Meteorological Analysis
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Frances originated from a broad area of low pressure which was located over the Western
Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico on September 4th. The low was very disorganized but, 3
tropical waves interacted with the low helping to concentrate convective activity. The low
pressure area then consolidated over the western Gulf of Mexico on the 8th and became a
tropical depression, about 140 nm E of Brownsville, Texas. The depression was initially very
disorganized and drifted south. By the 10th however the depression strengthened into
tropical storm Frances and began to move N. Frances continued to strengthen under
favorable environmental conditions and attained maximum winds of 65 mph just before
landfall in Corpus Christi, Texas on the 11th. Frances then moved erratically over land as it
weakened, and brought heavy rains. Frances dissipated on the 13th in northern Texas but,
continued as a remnant low until it reached Iowa on the 14th.
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Casualty and Damage Overview
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There is 1 death attributed to Frances. This death was caused by a tornado in Louisiana,
which injured 6 other people. There is also 1 indirect death from Frances in Louisiana. There
was major flood damage from Frances' heavy rains in parts of Texas and Louisiana as well. Total
U.S. damage is estimated to be $500 million.
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Frances Hurricane Research Division Products
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Imagery
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Tracking Data
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Tropical Storm Frances
Time Lat Lon Wind(mph) Pressure Storm type
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18 GMT 09/08/98 25.5N 94.5W 35 1000 Tropical Depression
0 GMT 09/09/98 25.3N 94.4W 35 1000 Tropical Depression
6 GMT 09/09/98 25.0N 94.5W 35 999 Tropical Depression
12 GMT 09/09/98 24.6N 94.7W 35 998 Tropical Depression
18 GMT 09/09/98 24.2N 95.5W 40 997 Tropical Storm
0 GMT 09/10/98 23.5N 95.6W 45 995 Tropical Storm
6 GMT 09/10/98 24.2N 95.0W 45 995 Tropical Storm
12 GMT 09/10/98 25.3N 95.2W 50 996 Tropical Storm
18 GMT 09/10/98 26.6N 95.2W 50 996 Tropical Storm
0 GMT 09/11/98 27.2N 95.9W 65 994 Tropical Storm
6 GMT 09/11/98 28.2N 96.9W 50 990 Tropical Storm
12 GMT 09/11/98 28.4N 97.6W 45 992 Tropical Storm
18 GMT 09/11/98 28.5N 97.0W 40 994 Tropical Storm
0 GMT 09/12/98 29.3N 96.9W 35 996 Tropical Depression
6 GMT 09/12/98 30.2N 96.8W 35 998 Tropical Depression
12 GMT 09/12/98 31.0N 96.8W 35 1000 Tropical Depression
18 GMT 09/12/98 31.3N 96.8W 35 1001 Tropical Depression
0 GMT 09/13/98 31.5N 96.8W 30 1002 Tropical Depression
6 GMT 09/13/98 31.7N 96.9W 25 1002 Tropical Depression
12 GMT 09/13/98 32.0N 96.9W 25 1003 Tropical Depression
18 GMT 09/13/98 33.0N 97.0W 25 1003 Tropical Depression
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Tracking maps courtesy of NHC
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Selected Satellite Image
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