Hurricane Frances

Hurricane Frances was the second of four Atlantic hurricanes to lash Florida during the 2004 season. A deadly and destructive tropical cyclone, it also struck the Bahamas and other portions of the Southeastern United States. A Cape Verde hurricane and the sixth named storm of the season, it formed on August 25 from a tropical wave. By late the next day, Frances attained hurricane status, and it strengthened further to a major hurricane by August 27. On the following day, it became a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, and Frances attained maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) while passing about 135 mi (215 km) north of Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. The hurricane slowed and weakened dramatically as it moved across the Bahamas, striking several small islands. Wind gusts reached 120 mph (193 km/h) on San Salvador. Across the archipelago, Frances left about US$125 million in damage, with 6,682 homes damaged to some degree. Two people died in the Bahamas, one related to drowning and the other due to electrocution.

Ahead of the hurricane's landfall in Florida, about 2.8 million people were under evacuation orders across 41 counties, which was the state's largest evacuation ever. On September 5, Frances moved ashore Florida as a Category 2 hurricane, producing wind gusts of 108 mph (174 km/h) in Fort Pierce. It was the second hurricane of the season to hit the state, three weeks after Hurricane Charley. Statewide damage totaled over $5 billion, with at least 73,000 homes damaged. Across the state, 4.2 million people lost power, with outages as far west as the Florida panhandle, where Frances made a second, weaker landfall. Frances made a second weaker landfall along the Florida panhandle before moving across the eastern United States. The highest rainfall in the United States was on Mount Mitchell in North Carolina, including recorded on September 8. Across the United States, Frances led to 48 fatalities, of whom six died due to the hurricane's direct impacts. Nationwide damage totaled $9.507 billion, most of it in Florida. Frances transitioned into an extratropical cyclone as it moved across the northeastern United States, producing flooding across portions of eastern Canada. The storm also produced floods across Canada before dissipating over the Gulf of St. Lawrence on September 10.

Frances also produced one of the United States' largest tornado outbreaks related to a tropical cyclone, spawning 103 twisters from Florida to Maryland. The strongest was rated F3 on the Fujita scale, which touched down near Camden, South Carolina, destroying several buildings. It was one of 45 tornadoes in the state, setting a new daily tornado record previously held by 1994's Tropical Storm Beryl.

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Meteorological history

A strong tropical wave moved off the west coast of Africa on August 21. It proceeded westward across the Atlantic Ocean, steered by the Azores High, or a ridge of high pressure. Over the next few days, the wave's convection, or thunderstorms, became better organized. On August 23, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) first noted the potential for tropical cyclogenesis, or formation, within a day or two. At 00:00 UTC on August 25, Tropical Depression Six formed about 755 mi (1,210 km) west-southwest of the Cape Verde islands. Around 18:00 UTC on August 25, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Frances, while located approximately east of the Lesser Antilles. On the next day, the track shifted more to the west-northwest. By 09:00 UTC on August 26, Frances was producing an eye feature in the center of the storm, a sign of its intensification. At 18:00 UTC that day, Frances attained hurricane status, or maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h).

On August 27, Frances' track slowed and shifted more to the northwest, as an approaching upper-level trough weakened the subtropical ridge to the storm's north. During that time, Frances rapidly intensified, becoming a major hurricane, or Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, late on August 27. It underwent an eyewall replacement cycle, in which a larger eye replaced its original eyewall. Late on August 28, Frances reached its first peak as a Category 4 hurricane, reaching winds of 135 mph (215 km/h), as the track shifted back to the west-northwest. Another eyewall replacement cycle began on August 29, causing a brief period of weakening in conjunction with an increase in wind shear. By August 30, the hurricane's maximum sustained winds fell to 115 mph (185 km/h), but it subsequently began restrengthening. On August 31, Frances reached peak winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) while passing about 135 mi (215 km) north of Saint Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Additional eyewall cycles again caused weakening, but Frances remained a Category 4 hurricane between August 31 through September 2, during which time it attained a minimum barometric pressure of . Also during this time, the NHC repeatedly forecast that Frances would move ashore Florida as a Category 4 hurricane. Meanwhile, the storm underwent a reduction in its forward speed, gradually arcing northwestward as it wobbled toward the northwestern Bahamas.

thumb|Hurricane Frances over the Bahamas on September 3

On September 2, Frances again reached peak winds of 145 mph (230 km/h). Starting that day, an increase in wind shear caused the hurricane to weaken appreciably, shedding two Saffir–Simpson categories in 24 hours; Frances would never recover its former intensity. At 19:30 UTC on September 2, Frances started moving through the Bahamas as it hit San Salvador Island with winds of 125 mph (205 km/h). Over the next two days, the hurricane also struck Cat Island, Eleuthera, and Grand Bahama, the last two as a Category 2 hurricane. A building ridge to Frances' west caused the hurricane to meander across the Bahamas, with a large eye about 50 mi (85 km) in diameter. The storm drifted for several hours near Grand Bahama before resuming a west-northwest motion toward Florida's Treasure Coast. At 04:30 UTC on September 5, Frances made landfall in southeastern Florida at the southern end of Hutchinson Island, with winds of about 105 mph (165 km/h). It weakened rapidly while moving across the state, emerging into the Gulf of Mexico on September 6 as a tropical storm. By that time, the storm had a large circulation with little inner core. At 18:00 UTC on September 6, Frances made another landfall on the Florida panhandle near St. Marks, with winds of about 60 mph (95 km/h). The storm moved northward and later northeastward, weakening into a tropical depression near the border of Alabama and Georgia. Frances continued through the southeastern United States, producing a prolific tornado outbreak. On September 9, it transitioned into an extratropical cyclone while over West Virginia, and briefly re-attained gale force winds as it moved through New York. The remnants of Frances crossed over southeastern Canada and northern New England, dissipating over the Gulf of St. Lawrence on September 10.

