The Official Hurricane Frances thread...

[Tim G]

A last-minute to-do list


September 4, 2004


Here are some last-minute things you can do before the storm hits.


<LI>Call or e-mail friends and family out of state. They'll want to know what your plans are. Or ask one person out of state to call everyone for you.
<LI>Put together a kid kit. Include board games, puzzles, books -- whatever might keep them entertained -- if the power goes out.
<LI>Contact your neighbors. "Today is a good time to meet our neighbors," said Peter Teahen, spokesman for the American Red Cross.
<LI>Do laundry while you can.
<LI>Put photo albums, sentimental items and important papers in a cool, dry place. "Wrap them in breathable plastic, and keep them off the floor," said Michael Fissel, a photo analyst at Kolor Photo & Camera. He recommends putting albums in garbage bags and placing them in seal-tight bins. For the future, Fissel suggests putting pictures on a CD.
<LI>Back up all your computer files.
<LI>Juice up your cell phone. Charge your cell phone and turn it off so you can save the battery.
<LI>Crank up your air conditioning. It will give you a head start in case your power goes out.
<LI>Store batteries in the freezer. But let them reach room temperature before you use them.
<LI>Store medicine in the refrigerator.
<LI>Unplug any appliances that might be hit by a surge. To be absolutely safe, unplug computers and TV and listen to the news on the radio when the storm nears.
<LI>Make sure you have a manual can opener.
<LI>Don't turn off your gas. If you are not required to evacuate your home or business, your natural-gas service should operate uninterrupted throughout the storm, according to TECO People's Gas.
If rising water appears to be a threat, turn off your power at the circuit or fuse box. "If you leave your home before the hurricane, turn off power in that case as well," said Progress Energy spokesman Garrick Francis.

 

[Tim G]

HURRICANE FRANCES -- BUSINESS UNUSUAL

Frances clears the decks

Stripped bare, many stores shut their doors


September 4, 2004


The last flashlight left the shelves of the Sports Authority off East Colonial Drive Friday morning, a high-end Maglite for $50.

Next door at Office Depot, the cheapest phones with cords ran for $100, but they were the four-line office variety. The two-line versions had sold out, as had the less expensive home models.

Down the road at Sears, the only available gas grills with side burners cost $500. A load of $15 charcoal grills arrived that morning, but quickly began to disappear.

While Hurricane Frances slowed its Friday march toward Central Florida, many businesses were shutting their doors by the afternoon for want of customers and lack of supplies. Others were concerned for employees.

Most major retailers said they would stay closed today and possibly Sunday, depending on how hard the storm hits. Some had generators at the ready, and most had fleets of trucks waiting outside the state to re-stock shelves.

Many grocery-store officials said it was uncertain when they would reopen. Most expected to remain closed until Monday, unless the storm weakened.

"Hopefully, if we can get to the stores on Sunday, we may open," said Publix spokesman Dwaine Stevens. "But that's not firm."

Even if power is lost for days, both Publix and Winn-Dixie have generators that will allow them to sell food. ABC Liquors planned to stay closed today.

As for home-supply stores, company officials could not predict when they will reopen. The doors of all Sears stores in the Orlando metropolitan area were to stay shut through Sunday, a corporate spokesman said. Home Depot could resume business as early as Sunday.

"Everything is predicated on what that hurricane does," said Home Depot spokesman Don Harrison. "By most indications, it's going to be in your lap."

Wal-Mart and Target stores expected to be closed today, but could resume business Sunday, officials said.

"We don't have a set timeline for re-opening," Target spokeswoman Aimee Sands said. "We will open as soon as we are able."

One of the few chains that pledged to do business today was Walgreens. About a third of its more than 600 stores in Florida are open 24 hours, with most planning to stay open until the storm intensifies.

"Because the storm appears to have slowed down, they will remain open tomorrow morning [Saturday] as long as possible," Carol Hively, a Walgreens Co. spokeswoman, said.

Most area banks were to remain closed at least until Tuesday, the day after Labor Day.

As for stores in the mall, Oviedo Marketplace was closed until further notice. Officials at the Mall at Millenia, Orlando Fashion Square, Altamonte Mall and West Oaks Mall could not be reached for comment. Those at Seminole Town Center could not say whether they would be open. At Waterford Lakes Town Center, only Target could be confirmed as opening today.

