Hurricane Frances facts for kids
| Category 4 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS) | |
Hurricane Frances as a Category 4 hurricane
|
|
| Formed | August 24, 2004 |
|---|---|
| Dissipated | September 10, 2004 |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 145 mph (230 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 935 mbar (hPa); 27.61 inHg |
| Fatalities | 7 direct, 42 indirect |
| Damage | $12 billion (2004 USD) |
| Areas affected | British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, The Bahamas, Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Ohio, and other states, southeast Canada |
| Part of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Hurricane Frances was a very powerful storm that hit the U.S. in 2004. It was the third major hurricane of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. Frances was one of four big hurricanes that caused a lot of damage in Florida that year.
This hurricane made landfall in Florida very close to where Hurricane Jeanne would hit just two weeks later. Hurricane Frances also caused many smaller storms called tornadoes. About 101 tornadoes spun off from Frances, reaching from Florida all the way to Virginia. Sadly, Frances led to 49 deaths and caused about $12 billion in damage.
Why Hurricane Names Are Retired
Hurricanes that cause a lot of damage or deaths have their names "retired." This means their names are never used again for another hurricane. This is done to remember the serious impact of the storm and to avoid confusion in the future.
Because of the huge damage it caused in the United States, the name Frances was retired in the spring of 2005. The World Meteorological Organization made this decision. So, you will never see the name Frances used for an Atlantic hurricane again. Instead, the name Fiona is now on the list of hurricane names for future seasons.
Images for kids
-
This photo of Hurricane Frances was taken by Mike Fincke from the International Space Station on August 27, 2004.
-
This is a radar image of Hurricane Frances at 12:57 am EDT on September 5.
-
Hurricane Frances making landfall on Hutchinson Island near Port St. Lucie, Florida, on September 5.
-
This map shows the total rainfall from Hurricane Frances.
-
Hurricane Frances over the Bahamas on September 3.
-
Xenon lights shine on the huge Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Workers were making repairs here on September 30, 2004, after the hurricane.
-
President George W. Bush helped deliver water at a relief center in Ft. Pierce, Florida.