Preparations

thumb|upright=1.2|The forecasted path of Hurricane Frances from September 1 to September 6|alt=The forecasted path of Hurricane Frances from September 1 to September 6 toward the Bahamas and Florida

The threat from Hurricane Frances prompted widespread tropical cyclone warnings and watches, beginning on August 29. In the Caribbean, tropical storm warnings were issued as far south as Guadeloupe, and westward to the northern coast of the Dominican Republic. In Puerto Rico, schools, courts, and casinos closed, while more than 14 flights were canceled.

The Turks and Caicos Islands and the Bahamas issued hurricane warnings on August 31, ultimately covering the latter country by September 2. Across the Bahamas, more than 1,500 people stayed in shelters during the hurricane. Ultimately, about 2.8 million people were under evacuation orders across 41 counties, which was the state's largest evacuation ever. A traffic death occurred during evacuations near Micanopy, Florida, when a man on I-75 hit a tree. About 108,000 people stayed in one of the hundreds of shelters set up in Florida, Alabama, and Georgia. Several airlines canceled flights in and out of the state, and nine cruise lines had their itineraries altered. Both Kennedy Space Center and Walt Disney World closed during the hurricane, the latter on its fourth time to date. The entire Major League Baseball series between the Florida Marlins and Chicago Cubs was postponed. Three college football games were also postponed.

Various National Weather Service offices issued flood or flash flood warnings from Florida to Kentucky, and northeastward to New York. After Frances moved inland and weakened, the Storm Prediction Center issued a tornado watch from Georgia to Pennsylvania. Schools across Georgia were closed. Flights were delayed at Dulles International Airport due to the storm. In Puerto Rico, rainfall reached at Carite Lake. The hurricane left about 17,000 people without power and 15,000 people without water. Strong waves caused beach erosion and damage to coastal houses in northern Dominican Republic. The storm destroyed six houses, and forced around 50 people to evacuate their houses.

Hurricane Frances also passed about 40 mi (65 km) northeast of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Grand Turk Island recorded wind gusts of . The island lost power during the hurricane. More than a dozen homes sustained damage in the Turks and Caicos. One person was rescued after the roof blew off her residence.

The hurricane took a slow three-day path through the Bahamas, leading to $125 million in damage and two fatalities. One was an electrocution involving a generator in the capital city Nassau, and the other was a drowning on Grand Bahama amid the hurricane's storm surge, or rise in ocean waters. Floodwaters reached deep on the island. On the island of Mayaguana, the storm surge reached an estimated . The island of Inagua lost power service. Crooked Island lost telephone access during the hurricane. Two houses were wrecked on Acklins, and the island's medical clinic had damage to its roof. On Long Island, floodwaters inundated several houses. Across Acklins, Long, and Crooked Islands, the floods damaged schools and government buildings. About 70% of the houses on Rum Cay had damage to shingles. On San Salvador Island, the hurricane destroyed five homes and damage the roofs of another 60 houses. Power lines were also knocked down. On Cat Island, two houses were destroyed, and most of the island's houses had either shingle damage or power outages. On New Providence, home to the capital Nassau and the Bahamas' most populous island, the winds knocked down trees and power lines. Princess Margaret Hospital, the country's largest hospital, had to evacuate patients due to damage. The roof of a shelter was damaged during the storm, forcing the evacuees to move. The streets of Nassau were littered with falling trees and satellite dishes. Two buildings at the Marsh Harbour Airport were flooded. Floodwaters inundated the Grand Bahama International Airport deep, washing away parts of the airport and causing $12 million in damage. Bahamian member of parliament Obie Wilchcombe joined others in rescuing approximately 70 people who became trapped after storm surge entered their residences on the west end Grand Bahama. In the Bimini islands, the hurricane caused damage to tree limbs. Prior to Frances weakening to a tropical storm, hurricane-force winds in Florida extended up to a width of from the cyclone's center. Frances also produced heavy rains in the state, peaking at in Kent Grove, near Spring Hill. West Palm Beach recorded , most of which fell before the hurricane's arrival and up to an hour after landfall. Large portions of west-central and northeast Florida also reported precipitation amounts of at least . Significant storm surge impacted both coasts, estimated as high as . The highest recorded storm surge was above mean sea level recorded at the St. Lucie Lock. The hurricane's waves also caused shoaling along inlets, which reduced boat navigation, closing Port Canaveral for a week. A total of 4,270,583 customers lost electricity throughout the storm, with power outages as far west as the Florida panhandle. Additionally, wind damage to citrus groves led to a near total loss near the coast of east-central and southeast Florida between Boca Raton and Melbourne, with lesser damage farther to the west across the Kissimmee River basin. Between Hurricanes Charley and Frances, citrus losses totaled $2 billion.

thumb|Workers repairing the [[Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center after the passage of hurricanes Frances and Jeanne|alt=Workers repaired the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center after damage from hurricanes Frances and Jeanne]]

Along the Atlantic coast, Frances's waves damaged a beach road, piers, boats, marinas, and seawalls. A bridge carrying State Highway A1A was washed away and destroyed on Hutchinson Island. In Fort Pierce, the hurricane destroyed the municipal marina, as well as several hangars at the Treasure Coast International Airport. Across Martin County, 1,129 dwellings became uninhabitable, with least 52 homes destroyed. Roughly half of the businesses in Indian River County were damaged. Frances caused about $100 million in damage to space and military facilities around Cape Canaveral. Two external fuel tanks for the Space Shuttle were in the building but seemed undamaged. The Space Shuttle Discoverys hangar was without power.