Steven Bardsley, the manager of Sports Authority, did not know when his store would be receiving more disaster supplies. He already has been stood up by one truck, reportedly stuck in Atlanta. About 80 people waited outside his store Friday morning to buy items such as stoves and lanterns only to learn the shipment had not arrived, Bardsley said.They and others quickly cleaned him out of coolers, flashlights and propane grills, the few goods left that could ease life after Frances.

When a woman asked in vain for a gas cooker -- despite seeing the item listed on the front door as sold out -- he suggested a turkey fryer. She decided to stick with her charcoal grill at home.

He saw no reason to reopen today .

"We have nothing left to offer," Bardsley said.

That was not the case for Corrinne Fitzhenry of Randy's Party Store. She arrived Friday morning to put plywood on her windows but soon opened for business after people began asking for glow sticks and chafing dish fuel.

After customers disappeared, she prepared a sign saying she would return at 10 a.m. and stay open until noon today She listed her cell phone number should someone need the items sooner, or later for that matter.

"There might be somebody with an older person needing something," said Fitzhenry. "If it's not dangerous, I can come."

 

[Tim G]

HURRICANE FRANCES -- BUSINESS UNUSUAL

Out-of-towners forced to stay put for a while


September 4, 2004


Stacey Cylinder should have boarded a plane home Friday. Instead, she found herself stranded at Disney's Pop Century Resort, wondering why two slices of plain bread cost 69 cents.

"A hurricane's coming, can't you give me a break on bread?" asked Cylinder, who brought her husband and four kids from Philadelphia a week ago to Disney.

Then, she offered the real source of her frustration: "My vacation is over, yet we're still here."

The suspension of flights at Orlando International Airport on Friday afternoon unexpectedly trapped thousands of tourists in the path of Hurricane Frances.

Under happier circumstances, the average visitor would have welcomed a few extra days in Orlando. But few families found joy in laying out hundreds to extend hotel stays, especially with so little to do; most theme parks and stores shut down early because of Frances' approach.

At the bottom of the list of concerns was the prospect of spending the weekend in the path of a deadly storm. Some, like British tourist Chris Maitland, seemed to relish it.

His flight home today was canceled. He planned to pull his chair right up to the window of his International Drive hotel and watch.

"I'm a little disappointed that it seems to have weakened," he said.

Tourists and hotel managers alike reported few problems in finding available hotel rooms for the stranded. Though Central Florida hotels were filled with people fleeing the coasts, plenty of out-of-towners whose vacations were to have started today canceled reservations.

Kelly Cowan, general manager of the Hampton Inn near Walt Disney World, said her reservation counter has been extremely busy for the past 21 hours.

"Just as soon as the rooms are canceled, they get reserved again," she said.

All the major theme parks -- save Disney's MGM Studios and Epcot -- closed early Friday. All -- SeaWorld Orlando, Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando -- planned to remain closed today. On Friday night, none had decided whether to reopen Sunday.

With the parks closed and stores boarded up across the tourist corridor, many said they were unsure how they would pass the hours today.

Costumed characters were expected to be on hand at Disney hotels to entertain weary tourists, alongside magicians, acrobats, bands and a candymaker at certain properties.

At the lower budget mom-and-pop hotels, managers will be looking to make guests more comfortable in simpler ways.

Inside the 49-room Viking Motel on U.S. Highway 192 in Kissimmee, guests will not go without free hot coffee, even if the power goes out. After Hurricane Charley killed the motel's power, manager Ron Patterson had to drive 20 miles round trip to get hot coffee.

So, this week, he drove 180 miles round trip to Brooksville to buy a $40 Coleman camp stove and a $37 coffeepot. "Caffeine is important," he said.

Patterson, who manages the hotel with his wife, Betty, sent a letter to guests telling them to stock up on ice and food now. This time, unlike last time, they highlighted the passage telling guests to stay inside during the storm. Why?

"Last time, during the 80-mile-per-hour winds, some moron walked through the parking lot and up to the front desk asking for candles," he said.

Larger hotels also began working out plans to keep guests safe. At the heavily glassed Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress resort near Disney, managers planned to put guests in the convention center during the storm.

