Hurricane Frances formed from a tropical depression in the deep tropical Atlantic on August 25 about 1400 miles east of the Lesser Antilles and reached hurricane strength on August 26. Frances became a Category 4 Hurricane on August 28 while about 700 miles east of the Lesser Antilles.
Every event with a place to put it; 8 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS MFL wrote it up.
Hurricane Frances formed from a tropical depression in the deep tropical Atlantic on August 25 about 1400 miles east of the Lesser Antilles and reached hurricane strength on August 26. Frances became a Category 4 Hurricane on August 28 while about 700 miles east of the Lesser Antilles. Frances then moved generally west northwest and weakened to a Category 2 hurricane while crossing the northwest Bahamas. After stalling for about 12 hours on September 4 in the Florida Straits between Grand Bahama Island and the southeast Florida coast, the center of the nearly 70-mile diameter eye crossed the Florida coast near Sewalls Point, at 1 A.M. EDT, September 5, 2004 with the southern eyewall affecting the extreme northeast portion of Palm Beach County. Frances moved farther inland just north of Lake Okeechobee and weakened to a tropical storm before crossing the entire Florida Peninsula and exiting into the Gulf of Mexico just north of Tampa late on September 5. It made a second landfall as a tropical storm in the eastern Florida Panhandle.Sustained tropical storm-force winds likely occurred in all six south Florida counties. Although no sustained hurricane-force winds were officially observed in any of the six south Florida counties, an NWS instrument on the eastern shore of Lake Okeechobee at Port Mayaca, just across the Palm Beach County border, measured a sustained wind of 85 mph. At West Palm Beach International Airport the highest sustained wind was 64 mph with a peak gust of 82 mph and the lowest observed barometric pressure was 972 mb. A South Florida Water Management District instrument measured a peak wind gust of 92 mph over the eastern portion of Lake Okeechobee. The estimated peak wind gust in the Palm Beach metro area was 91 mph at Jupiter Inlet with a peak wind gust of 87 mph measured by a C-MAN station at Lake Worth Pier. In Glades County near the western shore of Lake Okeechobee the highest measured sustained wind was 60 mph with a peak gust of 90 mph. In Clewiston, a sustained wind of 60 mph with a gust of 80 mph was estimated. The highest measured sustained wind at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport was 41 mph with a peak gust of 55 mph. In Miami-Dade County a maximum sustained wind of 62 mph with a peak gust of 78 mph was measured at the C-MAN station at Fowey Rocks Light with sustained winds of 42 mph and a peak gust of 59 mph at Miami International Airport. At the Naples Municipal Airport the ASOS measured a maximum sustained wind of 38 mph with a peak gust of 54 mph.A maximum storm-total rainfall amount of 13.56 inches was measured at West Palm Beach International Airport with 10.36 inches of that occurring in a 24-hour period. Unofficial storm-total rainfalls included 9.56 inches at Boynton Beach, 8 inches at Deerfield Beach and 7.18 inches at Hillsboro Canal. Widespread storm-total amounts of 3 to 5 inches occurred in southeast and interior south Florida with southwest Florida averaging 1 to 3 inches. Rainfall flooding was mostly minor except for a few locations in Palm Beach County which had up to 3 feet of standing water. A section of I-95 in Palm Beach County was closed due to a large sinkhole.The maximum storm surge was estimated to have ranged from 2 to 4 feet along the northeast Palm Beach Coast to 1 to 2 feet along the northeast Broward Coast. Within the confines of the Herbert Hoover Dike, water levels on Lake Okeechobee fluctuated up to 5 feet above and below normal. Coastal beach erosion was moderate in Palm Beach and portions of Broward counties and was minor in Miami-Dade and Collier counties.There were no confirmed tornadoes.There were no known direct deaths, but at least 9 people died in the aftermath. Six of these deaths occurred in Palm Beach County, mainly as the result of vehicle-related accidents or from drownings. Two vehicle-related deaths were reported in Broward County and one person died in Collier County while clearing debris. An unknown number of injuries occurred.Property damage at the coast occurred mainly to marinas, piers, seawalls, bridges and docks, as well as to boats. Inland structure damage included 15,000 houses and 2,400 businesses in Palm Beach County. Wind damage to house roofs, mobile homes, trees, power lines, signs, screened enclosures and outbuildings occurred over much of southeast Florida including areas near Lake Okeechobee, but was greatest in Palm Beach County.A preliminary damage estimate for Frances in south Florida is $620 million, including $500 million in Palm Beach, $80 million in Broward, and $34 million in Miami-Dade. Crop damage in Palm Beach County was estimated at an additional $70 million to sugar cane and vegetables and additional heavy losses occurred to nurseries.Florida Power and Light reported power outages occurred to 659,000 customer in Palm Beach, 590,000 in Broward, 423,000 in Miami-Dade, 39,200 in Collier, 2,500 in Hendry and 1,700 in Collier. An estimated 17,000 persons sought refuge in public shelters in Palm Beach County and nearly 7,000 in Broward County.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Miami, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Sep 4, 8:55 AM EST, 5 minutes earlier.