Significant impacts occurred in parts of South Florida, especially Palm Beach County, where the southern eyewall of Frances crossed as it made landfall farther north. Minor wind and sign damage occurred as far south as Marathon. Frances's circulation flooded downtown Punta Gorda, after producing a negative storm surge. The storm's winds also blew the tarps off the roofs of buildings previously damaged by Charley. Above normal tides also produced flooding in St. Petersburg. During the hurricane, a fertilizer company released about of acidic water into a canal that fed into Hillsborough Bay, as well as surrounding wetlands. Heavy rainfall caused major street flooding in Kissimmee and St. Cloud, while water entered some workplaces and residences. Rivers and streams across northern Florida swelled past their flood stage, which washed out roads and covered portions of I-10. In Hillsborough County, the Hillsborough River swelled to a record flood stage. Several other rivers rose to their highest levels since Hurricane Donna in 1960.

Elsewhere in the United States

thumb|Storm total Rainfall from Frances|alt=A map of rainfall totals associated with Hurricane Frances in the United States, showing a peak in North Carolina

As Frances moved inland during its final landfall, it produced wind gusts of 52 mph (83 km/h) in Dothan, Alabama. Rainfall in the state peaked at in Bleecker. There was one indirect fatality related to Frances in Alabama. In neighboring Georgia, the highest recorded rainfall was , recorded in Patterson. There were eight indirect deaths across Georgia, including five related to traffic accidents. Over 500,000 people statewide lost electricity during Frances's passage. Hundreds of homes were damaged by floodwaters in Grady and Thomas counties, with five mobile homes destroyed. Across southeastern Georgia, the heavy rains led to floods, with rivers in the region exceeding flood stage. The floodwaters washed out or inundated dirt and county roads, while also entering homes. Frances produced wind gusts as strong as 68 mph (109 km/h) in Albany. Along the coast, the hurricane produced tides above normal, causing beach erosion and flooding a portion of the F.J. Torras Causeway. The heaviest rainfall statewide was at Caesars Head in the northernmost portion of the state. The rains caused flash flooding, causing rivers and streams to rise. The floods washed away two bridges in the city of Union, while also forcing residents to evacuate in Berea.

thumb|Flooding outside [[Biltmore Estate in Asheville after Hurricane Frances|alt=Hurricane Frances flooded areas outside the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina]]

The heaviest rainfall from Frances in the United States was on Mount Mitchell in North Carolina, including recorded on September 8. The heavy rainfall flooded rivers across mountainous areas, including the Little Tennessee, Pigeon, Swannanoa, and French Broad rivers. The French Broad River swelled to reach in Blantyre. In Buncombe County, flood damage reached $40 million, with the heaviest damage near the Biltmore Village in Asheville, in Black Mountain, and in Swannanoa. Hundreds of buildings were damaged or destroyed in Tranysylvania County, while people were forced to evacuate. The heaviest damage was in the towns of Clyde and Canton. The floods also washed out roads and bridges in the area. Several dams were damaged in Macon County, while in Jackson County, all dams opened their floodgates, triggering evacuations. Floods from the Little River swept away a home in Burke County, and a mudslide destroyed a home in Watauga County. The floods triggered landslides that closed portions of the Blue Ridge Parkway and I-40, while washing away parts of North Carolina Highway 281. Over 100,000 trout were lost due to floods across four fish hatcheries. The combination of rains and wind gusts over knocked down trees and power lines across the state. A tree fell onto a house in Fayetteville. Crop damage in the state reached more than $54 million.