Guests will have little choice but to obey. With airlines not flying out of airports up and down Florida's east coast, most are stuck.

Locally, flights ceased Friday at Orlando International Airport, Orlando Sanford International Airport, Daytona Beach International Airport and Melbourne International Airport.

Vivian Wells, 36, of Philadelphia arrived at OIA well before flights shut down at the airport, only to be informed that she and her group wouldn't be able to board flights for their return trips home.

"It's really too bad, because I did everything I was suppose to do," Wells, explained. "The weather is perfectly fine right now, and I don't understand why the airport has to close so soon," she said.

Though OIA technically remained open after flights ceased, officials cautioned guests not to show up or use the airport as a shelter.

"We try to keep operations going as long as possible, but we still have damage from Hurricane Charley and we wanted to secure some of the damaged areas before more severe weather," airport Executive Director Bill Jennings said.

Jennings said airport officials would meet with air carriers Sunday afternoon to assess damage and decide when to reopen.

Not everyone was stranded. Anthony Manas and his two small children were among the fortunate travelers who managed to leave.

"My family has never been in a hurricane, and we don't want to know what it's like," said Manas, from South Africa, moments before boarding a flight to Johannesburg. "We got here two days after Charley, and now we are leaving a day before Frances, so you might say we have perfect timing."

 

[Tim G]

HURRICANE FRANCES -- BUSINESS UNUSUAL

Vacation ruined? Recoup costs


September 4, 2004


MIAMI -- If you had travel plans for this weekend, the money you've spent on airline tickets or hotel reservations may not be entirely lost.

In fact, you may already have heard from your travel agent or insurance company.

Expedia.com spokesman David Dennis said more than 30,000 travelers scheduled vacations through Expedia in Florida, the Bahamas and nearby this Labor Day weekend.

The online travel site is sending some e-mails and calling others, with offers to waive cancellation fees for hotels and to help reschedule trips.

Travelers who took out insurance could fare even better.

The U.S. Travel Insurance Association estimates that 20 percent to 25 percent of all travelers buy policies today, up from 12 percent before Sept. 11. They could end up with reimbursement for the full cost of a canceled vacation or the expense of returning home early.

For example, if your flight is canceled because you are traveling to or from a hurricane-affected area, you can make a claim on your policy, said Chris Harvey, president of St. Petersburg Beach-based quotetravelinsurance.com. The same goes for a vacation in an area that is under mandatory evacuation order.

The typical travel insurance policy offers reimbursement for a trip cancellation, delay or interruption, lost luggage, some medical emergencies and accidental death.

The price of a travel insurance policy ranges from 4 percent to 10 percent of a vacation package, said Kathy Barlow, marketing manager of Travel Insurance Services, a Walnut Creek, Calif., travel insurance firm.

But travel insurance has plenty of restrictions, too. Among them: Policies won't pay off if you decide not to go on vacation because you're afraid of the weather. "No insurance in the world will cover the fear of something happening," Barlow said. "The event has to occur."

Even so, others have offered special breaks to Florida vacationers.

When Hurricane Charley roared through, Orbitz offered its 6,000 travelers at that time a waiver on hotel cancellation fees. It is doing the same this weekend, as is Travelocity.

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[Tim G]

Hurricane Francis Atlantic Position

Francis Almost There

 

[Tim G]

Hurricane Frances Update
(South-East Florida Doppler Radar)

 

[Tim G]

Hurricane Frances Poised To Slog Ashore In Florida


UPDATED: 7:03 am EDT September 4, 2004


STUART, Fla. -- Hurricane Frances crawled toward the Florida coast Saturday, bringing a potential for 20 inches of rain and heavy flooding and prompting millions of residents and tourists to evacuate during the Labor Day weekend.

Forecasters expected the storm to come ashore late Saturday or early Sunday, about a day later than earlier predictions, as residents prepared for the worst after a dragged-out process of stocking up on canned goods and water, putting plywood sheets over windows and finding shelter. <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


"Just got to believe in God," said Linda Benbry, 48, who watched as her grandson fastened duct tape across the front windows of their Fort Pierce home. "You can't run from death."


About 2.5 million residents were told to clear out -- the biggest evacuation in Florida history -- as Frances chugged along at a 6 mph clip about 125 miles east-southeast from West Palm Beach.