SOUTH FLORIDA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
955 AM EDT SAT SEP 4 2004
.UPDATE...CENTER OF CIRCULATION WITH HURRICANE FRANCES IS OVER GRAND
BAHAMA AT THIS TIME. THE VERY INTENSE RAINBAND WEST OF THE CENTER OF
CIRCULATION IS NOW BEGINNING TO AFFECT THE PALM BEACH COUNTY COAST.
DANGEROUS WIND REPORTS ARE NOW COMING IN. HIGHEST REPORT SO FAR IS
91 MPH AT JUPITER INLET. WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED TO SEE GUSTS AS HIGH
AS 100 MPH...AS THE MOST INTENSE PART OF THE BAND MOVES ONSHORE OVER
THE NEXT FEW HOURS. FOR SOUTH FLORIDA...THE WORSE CONDITIONS WILL
CONTINUE TO BE FOUND OVER PALM BEACH COUNTY...AND LATER INLAND NEAR
THE LAKE OKEECHOBEE REGION. BUT IT NEEDS TO BE EMPHASIZED THAT
HURRICANE FORCE WIND GUSTS ARE NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION EVEN
SOUTHWARD INTO MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. THE RADAR PRESENTATION OF FRANCES
IS IMPROVING THIS MORNING. DO NOT LET YOUR GUARD DOWN /DG
&&
.PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...UPDATED THE ZONE FORECAST TO HEADLINE FLOOD
WATCH FOR MAINLAND MONROE AND WESTERN COLLIER COUNTIES. FLOOD WATCH
BASED ON SLOW ADVANCE OF FRANCIS AND POTENTIAL FOR RAINBAND
FLOODING. ALSO UPDATED GRIDS FOR 09Z FRANCIS FORECAST...NO IMPACT ON
ZONE WORDING AT THIS TIME. NO OTHER CHANGES.