Heavy rainfall extended farther inland. In Tennessee, the highest precipitation was , recorded in Trade in the state's easternmost region. In neighboring Kentucky, rainfall reached near Middlesboro, causing floods in the city. Parts of Olive Hill had to be evacuated due to floods. Floods or mudslides closed several roads across the state, including state routes 7, 15, 191, 711, and 1010. The flooded roads forced schools in Powell County to close. In West Virginia, rains reached in Berkeley Springs. The rains led to floods along streams and low-lying areas, including in Huntington. Several roads were closed due to floods, and one was closed due to a landslide. In Ohio, rainfall peaked at in Mount Ephraim. The city of Roseville declared a state of emergency due to floods. Frances also produced gale-force winds across parts of Ohio, which knocked down hundreds of trees, with six homes and a vehicle damaged by falling trees. High winds and waves destroyed a pier in Lake County. Rainfall reached as far west as Indiana, reaching in Marshall, and as far north as Michigan, reaching at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. Frostburg, Maryland recorded of precipitation, the state's highest during Frances. In western Maryland, floodwaters washed away roads and inundated bridges, after creeks and streams overflowed. In Washington County, a landslide covered a portion of Maryland Route 144. Schools closed due to the floods, and around 20 basements were affected by flooding. Rainfall was light in Delaware, with a peak of recorded in Wilmington. The coast of Delaware and New Jersey experienced rip currents due to Frances' interaction with a high pressure system. Several swimmers had to be rescued. Rainfall in New Jersey reached in Trenton. The rains caused flash flooding in the northeastern portion of the state, which inundated several roads. The Harrison train station was flooded , and several passengers required rescue. A road overpass in Weehawken collapsed due to the floods. Rains in Pennsylvania reached near Meadville. The rains flooded rivers across northwestern Pennsylvania, which damaged at least 1,500 houses and forced hundreds of people to evacuate. At least eight people required rescue from their vehicles. In Edinboro, floodwaters overflowed a dam on Edinboro Lake, forcing the evacuation of residents as well as students at a local university. Floods or landslides damaged 20 roads, including two bridges in Erie County that were destroyed. A railroad bridge in Blair County. Floodwaters reached deep on parts of I-90. Flooding was also reported in Pittsburgh. Minor flooding occurred along the banks of the three rivers, with additional damage reported in river tributaries. Wind gusts reached at the Erie International Airport. The winds were strong enough to knock down trees, and a few homes sustained minor damage.

The highest precipitation in New York was , recorded in Platte Clove. The rains caused floods across central and western New York, and a swollen stream killed a child in Wyoming County. Several roads were closed after rivers exceeded their banks. Flash flooding also affected the New York metropolitan area, closing major highways across the city, and shutting down parts of the New York City Subway. Several people required rescue from their homes or cars. In Cold Spring, the floods washed away parts of a road. In Steuben County, several bridges were washed away, resulting in school closures and a state of emergency. Rainfall in Connecticut reached in Colebrook, causing flash floods and inundating roads. Precipitation from Frances extended across New England, peaking at atop Mount Washington.

Tornado outbreak

Frances produced one of the largest tornado outbreaks ever spawned by a tropical cyclone in the United States, with 103 tornadoes confirmed from Florida to Virginia between September 4–8. The outbreak was only surpassed by Hurricane Beulah in 1967 with 115 tornadoes, while Hurricane Ivan later in 2004 produced 127 tornadoes. An attendant frontal boundary, originally positioned offshore on September 5, lifted northward across the region over subsequent days. Moderate convective available potential energy, plentiful moisture, and strong low-level wind shear culminated in the development of several long-lived supercell thunderstorms and tornadoes within the outer rainbands of Frances, mostly northeast of the center. Frances spawned 45 tornadoes across South Carolina,

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|Kathleen area

|Polk

|FL

|02:08–02:13

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A tornado was reported.

September 5 event

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;"

|+ List of confirmed tornadoes – Sunday, September 5, 2004

! scope="col" width="2%" align="center" |F#

! scope="col" align="center" class="unsortable" |Location

! scope="col" align="center" class="unsortable" |County / Parish

! scope="col" align="center" |State

! scope="col" align="center" |Start Coord.

! scope="col" align="center" |Time (UTC)

! scope="col" align="center" |Path length

! scope="col" align="center" |Max width

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|Fruit Cove area

|St. Johns

|FL

|09:05–?

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A tornado caused minor damage.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|Citra area

|Marion

|FL

|10:05–?

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |Some minor roof damage occurred.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|Orange Park

|Clay

|FL

|12:10

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A tornado was observed by a trained spotter as it caused widespread tree damage throughout Orange Park.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|Northern Palm Coast

|Flagler

|FL

|13:20

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |Minor damage occurred to homes.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|Flagler Estates area

|St. Johns

|FL

|13:25–?

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A weak tornado caused damage to homes along SR 13.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|N of Wellborn

|Suwannee

|FL

|18:30

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A NWS employee reported a tornado. Trees were snapped on either side of I-10.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|Crescent City

|Putnam

|FL

|19:13

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A tornado caused tree and property damage in Crescent City.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|E of Morven

|Lowndes

|GA

|20:15

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |Several trees were uprooted, one of which was hurled into a garage.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|W of Palatka to Interlachen area

|Putnam

|FL

|22:30–22:50

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |This tornado tossed a trampoline and was reported by local emergency management.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|N of High Springs

|Putnam

|FL

|23:00–?

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A tornado downed and snapped trees just outside of High Springs.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|Darien

|McIntosh

|GA

|00:30–00:35

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |This tornado ripped a porch off of a home and downed trees and powerlines along SR 99.

September 6 event

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;"

|+ List of confirmed tornadoes – Monday, September 6, 2004

! scope="col" width="2%" align="center" |F#

! scope="col" align="center" class="unsortable" |Location

! scope="col" align="center" class="unsortable" |County / Parish

! scope="col" align="center" |State

! scope="col" align="center" |Start Coord.