Passing through the Bahamas, Frances' top winds fell to 105 mph from 145 mph on Thursday, but its plodding pace meant it could cause disastrous flooding. Hurricane force winds extended outward up to 105 miles.


State meteorologist Ben Nelson said Frances might remain over Florida for two cycles of high tide, meaning two rounds of storm surges expected to be 5 to 10 feet.


"The water has nowhere to go and gets trapped because our elevation is so low," he said. "It could be a large mess."

Frances, carrying an imposing size twice as big as the devastating Hurricane Andrew in 1992, is expected to come ashore along the middle of Florida's eastern coast, push across the state as a tropical storm just north of Tampa and weaken to a tropical depression as it moves over the Panhandle on Monday.


A hurricane warning remained in effect for Florida's Atlantic coast, from Flagler Beach south to Florida City almost to the state's tip, and Gov. Jeb Bush declared a state of emergency for the entire state.


A tropical storm warning also was extended Saturday for the southwestern gulf coast from Englewood south to Florida City. A tropical storm watch was in effect for Bonita Beach north to the Suwannee River on Florida's northern gulf coast.


Wind gusts in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach reached 38 mph Friday afternoon, bending palm fronds and crashing waves into the beaches. The winds toppled trees and one gust peeled half the roof off Michelle Lyons' mobile home in Davie, just west of Fort Lauderdale, but no one was hurt.


"And we didn't even get the hurricane yet," said Lyons, 30.


Power was knocked out for about 40,000 Florida Power & Light customers in Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Martin counties. The storm forced the evacuation of about 3,000 state inmates and about 500 patients at more than a dozen hospitals. Pumps were left dry at many gas stations as people rushed to fill up their tanks before the storm hit, but Bush said state officials were working to resupply stations along Florida's Turnpike.


Frances was set to slam into Florida's coast three weeks after Hurricane Charley killed 27 people and caused billions of dollars in damage in southwestern Florida. At a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, President Bush spoke of another potential round of devastation for Florida.


"I've ordered teams to be in position to help the good people of that state," he said. "But the best thing we can do here is to offer our prayers."


In the sprawling mobile home community of Barefoot Bay south of Melbourne, Pat Brett prepared to join his neighbors in evacuating, well aware of the danger Frances posed.


"I don't think anybody's that insane here," Brett, 60, said.

Shelters received a steady influx of residents expecting to spend an unusual Labor Day weekend indoors. At a Red Cross shelter in Davie, elderly residents quietly huddled over a game of cards while several people played a pick-up basketball game.


"It's very organized," said Lucy Campos, who left a mobile home with a neighbor. "But I can't wait to take a shower."


Many schools and government offices closed, as did major amusement parks, the Kennedy Space Center and airports serving Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Melbourne.


The Federal Emergency Management Agency mobilized 4,500 workers, three times the number sent to help victims of Charley. Officials said they had enough people and supplies in the state to handle two disaster relief operations at once.


State officials said they were prepared to deliver 5.4 million meals during the next two weeks while 13,000 electrical workers awaited in staging areas in Alabama to enter Florida and restore power. To help new mothers, baby formula was being shipped to Jacksonville to be distributed throughout the state.


The American Red Cross planned a larger relief operation than the one it conducted after Hurricane Andrew. Back then, the agency spent $81 million.


Hurricane season usually peaks in early September, and the ninth named storm of the season grew stronger Saturday in the far eastern Atlantic. Tropical Storm Ivan was about 1,670 miles east-southeast of the Lesser Antilles with winds of 60 mph. <!--stopindex-->

 

[imagineergurl]

Is it just me or does this thing look like it hasnt moved in 3 days?!

 

[donsullivan]

It's just started to get here

I live about 8 miles directly east of Disney and looking out the back windows of the house I can see the first cloud bandd of the storm starting to roll over us right now.

This is just a band and the center of the storm is still 16 hours off shore but the first edges of it have arrived.

 

[NemoRocks78]

Anxious, but coping
Central Floridians prepare, uncertain about what's ahead
By Nancy Imperiale and Kate Santich | Sentinel Staff Writers
Posted September 4, 2004

As the second major hurricane in less than a month continued to bear down on Central Florida, we counted the hours until landfall with a tumult of activities and emotions.

