to its earlier path, focusing on hydrological effects rather than severe wind damage.

Aftermath and Recovery

Immediate Response Efforts

Following Hurricane Frances's landfall in Florida on September 5, 2004, President issued a major disaster declaration for the state that day, enabling federal aid coordination through the (FEMA). FEMA rapidly deployed approximately 4,000 staff members and 2,000 National Disaster Medical System personnel to support recovery efforts across the affected regions, with initial staging of commodities at 23 sites for swift distribution. Within the first 48 hours, FEMA and partners began delivering essential supplies, including portions of the 14 million Meals Ready-to-Eat (MREs) ultimately provided during the response, alongside millions of gallons of water and ice to address immediate needs amid widespread power outages affecting over 2 million people in . In the Bahamas, where Frances caused significant disruption including power outages across Grand Bahama, restoration efforts prioritized , with electricity partially restored to the airport and select areas by September 10, 2004. Red Cross Society evacuated emergency shelters and distributed relief items, sheltering around 1,200 evacuees primarily on Island in the immediate aftermath. The U.S. played a key role in short-term logistics, with units airlifting supplies such as and to isolated coastal and inland areas cut off by flooding and downed lines. In neighboring Georgia, the mobilized troops to assist with flood control measures along shared waterways affected by heavy rainfall from the storm's remnants. Joint search-and-rescue operations between U.S. and Bahamian authorities focused on locating and aiding stranded residents in the hardest-hit Bahamian islands. Environmental concerns arose from a major spill at the Fertilizer plant (now ) in , where heavy rains eroded a , releasing approximately 65 million gallons of acidic into the Hillsborough River, a tributary flowing toward . The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) initiated monitoring of water quality in the affected areas, issuing advisories against consumption of water and seafood from contaminated zones to mitigate health risks from pollutants like and low levels.

Long-Term Environmental and Economic Effects

The spill at the Fertilizer plant in Riverview released approximately 65 million gallons of acidic process water into the Hillsborough River and , killing thousands of and contaminating estuarine habitats. The U.S. Agency (EPA) and (NOAA) initiated ongoing monitoring and restoration as part of a Damage Assessment. Acidic waters from the spill severely impacted aquatic ecosystems. In 2015, Mosaic reached a $2 billion settlement with the EPA and Department of Justice to address the 2004 spill and related violations, funding cleanup and restoration efforts that continued into the 2020s. In response to widespread coastal erosion caused by Frances, Florida launched extensive beach renourishment initiatives, with state and federal funding totaling about $100 million to restore dunes and beaches along approximately 300 miles of the Atlantic coastline, particularly in areas like St. Johns and Brevard counties where removed millions of cubic yards of sand. These projects, completed over several years, aimed to mitigate further vulnerability to erosion and protect infrastructure, but ongoing sea-level rise has necessitated repeated interventions. The citrus industry faced prolonged setbacks, with wind damage from Frances and the other 2004 hurricanes uprooting trees and contributing to the reduction of the 2004-2005 orange crop by 31% and grapefruit by 68%; replanting and rehabilitation efforts delayed full recovery until 2006, exacerbating economic strain on growers already recovering from earlier storms like Charley. The total economic cost of Frances in the United States reached $9.5 billion (2011 USD), encompassing insured losses of about $4.4 billion and significant uninsured damages from flooding, power outages, and agricultural losses. In the Bahamas, tourism—a key economic driver—experienced a significant decline in late 2004, as damaged resorts and infrastructure deterred visitors following the storm's slow passage over and other islands. Within the broader context of the hyperactive , the cumulative impacts of Charley, , , and Jeanne imposed approximately $50 billion in national damages, overwhelming recovery resources and markets. No major environmental or economic updates related to Frances have emerged since 2020, though climate studies attribute the season's intensity, including Frances, to warmer Atlantic sea surface temperatures linked to anthropogenic global warming patterns.

Name Retirement

Following the devastating impacts of Hurricane Frances, the World Meteorological Organization's Regional Association IV Hurricane , during its annual session in spring 2005, decided to retire the name "Frances" from the rotating lists of Atlantic names. This action was taken because the storm was deemed so deadly and costly that reusing the name would be insensitive to affected communities. Hurricane Frances caused 7 direct deaths and 43 indirect deaths across the Bahamas, , and , contributing to a total death toll of 50. It also inflicted approximately $9.5 billion in damages in the alone, with significant destruction to property, infrastructure, and agriculture in and surrounding areas. The retirement criteria, applied on a case-by-case basis by the , focus on storms that result in exceptional or economic devastation, ensuring names are not reassigned if they evoke traumatic memories. The name "" was replaced by "" on the six-year rotating list for the North Atlantic basin, with "" first entering use during the 2010 season. This marked "" as one of four names retired from the hyperactive , alongside "Charley," "," and "Jeanne," highlighting the committee's response to an unprecedented year of destruction. Prior instances of the name "," including a tropical storm in 1992 and another in 1980, had not met the threshold for retirement due to comparatively lesser impacts. The retirement of "Frances" underscored the evolving role of naming conventions in public communication and disaster preparedness, fostering greater awareness of how storm names influence societal responses during intense hurricane seasons.

References

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