! scope="col" align="center" |Time (UTC)

! scope="col" align="center" |Path length

! scope="col" align="center" |Max width

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|NNE of Riceboro

|Liberty

|GA

|04:05–04:10

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A roof was damaged and trees and large tree limbs were downed.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|Southern Fruit Cove

|Putnam

|FL

|

|06:15

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |Multiple homes were damaged.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|SW of Richmond Hill

|Bryan

|GA

|07:30–07:35

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |Trees and powerlines were downed by a weak tornado.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|S of Register to SE of Metter

|Bulloch, Candler

|GA

|08:20–08:35

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A tornado knocked down multiple trees.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F1

|N of Midway to NNE of Flemington

|Liberty, Bryan

|GA

|13:00–13:15

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |This tornado downed and snapped numerous trees.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|SW of Bartow

|Polk

|FL

|14:32

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A brief tornado was reported.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F1

|E of Thunderbolt, GA to N of Savannah, GA

|Chatham (GA), Jasper (SC)

|GA, SC

|15:02–15:20

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A fence was destroyed and trees and powerlines were downed before dissipating over marshlands.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|WNW of Jacksonboro

|Colleton

|SC

|17:05–17:10

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |Trees were knocked down.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F1

|Hilton Head Island

|Beaufort

|SC

|18:40–18:45

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A tornado destroyed a picket fence and launched through a door into a home. The roof of the same home was partially lifted, causing interior damage within the home, before settling back down.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F1

|SSE of Hardeeville

|Jasper

|SC

|18:55–19:05

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |This tornado downed trees and tree limbs, one of which fell onto a mobile home, injuring an occupant.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|Northern Palm Beach Gardens

|Palm Beach

|FL

|20:40

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A brief tornado touched down near I-95.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F1

|N of Green Cove Springs to southern Fleming Island

|Clay

|FL

|22:45–?

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |This tornado began as a waterspout over the St. Johns River and struck a boat housing area. Seven motorboats, six sailboats and a houseboat were all destroyed. A boat was tossed on top of the houseboat on the other side of the pier. The waterspout then crossed Black Creek and made landfall, damaging trees west of US 17 before dissipating.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|SSE of Fruit Cove (1st tornado)

|St. Johns

|FL

|23:10–?

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A weak tornado caused minor damage along a county road.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|SSE of Fruit Cove (2nd tornado)

|St. Johns

|FL

|23:20

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |Minor damage occurred near Shands Bridge.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|SSW of Aripeka

|Pasco

|FL

|02:00

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |Several trees were downed, including a large tree that blocked a road.

September 7 event

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;"

|+ List of confirmed tornadoes – Tuesday, September 7, 2004

! scope="col" width="2%" align="center" |F#

! scope="col" align="center" class="unsortable" |Location

! scope="col" align="center" class="unsortable" |County / Parish

! scope="col" align="center" |State

! scope="col" align="center" |Start Coord.

! scope="col" align="center" |Time (UTC)

! scope="col" align="center" |Path length

! scope="col" align="center" |Max width

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|NE of St. Matthews

|Calhoun

|SC

|07:20–07:23

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |Trees were downed across US 601.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|NE of Hardeeville

|Jasper

|SC

|07:30–07:35

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A weak tornado snapped or uprooted trees.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|NW of Ridgeville

|Dorchester

|SC

|07:55–08:00

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |Trees and tree limbs were downed.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F2

|Gadsden area

|Richland

|SC

|08:46–08:48

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |This strong tornado completely destroyed three mobile homes and damaged several others. A couple of businesses were also heavily damaged. Numerous trees and powerlines were downed. Three people were injured.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|NW of Allendale

|Allendale

|SC

|09:20–09:28

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A weak tornado downed and snapped numerous trees.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F1

|Eastern Columbia

|Richland

|SC

|09:25–09:28

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |Approximately twenty-two homes suffered light to moderate damage within Fort Jackson.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|SW of Kline

|Allendale

|SC

|09:40–09:45

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |Several trees were downed or snapped.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|Gadsden area

|Richland

|SC

|10:17–10:18

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A few trees were uprooted onto roadways.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|Barnwell

|SC

|10:35–10:36

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |Signs were damaged and some trees and powerlines were downed within Barnwell.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|SSE of Monetta

|Aiken

|SC

|11:14–11:15

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |This weak tornado downed trees across SC 391 and SC 39.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F2

|Southwestern Sumter

|Sumter

|SC

|11:28–11:38

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A strong tornado moved through southwestern portions of Sumter, destroying nine homes will damaging an additional fifty-five. Three injuries were reported.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F1

|Gillisonville area

|Jasper

|SC

|11:35–11:45

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |Hundreds of trees were snapped, some of which were thrown in varying directions.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F1

|S of Manville

|Lee

|SC

|12:40–12:48

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |Large trees and powerlines were downed, multiple homes were moderately damaged and a cotton gin mill was also damaged.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|SSW of Bishopville

|Lee

|SC

|13:10–13:12

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A storm chaser observed a tornado that did minor damage to a mobile home and downed a few trees and powerlines.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|Antioch area

|Kershaw

|SC

|13:18–13:24

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A weak, intermittent tornado did minor damage to mobile homes and trees.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F1

|Cassatt area

|Kershaw

|SC

|13:35–13:45

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |This tornado damaged several homes and manufactured homes. A turkey farm also sustained some damage.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|Holly Hill area

|Orangeburg

|SC

|

|13:48–13:49

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A few trees and powerlines were downed along SC 453.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|SW of Paxville

|Clarendon

|SC

|13:48–13:49

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |This weak tornado snapped or uprooted trees.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|Liberty Triangle area

|Marion

|FL

|14:00

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A trained spotter reported a tornado near a golf course. No damage was reported either.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F1

|N of Cherryvale

|Sumter

|SC

|14:03–14:09

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A tornado touched down within Shaw Air Force Base and inflicted mainly light damage to homes with a few moderate pockets of damage. Many trees and powerlines were also downed in the area.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F1