Hands were kept busy while we cast one eye on everything in life that matters, and the other on The Weather Channel.

"My mood? My mood is cautious," said William M. Vail Jr., 45, manager of Woodlawn Funeral Home in Gotha, where cemetery machinery was moved inside, debris from the last hurricane swept up, and business suspended. This freed Vail to head home for the evening, make popcorn and watch the Blockbuster rental Jersey Girl with his wife Jillian and two cats.

"And enjoy the air conditioning," he added, "for as long as it lasts."

Across the area, folks were making final preparations for what might be a long haul.

Or not. Who knows?

Joyce Taylor of Orange County had two suitcases packed and waiting. One was for an upcoming seven-day Alaska cruise. The other was for several days in the Orange County Emergency Operations Center.

"I'm just waiting to see which suitcase I'm going to grab," said Taylor, 46, a 911 call-center supervisor. "I have sweatshirts and sweaters in one; T-shirts in the other."

That's what was nervewracking -- the uncertainty of what was coming.

"What a month for you guys," said trauma psychologist Robert Butterworth of California. "You dealt with what happened with Hurricane Charley, and now you're dealing with the fear of what is going to happen with Hurricane Frances. It's called anticipatory anxiety -- the fears you build up in your mind. You tell yourself, well, we went through this once, we can do it again. But maybe the next one could be worse?"

Friday, the weeks of worry showed.

"I see a lot of restrained anxiety," said the Rev. Jack Jackson of New Hope United Methodist Church in downtown Orlando. His wife, Anna, and 4-year-old twins hit the road for Atlanta, leaving the minister to tend to his flock. "I grew up here in Orlando and I've never seen one storm like this, much less two. I think there's just a realization that this one's going to be different from Charley, maybe more damaging in some ways, certainly with more rain."

The unpredictability of Hurricane Frances -- revealed every three hours in reports from the National Hurricane Center -- sent some scurrying for the peace of mind only chocolate can provide.

"We're loading up on comfort food," said Tami McGraw, 24, enjoying a java-chip Frappucino and cinnamon scone at Starbucks in Altamonte Springs. Her cousin Christyn Taylor, who had arrived from Homestead at 3 a.m. after a 12-hour ordeal on traffic-jammed roads, was having hot chocolate and a cinnamon roll.

"We tried to get cash but no banks were open," said Taylor, 24. "I brought groceries and games, so we'll sit tight tonight and play Scattegories."

Teachers were feeling the stress of having schools open, then close, then open, then close.

"I spent one day on the ancient world and will have to rush into Greece," said Sarah McLeod, who teaches literature and humanities at Apopka High School and has taught only 12 out of a planned 20 days of school. "I was supposed to teach Plato and Aristotle, but we spent most of the class putting plastic on things."

New mother Lori Tantillo, 39, had endured three weeks of exasperation -- of dodging downed oaks, five days with no power, more than a week with no work and no pay and a 4-month-old baby who'd already been through more than her fair share of turmoil. By Friday, Tantillo and husband Don were weary of watching the forecast change and had sought refuge -- with the baby and their three dogs -- in a Tampa hotel room. "I finally had to tell myself, I'm worrying over something I can't control," she said. "I mean, how can you even prepare when they keep changing which way the storm is supposed to go? It may turn out Tampa is the wrong place to be."

For Laurie Bobletz, 43, it was a week of making and breaking plans, virtually up to the last minute. Initially, the Orlando mother of three was supposed to leave Thursday for a family vacation to a hot-air balloon festival in Pine Mountain, Ga. When the threat of Frances forced the cancellation of the festival, the Bobletzes booked a hotel room in Pensacola.

"That idea didn't work too well, either," Bobletz said. "It turned out the hurricane might head there next."

The hotel cancellation fee was only $25, but the previously booked minivan was another matter. Three days, no refund -- so Bobletz figured they might as well enjoy it and get out of town, even though they didn't know where they'd stay or if they'd find the gas to get there. Better bring the tent, she told her husband, just in case.

Husband Richard, 45, had spent eight hours in line to buy two pieces of plywood for the house, and he and Laurie had found a dog-sitter and covered the computer and stereo in plastic garbage sacks.

