Hurricane Fran facts for kids
| Hurricane | |
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Hurricane Fran at peak intensity on September 4, nearing landfall
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| Formed | August 23, 1996 |
| Dissipated | September 8, 1996 |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 195 km/h (120 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 946 hPa (mbar); 27.94 inHg |
| Fatalities | 22 direct, 5 indirect |
| Damage | $3.2 billion (1996 USD) |
| Areas affected | South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Toronto |
| Part of the 1996 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Hurricane Fran was a very strong storm that happened during the 1996 Atlantic hurricane season. This powerful hurricane caused a lot of damage, costing over $3 billion. It also sadly led to the deaths of 20 to 30 people. Fran hit North Carolina as a strong Category 3 hurricane, bringing winds of about 115 miles per hour. Because of the serious impact it had, the name Fran was later removed from the list of hurricane names. It was replaced by the name Fay for the 2002 Atlantic season.
How Hurricane Fran Formed
Hurricane Fran began as a "tropical wave." This is like a ripple in the atmosphere that moved off the coast of Africa on August 22. This ripple slowly turned into a low-pressure area. On August 23, it officially became a tropical depression. For a few days, it didn't change much and stayed a bit messy.
On August 27, the storm got stronger and became a tropical storm. It was then given the name Fran. By August 29, Fran had grown even more powerful and turned into a Category 1 hurricane. Interestingly, it then interacted with another hurricane called Hurricane Edouard. This interaction made Fran weaker and changed its path, pushing it northwest.
Once Hurricane Edouard moved away, Fran started to get stronger again. It quickly became a Category 1 hurricane once more. Fran continued to grow in early September. By September 3, its winds were blowing at about 90 miles per hour. The storm also began to develop an "eye," which is the calm center of a hurricane. By September 5, Fran reached its peak strength. Its winds were 120 miles per hour, and its pressure was 946 millibars.
On September 6, the strong storm made landfall in North Carolina. It hit with winds of 115 miles per hour. As soon as Fran moved over land, it quickly lost its power. It then traveled through Virginia before finally dying out on September 8.
Getting Ready for Fran
Before Hurricane Fran arrived, warnings were sent out. A "Hurricane Watch" was issued for the Lesser Antilles in late August. This means people were told to be ready for a hurricane. As Fran moved away from that area, the watch was no longer needed.
Images for kids
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Hurricane Fran passing north of Hispaniola on September 2
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Infrared image of Fran making landfall near Cape Fear, North Carolina on September 5
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A home destroyed by Fran along the North Carolina coastline
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Rainfall from Hurricane Fran in the United States
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A sign put up by a resident of North Carolina, Topsail Island following the severe damage from Fran
See also
In Spanish: Huracán Fran para niños