|E of Elgin

|Lancaster

|SC

|14:40–14:44

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A turkey farm was significantly damaged. Several other homes and mobile homes also suffered damage as well.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|Interlachen

|Putnam

|FL

|14:45

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |Tree damage was reported in Interlachen.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F3

|NE of Camden

|Kershaw

|SC

|15:15–15:29

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |An intense tornado caused major damage at a horse farm where a cinder block horse stable was severely damaged and a large horse trailer was lofted and tossed on top of the stable. Several outbuildings and mobile homes were completely demolished and numerous powerlines and trees were downed. One person was injured.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F2

|Northeastern Tega Cay, SC to southwestern Charlotte, NC

|York (SC), Mecklenburg (NC)

|SC, NC

|15:43–15:48

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |This strong tornado began on the northeast side of Tega Cay and moved due north, snapping or uprooting several trees, a few of which fell onto homes and vehicles, damaging them. The tornado then crossed into North Carolina and entered the extreme southwestern areas of Charlotte, inflicting significant damage. A well-constructed home had it's roof entirely ripped off and numerous other homes suffered shingle damage. A garage had a sheet of drywall torn off of it and was blown away. Several other homes and vehicles also were damaged due to more fallen trees.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|Nocatee area

|St. Johns

|FL

|16:00

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |Some shingles were blown off a roof.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|SW of Darlington

|Darlington

|SC

|16:35–16:45

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |Several trees were snapped, some of which fell onto and damaged the roofs of multiple homes.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F1

|SSE of Cheraw

|Chesterfield

|SC

|16:40–16:56

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |This intermittent tornado inflicted minor damage to homes, businesses and an elementary school. Powerlines and trees were downed as well.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|SE of Cope

|Orangeburg

|SC

|16:45–16:46

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A few trees were downed.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|SSE of Society Hill

|Darlington

|SC

|17:10–17:15

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A home had its roof damaged and several trees were snapped.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|Northeastern Jacksonville

|Duval

|FL

|17:35

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |Four trees were downed including one that fell onto a home and another that fell onto a vehicle.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F1

|ESE of Cerro Gordo to Evergreen to E of Proctorville

|Columbus, Robeson

|NC

|17:38–18:17

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A tornado moved through Evergreen and Boardman, destroying three buildings, damaging four other buildings, and snapping or uprooted numerous trees.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|W of St. Augustine

|St. Johns

|FL

|17:40

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A weak tornado damaged a few homes near the I-95/SR 16 interchange.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F1

|Clio area

|Marlboro

|SC

|18:05–18:12

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |Numerous trees were snapped and/or uprooted and several homes were damaged.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F1

|NE of Morven

|Anson

|NC

|

|18:24–18:30

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A tornado touched down along NC 145 and blew down trees and powerlines along the road. It then impacted a turkey farm where two barns were destroyed, killing thousands of turkeys. The tornado lifted shortly afterwards.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F1

|SW of McColl

|Marlboro

|SC

|18:27–18:30

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A mobile home was destroyed.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|Lumberton area

|Robeson

|NC

|18:47–18:48

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |Local law enforcement reported a brief tornado that did no damage.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F1

|NNE of Darlington

|Darlington

|SC

|19:11–19:12

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |Several trees were snapped and a mobile home was damaged.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F1

|NE of Brunson to E of Fairfax

|Hampton, Allendale

|SC

|19:30–19:45

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |Numerous trees were uprooted or snapped by this tornado.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|N of Society Hill

|Chesterfield

|SC

|19:50–19:52

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A weak tornado downed trees along US 52.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F1

|NW of Marietta

|Robeson

|NC

|19:53–19:59

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |Four homes were damaged, a shed was destroyed, and many trees were downed.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F1

|NE of Dundarrach

|Hoke

|NC

|

|19:56–19:58

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A brief tornado occurred.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|Jenkinsville to W of Winnsboro

|Fairfield

|SC

|20:00–20:32

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A tornado caused scattered tree damage along its intermittent path.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|E of Ehrhardt

|Bamberg

|SC

|20:20–20:22

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |Trees and powerlines were downed.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|NNE of Florence

|Florence, Darlington

|SC

|21:45–21:50

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |This tornado damaged a billboard and snapped numerous trees.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|ENE of Marietta

|Robeson

|NC

|22:10–22:16

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A shed was destroyed and multiple trees were snapped.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|ENE of Dillon

|Dillon

|SC

|23:11–23:14

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |This tornado demolished and old barn and partially tore off a shed's roof. A few trees were also snapped, one of which fell onto a home and damaged the roof.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|NE of Sandy Springs

|Anderson

|SC

|23:30–23:32

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |Several trees were uprooted and an aluminum cattle shelter was destroyed.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|Neptune Beach

|Duval

|FL

|23:50

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |Approximately fifteen to twenty trees were downed. Three homes were damaged by some of the trees that fell.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F1

|SE of Chester

|Chester

|SC

|00:15–00:16

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A brief but damaging tornado touched down and damaged two small trailers and blew down several trees. It then tracked northward, ripping off a portion of a roof from a well-constructed home and blowing the home's garage wall inward. A carport next to the same home was destroyed. The tornado continued snapping or uprooting trees before destroying a trailer at a hunting club and then dissipating shortly after.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F2

|ENE of McBee

|Chesterfield

|SC

|00:23–00:37

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |This strong tornado completely destroyed two mobile homes and inflicted significant damage to several others. Hundreds of trees were downed and several powerlines were downed as well. Five people were injured.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|S of Martin

|Allendale

|SC

|01:05–01:10

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |Several trees were bent or snapped in a cyclonic pattern.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|WSW of Bennettsville

|Marlboro

|SC

|01:05–01:06

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A tornado damaged a steel conveyor belt track at a gravel and sand mine. The front porch of a church was ripped off and several trees were snapped as well.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|W of Kline

|Allendale

|SC

|01:20–01:30

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |Several trees were snapped or uprooted.