When last seen Friday afternoon, they were packing up the van and heading north, hoping to spend a couple of days at Six Flags Over Georgia, riding the roller coaster.

And why not? They'd been riding a metaphorical one all week.

 

[NemoRocks78]

Storm churns through isles of Bahamas
By Matthew Hay Brown | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted September 4, 2004

NASSAU, Bahamas -- Hurricane Frances barreled up the Bahamas on Friday, ravaging island after island with high winds, heavy rains and surging seas as it took aim on Florida.

In Nassau, home to two-thirds of the nation's 300,000 inhabitants, 90-mph gusts blew out windows, sheared limbs off trees and ripped power lines from utility poles. White surf smashed boats into sea walls and flooded coastal roads.

A Nassau teenager was electrocuted Friday, the first death here attributed to Frances. Police reported scattered looting in the capital.

On the more sparsely populated islands that were directly in the hurricane's path, sustained winds of up to 145 mph plucked trees from the ground, tore roofs off houses and wiped out bananas, coconuts and other key crops.

"This storm has become very intimate with the Bahamas," government meteorologist Michael Stubbs said. "It's touching just about every island."

Weakening to a still-powerful Category 2 hurricane, with sustained winds of 105 mph, the Texas-sized storm was churning late Friday toward the island of Grand Bahama, home to Freeport, the nation's second-largest city. Police there were pleading with residents to evacuate low-lying neighborhoods that already were flooding Friday evening.

Earlier Friday in Nassau, 18-year-old Kenrad Delaney was electrocuted as he tried to fill a generator with diesel fuel, police said. One man was arrested in the capital as he attempted to steal appliances. Another broke into a gas station. Guards were dispatched to Nassau International Airport after winds tore open offices there.

Sections of the island remained without power through the day. Prime Minister Perry Christie made a brief tour in the afternoon to find damaged buildings, flooded streets and debris everywhere.

"If this is any indication," he told a local radio station, "we have some very real challenges ahead of us that will require not only major effort but major funding."

He said he had contacted the Inter-American Development Bank for assistance. Teams from the U.S. Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance and the Pan American Health Organization were in the islands, and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency and a British aid vessel were standing by.

Meanwhile, preliminary reports were coming in from those islands hit hardest by the hurricane. On San Salvador, trapped under the slow-moving storm for more than 30 hours Thursday and Friday, 15 to 20 percent of homes were damaged, National Disaster Emergency Coordinator Carl Smith said.

Winds tore roofs off a high school on Long Island and a church on Cat Island, and splintered trees on Eleuthera. Electricity, telephone and water lines were cut all along the storm route.

The U.S. State Department had urged American citizens earlier this week to leave the Bahamas and evacuated about 200 nonemergency diplomatic personnel and family members Wednesday.

Cruise lines diverted ships; airlines canceled flights. Some hotels closed; others urged guests out of their rooms and into better-protected restaurants or conference centers.

Marshall Darville was waiting out the storm with his family in their home in the Seabreeze settlement outside of Nassau.

With no power since Thursday, they were using hurricane lanterns to see and a camping stove to cook tuna, corned beef and grits. Gusts had peeled up shingles, splintered trees and littered the yard with debris. Water was seeping in through the front door.

"It's going to be a tremendous task to clean up afterward," Darville, owner of an auto paint-and-body shop in the capital, said while the winds still howled. "Now, you just batten up and sit tight."

 

[NemoRocks78]

Tropical Force Winds Hit Brevard; Ft. Pierce Landfall Likely
Storm To Make Landfall Saturday Night

POSTED: 11:24 pm EDT September 3, 2004
UPDATED: 7:14 am EDT September 4, 2004

The Tropical Prediction Center's latest projected path for Hurricane Frances shows the storm making landfall Saturday midnight south of Fort Pierce, according to Local 6 News meteorologist Tom Sorrells.

The new path changes the point of entry for the storm from Vero Beach, Fla., further south of Fort Pierce.

Once on land, the storm should move just south of Lakeland as a Category 1 Hurricane by noon Sunday, according to the model. Then, the storm should exit the state by 8 p.m. Sunday and head into the Gulf of Mexico with 40 mph winds, Sorrells said.