ALTHOUGH WILL HAVE A HIGH PROBABILITY TODAY AND SUNDAY IT SHOULD BE
EMPHASIZED THAT THIS WILL COME IN BANDS AND WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR A
CONSTANT RAIN. NOT GOING TO REPEAT ANY OF THE FRANCES INFORMATION
SINCE THIS IS IN ALL OF THE OTHER HURRICANE FORECASTS AND
STATEMENTS. AS A RESULT WILL PICK UP WITH THE FORECAST BY SUNDAY
EVENING AS THE IMPACT OF FRANCES BECOMES LESS OF A FACTOR. BY THAT
TIME THE UPPER RIDGE OVER THE ATLANTIC SHOULD BEGIN TO BUILD AS WE
SLOWLY LOSE THE SURFACE TROUGH EXTENDING SOUTH FROM FRANCES. WE
SHOULD MAINLY BE IN A SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST FLOW WHICH WILL GIVE THE
NORTH ZONES A HIGHER RAIN PROBABILITY. IN ADDITION THIS IS STILL A
TIME THAT WE COULD SEE A FEEDER BAND OF SHOWERS FEEDING INTO
FRANCES. WE MIGHT SEE SOME FEEDER BANDING AGAIN ON MONDAY HOWEVER
MORE LIKELY BY THAT TIME WE SHOULD SEE SUBSIDENCE AND POSSIBLY SOME
OF THE DRIER AIR THAT IS OUT EAST OF THE BAHAMAS OVER OUR ZONES. SO
WILL DECREASE THE PROBABLITIES BY MONDAY AND THEN KEEP THEM CLOSER
TO CLIMATE AS WE GO THROUGH MID TO LATE IN THE WEEK. BY MID WEEK
THE ATLANTIC SURFACE HIGH SHOULD BEGIN TO PREDOMINATE ALONG WITH THE
UPPER RIDGE THAT WILL HAVE BUILT AS FRANCES BEGINS TO MOVE OVER ITS
NORTHERN EDGE. SO FROM THAT POINT THROUGH TO FRIDAY WE SHOULD GO
INTO AN EASTERLY FLOW PATTERN WITH APPROPRIATE TIMING FOR THE SHOWER
ACTIVITY. THIS HIGH IN THE ATLANTIC SHOULD PROBABLY SERVE TO KEEP
IVAN TO OUR SOUTH SO WILL DISCOUNT IT IN THE EXTENDED PORTION AT
THIS TIME.
&&
.MARINE...BOATING PROBLEMS AT LEAST THROUGH MONDAY IN ASSOCIATION
WITH FRANCES THEN WE SHOULD GO BACK TO THE LARGE ATLANTIC HIGH
PRESSURE AND A BIG IMPROVEMENT. SEAS SHOULD LAG BY ANOTHER DAY SO
BOATING MIGHT BE BACK TO SUITABLE WINDS AND SEAS BY MID WEEK.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...NO CONCERNS AT THIS TIME.
&&
.MFL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...HURRICANE WARNING IN EFFECT FOR ALL EAST COAST ZONES.
TROPICAL STORM WARNING FOR ALL OF WEST COAST ZONES.
INLAND HURRICANE WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FOR REMAINDER OF ZONES.
FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR ALL ZONES.
AM...HURRICANE WARNING IN EFFECT FOR ALL ATLANTIC WATERS AND LAKE
OKEECHOBEE.
GM...TROPICAL STORM WARNING.
&&HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 415 AM EDT SAT SEP 4 2004 FLZ063-066>075-042200- BROWARD METROPOLITAN-DADE METROPOLITAN-EASTERN COLLIER-GLADES-HENDRY- MAINLAND MONROE-PALM BEACH EASTERN-PALM BEACH WESTERN- WESTERN BROWARD-WESTERN COLLIER-WESTERN DADE- 415 AM EDT SAT SEP 4 2004 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH FLORIDA. .DAY ONE...TODAY ...HURRICANE FRANCES AFFECTING ALL OF SOUTH FLORIDA TODAY... REFER TO THE LATEST HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT FOR DETAILS ON THIS WEATHER SITUATION. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY SOUTH FLORIDA WILL STILL BE UNDER SOME EFFECT OF HURRICANE FRANCES SUNDAY WITH CONDITIONS IMPROVING MONDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER REPORTS OF WIND DAMAGE, TORNADOES, OR FLOODING ARE REQUESTED.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 805 AM EDT SAT SEP 4 2004 FLZ068-072-041300- BROWARD METROPOLITAN-PALM BEACH EASTERN- 805 AM EDT SAT SEP 4 2004 ...SPIRAL BAND WITH HURRICANE FORCE GUSTS REACHING THE SOUTHEAST FLORIDA COAST... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR SHOWS A BAND OF SQUALLS WITH WIND GUSTS OF 75 TO 80 MPH MOVING RAPIDLY TOWARD THE SOUTHWEST AT 50 MPH ACROSS THE ATLANTIC WATERS OFF PALM BEACH COUNTY. A MEASURED WIND GUST TO 93 MPH WAS OBSERVED IN FREEPORT WHEN THIS RAINBAND MOVED THROUGH. THE LEADING EDGE OF THIS SQUALL WILL AFFECT THE ENTIRE COAST, AS WELL AS, THE METROPOLITAN ARES OF PALM BEACH THROUGH 9 AM. PERSONS SHOULD AVOID BEING OUTDOORS POWER OUTAGES ARE LIKELY TO BE EXPERIENCED WHEN TREE LIMBS ARE BLOWN DOWN.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 805 AM EDT SAT SEP 4 2004 FLZ068-072-041300- BROWARD METROPOLITAN-PALM BEACH EASTERN- 805 AM EDT SAT SEP 4 2004 ...SPIRAL BAND WITH HURRICANE FORCE GUSTS REACHING THE SOUTHEAST FLORIDA COAST... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR SHOWS A BAND OF SQUALLS WITH WIND GUSTS OF 75 TO 80 MPH MOVING RAPIDLY TOWARD THE SOUTHWEST AT 50 MPH ACROSS THE ATLANTIC WATERS OFF PALM BEACH COUNTY. A MEASURED WIND GUST TO 93 MPH WAS OBSERVED IN FREEPORT WHEN THIS RAINBAND MOVED THROUGH. THE LEADING EDGE OF THIS SQUALL WILL AFFECT THE ENTIRE COAST, AS WELL AS, THE METROPOLITAN AREAS OF PALM BEACH THROUGH 9 AM. PERSONS SHOULD AVOID BEING OUTDOORS POWER OUTAGES ARE LIKELY TO BE EXPERIENCED WHEN TREE LIMBS ARE BLOWN DOWN.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
809 AM EDT SAT SEP 04 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0807 AM HURRICANE JUPITER 26.93N 80.10W
09/04/2004 PALM BEACH FL MESONET
WIND GUST OF 87 MPH AT JUPITER INLET.
&&
JBLSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 930 AM EDT SAT SEP 4 2004 FLZ068-072-041430- BROWARD METROPOLITAN-PALM BEACH EASTERN- 930 AM EDT SAT SEP 4 2004 ...SPIRAL BAND WITH HURRICANE FORCE WIND GUSTS REACHING THE SOUTHEAST FLORIDA COAST... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR SHOWS A BAND OF SQUALLS WITH WIND GUSTS OF 90 MPH MOVING RAPIDLY TOWARD THE SOUTHWEST AT 40 MPH ACROSS THE ATLANTIC WATERS OFF PALM BEACH AND BROWARD COUNTIES. A MEASURED WIND GUST TO 91 MPH WAS OBSERVED IN JUPITER INLET WHEN THE LEADING EDGE OF THIS RAINBAND REACHED THE COAST. THE LEADING EDGE OF THIS SQUALL WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE SOUTHWEST AND AFFECT THE ENTIRE COAST, INCLUDING THE METROPOLITAN AREAS OF PALM BEACH AND NORTHEAST BROWARD COUNTIES THROUGH 1030 AM. PERSONS SHOULD AVOID BEING OUTDOORS POWER OUTAGES ARE LIKELY TO BE EXPERIENCED WHEN TREE LIMBS ARE BLOWN DOWN.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
933 AM EDT SAT SEP 04 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0900 AM HURRICANE JUPITER 26.93N 80.10W
09/04/2004 PALM BEACH FL MESONET
WIND GUST OF 91 MPH REPORTED AT JUPITER INLET.
&&
JBLPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
954 AM EDT SAT SEP 04 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0950 AM TSTM WND GST BOCA RATON 26.36N 80.10W
09/04/2004 0 MPH PALM BEACH FL TRAINED SPOTTER
STEADY GALE FORCE WINDS WITH FREQUENT GUSTS TO 80 MPH
&&
REThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
8 hurricane (typhoon). Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2004Every state in 2004This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, September 2004The 2004 hurricane season
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5422409, 5422411, 5422407, 5422413, 5422414, 5422408, 5422410, 5422412.