September 8 event

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;"

|+ List of confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, September 8, 2004

! scope="col" width="2%" align="center" |F#

! scope="col" align="center" class="unsortable" |Location

! scope="col" align="center" class="unsortable" |County / Parish

! scope="col" align="center" |State

! scope="col" align="center" |Start Coord.

! scope="col" align="center" |Time (UTC)

! scope="col" align="center" |Path length

! scope="col" align="center" |Max width

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F1

|ENE of Union

|Union

|SC

|04:00–04:06

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A mobile home was rolled, shingles and gutters were damaged and numerous trees were blown down and uprooted.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|N of Rockfish

|Hoke

|NC

|08:55–08:58

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A roof of a house and a car were damaged from trees being downed onto them by this tornado. Several other trees were downed as well.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|NW of Jackson

|Northampton

|NC

|12:30–?

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |This intermittent tornado turned over a storage trailer, caused some tree damage and damaged the roof of a home.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|ENE of Vass

|Moore

|NC

|15:25–15:28

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A tornado briefly touched down.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|SW of Sanford

|Lee

|NC

|15:30–15:33

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |The roof of a home was damaged.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|N of Carrboro

|Orange

|NC

|16:45–16:47

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |This brief tornado touched down and did no damage.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F1

|SW of Ripley to S of Indian Head

|Charles

|MD

|16:58–17:07

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |An intermittent tornado immediately damaged several storage facilities and shelters upon touching down. Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted in the area as well. A large RV was overturned and three other vehicles were damaged by flying debris and/or fallen trees. After moving northwest, the tornado then damaged several homes by downing trees onto them. Damage to the homes predominantly was the loss of shingles or siding. The tornado then briefly lifted before coming back down near Indian Head, uprooting approximately twenty to thirty large trees before dissipating.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|Barbecue area

|Harnett

|NC

|17:20–17:23

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A brief tornado snapped a few trees.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|S of Aylett

|King William

|VA

|18:05–?

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A roof was blown off a home.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F2

|S of Bealeton

|Fauquier

|VA

|18:20–18:25

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |This strong tornado caused significant damage to two homes. One home had its roof partially peeled and showed signs of its walls bowing outwards. The second home had its garage door blown into the garage and out of the sidewall. Several projectiles were embedded into the outer wall on the south side of the home. Three large greenhouses and a few portable outhouses were damaged. Two Ryder trucks were overturned, one of which fell and crushed a small pickup truck.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F1

|S of Warrenton

|Fauquier

|VA

|

|18:30–18:33

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |Approximately twenty to thirty mature trees were uprooted or snapped.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F1

|Elkwood

|Culpeper

|VA

|

|18:57–19:00

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |This tornado struck a greenhouse complex, completely destroying a building with a sturdy metal roof. Two cars in the parking lot were moved and a truck was tipped over.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F1

|Bowling Green area to NE of White Oak

|Caroline, King George, Stafford

|VA

|19:25–20:14

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A tornado damaged or destroyed numerous outbuildings and snapped or uprooted hundreds of trees. Near the end of its path, three boats ina dry dock were displaced.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|Boswell's Corner area to S of Triangle

|Stafford, Prince William

|VA

|20:18–20:38

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |This tornado began near US 1, inflicting minor damage to trees and tearing off siding and shingles from a few homes. It then impacted a neighborhood, causing extensive tree damage throughout the area before lifting just over the county line in Prince William County.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|WNW of Gold Hill

|Buckingham

|VA

|20:30

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |Numerous trees were snapped or damaged.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|N of Delaplane

|Fauquier

|VA

|

|21:05–21:07

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A brief tornado uprooted or snapped trees.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|N of Berryville

|Clarke

|VA

|

|21:30–21:32

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A few trees were snapped.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|Truxillo area

|Amelia

|VA

|21:40

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A brief tornado twisted off a couple of tree tops near the intersection of SR 639 and SR 681.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|W of Palmyra

|Fluvanna

|VA

|21:40–?

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A mobile home was demolished, the roof of a home was blown off, and trees were downed.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|Montpelier Station area

|Fluvanna

|VA

|

|22:40–22:42

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A few trees and powerlines were downed.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|SW of Midlothian

|Chesterfield

|VA

|23:15

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |Minor tree damage occurred.

! scope="row" rowspan="2" style="background-color:#; border-bottom: 1px solid black" | F0

|Eastern Richmond

|Henrico, City of Richmond

|VA

|00:20–00:24

|- class="expand-child"

| colspan="8" style=" border-bottom: 1px solid black;" |A tornado touched down along SR 5 and caused damage to outbuildings, storage facilities and several businesses along the state highway. The tornado then moved into the far eastern city limits of Richmond, producing more minor damage to businesses before dissipating.