"When you look at this, I suppose you can say that its good news. The farther south it goes, the better we are," Sorrells said. "But still, it's going to plow through a large part of the viewing area."

Sorrells said the storm should diminish quickly when it finally hits land.


On early Saturday morning, Frances continued to batter the northwestern Bahamas.

A hurricane warning remains in effect for the east coast of Florida from Florida City, south of Miami, northward to Flagler Beach, north of Daytona Beach, and inland to Lake Okeechobee.

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.

At 5 am. ET, the center of Hurricane Frances was located near latitude 26.6 north, longitude 78.1 west, or about 45 miles, east of Freeport Grand Bahama Island. This position is also about 125 miles east of West Palm Beach, Fla.

(The storm) is moving toward the northwest near 6 mph. A turn to the west-northwest is expected later in the day.

On the forecast track, the large core of Hurricane Frances will continue to move slowly over the northwestern Bahamas Saturday morning, and will be very near the Florida east coast by late Saturday night or early Sunday morning.

Maximum sustained winds are near 105 mph, with higher gusts. Frances is expected to remain a borderline category 2 - category 3 hurricane until landfall.

 

[NemoRocks78]

 

[NemoRocks78]

Frances to slog ashore over SE Florida
5:31 A.M. ET Sat.,Sep.4,2004

James Wilson, Sr. Meteorologist, The Weather Channel

Frances is still a dangerous hurricane but has (at least for the time being) weakened from the 145-mph Category 4 storm that it was on Thursday to a 105-mph Category 2 storm. Still, Frances continues to develop powerful convection (thunderstorms) around parts of its central core as the storm swirls over the northern Bahamas. There still is the distinct possibility that the hurricane could strengthen again. Wind gusts to 110 mph have been experienced at Nassau. Wind gusts of 100 to 115 mph and flooding rains have been reported on Abacos Island in the northern Bahamas through the night. Eleuthera in the Bahamas had sustained winds of 100 mph as the island took a direct hit. San Salvador reported a sustained wind of 120 mph on Thursday as Frances moved across. The hurricane will continue to move very slowly through the northwestern Bahamas toward the east coast of Florida on Saturday.
Hurricane Warnings are in effect for the East Coast of Florida from Florida City northward to Flagler Beach...including Lake Okeechobee. A Hurricane Watch and a Tropical Storm Warning remain in effect from north of Flagler Beach northward to Fernandina Beach. A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for southwest Florida coast from Bonita Beach eastward to south of Florida City. Present thinking puts landfall on the east coast of Florida, any time from late Saturday to Sunday morning. While the landfall point is important, the destructive impacts from Frances may be widespread. This storm is larger and will affect more land than Charley did once it makes landfall. Keep in mind that tropical storm force winds and building surf will precede the approach of the hurricane by quite some time. Also, Frances will most likely move much slower than Charley, so the period of heavy rain and high winds will be longer in duration. Indeed, flooding rainfall is likely to be the most significant impact with this hurricane. Flood watches are posted across much of the Florida Peninsula. This slow-moving system looks to spread heavy rain over a good part of the Southeast into the eastern Tennessee Valley and then into the Ohio Valley and western Pennsylvania. Be ready for the heavy rainfall potential as this tropical system tracks into next week.

To make matters worse, a new tropical storm has formed in the eastern Atlantic. Tropical Storm Ivan is located around 1700 miles east of the Lesser Antilles. Maximum sustained winds are presently at 60 mph. The forecast calls for the storm to steadily strengthen and move briskly in a generally westward direction, becoming a strong hurricane in the next 5 to 7 days and potentially having an impact on the Lesser Antillies by late Tuesday and may even threaten Puerto Rico by late Wednesday. Residents living in the Lesser Antillies and Puerto Rico need to monitor this fast moving storm closely.

Meanwhile, in the eastern Pacific, now 75-mph Hurricane Howard appears to be beginning the long weakening process about 420 miles west-southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Howard is expected to move right along the Mexican coast near the Baja of California with a threat of high surf and some locally heavy rainfall. It will enhance the rainfall across Mexico to southern Arizona and New Mexico over the next day or so. It will bring an increased wave and swell threat for the entire coast of the Baja of California to as far north as San Diego.