Canada

While Frances was still over the southeastern United States, its circulation contributed to three days of smog across southern Ontario. As the remnants of Frances moved into Canada, it continued to produce heavy rainfall, peaking at in Kingston, Ontario. The nation's capital, Ottawa, recorded of precipitation. The rains led to widespread floods across southeastern Ontario, and insured damage throughout the province totaled over CA$45 million (US$35 million). Elsewhere in the country, Frances' rains also caused floods and washed out roads in Quebec, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland. By September 21, electricity had been restored to half of the Bahamians affected by the outages. Western sections of Grand Bahama Island remained without power by the time Hurricane Jeanne struck the island three weeks after Frances. The two hurricanes produced more than $550 million in damage and economic losses, equating to about 10% of the country's gross domestic product. On September 27, 2004, Bahamian Prime Minister Perry Christie declared a state of emergency, and requested international assistance for rebuilding. The Bahamian government spent $1.3 million toward bug and rat control, as well as water and food monitoring. Residents were provided mental health counseling services related to disaster stress management. The Inter-American Development Bank provided a $50,000 grant toward food, water, and medicine. Catholic Relief Services sent $10,000 to assist in emergency efforts.

United States

right|thumb|President [[George W. Bush helps deliver water at a relief center in Ft. Pierce, Florida.|alt=President George W. Bush helped deliver water at a relief center in Florida]]

A day after Frances struck Florida, all but three school districts were closed across the state. Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, Polk, and St. Lucie county schools closed just prior to Frances and did not resume classes until October 4 – more than a month after the hurricane. Kennedy Space Center was closed for 11 days until September 13. The facility was closed and damaged again by Hurricane Jeanne, although a lesser extent. On October 13, President George W. Bush authorized $124 million in funding toward NASA facility repairs. Due to power outages, parts of central Florida were advised to boil water a week after the hurricane's passage. Looting occurred in the storm's aftermath, leading to 11 people being arrested. Around 8,000 members of the National Guard assisted with recovery efforts. The American Red Cross provided more than 5.5 million meals to residents affected by hurricanes Charley and Frances. Federal employees were granted excused absences if they helped with law enforcement and the cleanup. Thousands of portable generators were sent to the state by Home Depot and Lowe's home improvement stores. Damage to the Florida citrus crop caused orange futures to rise 4 ¢ per pound. The collective effects of hurricanes Charley, Frances, and Jeanne damaged about one-third of the state's orange crop and two-thirds of the state's grapefruit. The hurricanes also resulted in increased costs for labor, after the migrant workers shifted from being citrus pickers to working in reconstruction. By ten years after the hurricanes, the citrus industry had not fully recovered, partly due to citrus greening disease. The collective impacts of the 2004 hurricanes led to the United States Army Corps of Engineers installing blue tarpaulins on more than 115,000 damaged roofs statewide.

Trucks delivered water to towns in western North Carolina without water supply. Parts of Asheville and Black Mountain were without water for five days. A week after Frances flooded parts of western North Carolina, the region was flooded again by Hurricane Ivan. The two storms contributed to rainfall records across the western portion of the state. Following the back-to-back floods, Asheville began requiring that new buildings in potential flood areas be built at least higher. After the 2004 hurricane season, Asheville began keeping water reservoir levels deliberately low during hurricane season as a precaution. The North Carolina state government passed the Hurricane Recovery Act in 2005 to develop new landslide maps. On September 10, President Bush declared 33 counties within North Carolina a disaster area, providing nearly $40 million in public and individual aid. President Bush also designated a disaster area for 68 counties across Georgia, in which federal public assistance was available. Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman designated 116 counties as disaster areas, in which loans were provided by the Farm Service Agency. The federal government spent about $15.3 million statewide. A federal disaster declaration covered 28 counties in South Carolina, mainly across the state's northern portion. The federal government provided $7.2 million to the state, with 4,399 people receiving individual assistance. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) received criticism for honoring some bogus requests for assistance or haphazardly inspecting damages, which led to some storm victims being greatly overcompensated, particularly in Miami-Dade County. Although FEMA declared a disaster area for the county, local officials stated that Frances caused only minimal damage. On May 18, 2005, the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs held a hearing, which noted that almost 12,600 residents in the county received payments totaling over $31 million. The aid allowed people to replace of thousands of electronic appliances, some of which they may have never even owned. Other residents received payments to repairs replacements almost 800 cars, with some people being compensated for more than their vehicle was actually worth. FEMA also compensated some residents with rental or home repairs assistance, but hastily inspected damage or did not inspect damage altogether. In one instance, a resident collected almost $18,500 from FEMA, but a second inspection of the property revealed no damage at all.

The collective response to hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne represented the largest operations in the history of both the American Red Cross and FEMA. The previous largest FEMA operation was the response to the 1994 Northridge earthquake.

Retirement

Because of the hurricane's effects, the name Frances was retired from the rotating lists of tropical cyclone names in the spring of 2005 by the World Meteorological Organization, and will never again be used for an Atlantic basin tropical cyclone. Frances's retirement was already requested ahead of the season by a delegate from France. The name Frances was replaced with Fiona for the 2010 season.

Notes

References

External links

NHC advisory archive on Hurricane Frances
HPC rainfall report on Frances

Meteorological history

Preparations

Elsewhere in the United States

Tornado outbreak

September 5 event

September 6 event

September 7 event

September 8 event

Canada

United States

Retirement

See also

Notes

References

External links