In the western Pacific, Typhoon Songda is sweeping WNW from the northern Mariana Islands and could affect Taiwan in the next 2 to 3 days.

 

[NemoRocks78]

Atlantic Tropical Storm
Hurricane Frances Intermediate Advisory Number 42a

Issued at: 7:33 AM EDT 9/4/04 (gateway).



Large hurricane frances near freeport in the bahamas,

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. 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.

A hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning remain in effect from north of flagler beach to fernandina beach.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect on the southern Florida peninsula from englewood to south of Florida city, 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 from north of englewood to the suwannee river.

At 8 am edt, 1200z, the center of hurricane frances was located by radar and surface observations near latitude 26.7 north, longitude 78.4 west very near freeport in the grand bahama island. This position is also about 110 miles, 180 km east of west palm beach Florida.

Frances is moving between the west-northwest and northwest near 6 mph, 9 km/hr. A turn more to the west-northwest is expected later today. On the forecast track, the large core of hurricane frances will continue to move slowly over the northwestern bahamas this morning, and will be very near the Florida east coast by late tonight or early Sunday morning.

Frances is a strong category two hurricane. Maximum sustained winds are near 105 mph, 165 km/hr, with higher gusts. Frances is expected to remain a borderline category two/three hurricane until landfall.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 105 miles, 165 km, from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 185 miles, 295 km. Settlement point in grand bahama island is currently reporting sustained winds of 75 mph, 115 kph with gusts to 82 mph, 132 km/hr, a minimum pressure of 974.5 mb, 28.78 inches and falling rapidly.

Estimated minimum central pressure is 960 mb, 28.35 inches.

Storm surge flooding of 5 to 12 feet above normal tide levels, along with large and dangerous battering waves, can be expected near the center of frances on the north side of grand bahama island. Storm surge flooding of 3 to 5 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 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.

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.

Swells generated by frances are affecting portions of the southeastern coast of the united states. These swells could cause dangerous surf and rip currents.

Repeating the 8 am edt position, 26.7 n, 78.4 w. Movement toward, west-northwest near 6 mph. Maximum sustained winds, 105 mph. Minimum central pressure, 960 mb.

For storm information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by your local weather office.

The next advisory will be issued by the national hurricane center at 11 am edt.

 

[Atta83]

Pay attention to the 5 day forecast that your weatherman spills out on the nightly newscast.......how often is that correct? Weather Forecasting is not an exact science....it never will be.

I know , it was a joke....

 

[ClemsonTigger]

On a lighter note

I know everyone is preoccupied with storm preparation, but for those heading north, here is one good neighbor offer:

Clemson Extends Special Invitations To Displaced Florida, Georgia Residents
Those fleeing Hurricane France may receive two tickets

Sept. 3, 2004

The Clemson Athletic Department has extended an invitation to individuals forced to leave the State of Florida and the south Georgia area due to the mandatory evacuation caused by Hurricane Frances.

Individuals who are traveling or lodging near Clemson because of the mandatory evacuation can secure up to two complimentary tickets for the Clemson versus Wake Forest game on Saturday by producing a valid Florida or Georgia driver's license.

The Clemson Athletic Department wants to extend this gesture of hospitality to those who are experiencing the traumatic results of Hurricane Frances. The State of South Carolina has been affected by these severe weather patterns in the past and understands the emotional turmoil these people are experiencing. "This is a good faith effort to extend Clemson hospitality to those affected by the storm," said Athletic Director Terry Don Phillips.

Tickets will be available in the athletic ticket office located at Gate 9 at Memorial Stadium beginning at 12:00 noon on Saturday. This gate is located on the north side of the stadium.

Free public parking is available in Lot 13, which is located off of Highway 93, as well as Kite Hill, which is located near Highway 76.

Just a little distraction in a difficult time, and just one of the many many acts of kindness by many people

 

[Tim G]

Hurricane Francis Atlantic Position

Francis Almost Makes Landfall

 

[Tim G]

Anxious, but coping
Central Floridians prepare, uncertain about what's ahead
By Nancy Imperiale and Kate Santich | Sentinel Staff Writers
Posted September 4, 2004

Double Post!

 

[Tim G]

Frances to slog ashore over SE Florida
5:31 A.M. ET Sat.,Sep.4,2004

Another Double Post