What are you talking about? It's already a category 4 hurricane...this is a disastrous hurricane. Where do you live? Obviously inland or you'd know this!
It's already a category 4 hurricane...this is a disastrous hurricaneNo, Frances is a Cat 3 hurricane. See the current Immediate Advisory and check out the maximum wind speed described in the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale posted below the advisory. 120mph sustained winds puts Frances smack dab in the middle of a Category 3 hurricane (111 mph to 120 mph). But then, as we saw with Charley, things can change very quickly indeed.
Hurricane Frances Intermediate Advisory Number 23a
Statement as of 2:00 PM AST on August 30, 2004...Dangerous Hurricane Frances continues westward...
Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for the following Leeward
Islands by their governments...Antigua...Barbuda...St maarten...
Anguilla...Nevis...St Kitts...St eustatius and Saba. A tropical
storm watch is in effect for St Martin and St Barthelemy. The
government of France will likely upgrade this watch to a Tropical
Storm Warning later this afternoon. A Tropical Storm Warning means
that tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area
within the next 24 hours.
A Hurricane Watch remains in effect for the British and northern
U.S. Virgin Islands including St Thomas...St John and surrounding
islands...and for the island of Culebra. A tropical storm watch
remains in effect for Puerto Rico and Vieques.
A tropical storm or Hurricane Watch means that tropical storm or
hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area...generally
within 36 hours.
At 2 PM AST...1800z...the center of Hurricane Frances was located
near latitude 19.3 north...longitude 59.4 west or about 190
miles... 310 km...northeast of the northern Leeward Islands.
Frances is moving toward the west near 14 mph ...22 km/hr...and this
general motion is expected over the next 24 hours. On this track
the core of the hurricane will pass to the north of the northern
Leeward Islands late tonight and early Tuesday. However the outer
bands of Frances will begin affecting these islands beginning later
this afternoon.
Maximum sustained winds are near 120 mph...195 km/hr...with higher
gusts. Some increase in strength is forecast during the next
24 hours. A NOAA hurricane hunter aircraft is scheduled to
investigate Frances this afternoon.
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 85 miles...140 km...
from the center...and tropical storm force winds extend outward up
to 140 miles...220 km.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 956 mb...28.23 inches.
Repeating the 2 PM AST position...19.3 N... 59.4 W. Movement
toward...west near 14 mph. Maximum sustained winds...120 mph.
Minimum central pressure... 956 mb.
For storm information specific to your area...please monitor
products issued by your local weather office.
The next advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at
5 PM AST.
Forecaster Pasch
$$
The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is a 1-5 rating based on the hurricane's present intensity. This is used to give an estimate of the potential property damage and flooding expected along the coast from a hurricane landfall. Wind speed is the determining factor in the scale, as storm surge values are highly dependent on the slope of the continental shelf in the landfall region. Note that all winds are using the U.S. 1-minute average.
- Category One Hurricane:
- Winds 74-95 mph (64-82 kt or 119-153 km/hr). Storm surge generally 4-5 ft above normal. No real damage to building structures. Damage primarily to unanchored mobile homes, shrubbery, and trees. Some damage to poorly constructed signs. Also, some coastal road flooding and minor pier damage. Hurricanes Allison of 1995 and Danny of 1997 were Category One hurricanes at peak intensity.
- Category Two Hurricane:
- Winds 96-110 mph (83-95 kt or 154-177 km/hr). Storm surge generally 6-8 feet above normal. Some roofing material, door, and window damage of buildings. Considerable damage to shrubbery and trees with some trees blown down. Considerable damage to mobile homes, poorly constructed signs, and piers. Coastal and low-lying escape routes flood 2-4 hours before arrival of the hurricane center. Small craft in unprotected anchorages break moorings. Hurricane Bonnie of 1998 was a Category Two hurricane when it hit the North Carolina coast, while Hurricane Georges of 1998 was a Category Two Hurricane when it hit the Florida Keys and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
- Category Three Hurricane:
- Winds 111-130 mph (96-113 kt or 178-209 km/hr). Storm surge generally 9-12 ft above normal. Some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings with a minor amount of curtainwall failures. Damage to shrubbery and trees with foliage blown off trees and large trees blown down. Mobile homes and poorly constructed signs are destroyed. Low-lying escape routes are cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Flooding near the coast destroys smaller structures with larger structures damaged by battering from floating debris. Terrain continuously lower than 5 ft above mean sea level may be flooded inland 8 miles (13 km) or more. Evacuation of low-lying residences with several blocks of the shoreline may be required. Hurricanes Roxanne of 1995 and Fran of 1996 were Category Three hurricanes at landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and in North Carolina, respectively.
- Category Four Hurricane:
- Winds 131-155 mph (114-135 kt or 210-249 km/hr). Storm surge generally 13-18 ft above normal. More extensive curtainwall failures with some complete roof structure failures on small residences. Shrubs, trees, and all signs are blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Extensive damage to doors and windows. Low-lying escape routes may be cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Major damage to lower floors of structures near the shore. Terrain lower than 10 ft above sea level may be flooded requiring massive evacuation of residential areas as far inland as 6 miles (10 km). Hurricane Luis of 1995 was a Category Four hurricane while moving over the Leeward Islands. Hurricanes Felix and Opal of 1995 also reached Category Four status at peak intensity.
- Category Five Hurricane:
- Winds greater than 155 mph (135 kt or 249 km/hr). Storm surge generally greater than 18 ft above normal. Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings. Some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. All shrubs, trees, and signs blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Severe and extensive window and door damage. Low-lying escape routes are cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Major damage to lower floors of all structures located less than 15 ft above sea level and within 500 yards of the shoreline. Massive evacuation of residential areas on low ground within 5-10 miles (8-16 km) of the shoreline may be required. Hurricane Mitch of 1998 was a Category Five hurricane at peak intensity over the western Caribbean. Hurricane Gilbert of 1988 was a Category Five hurricane at peak intensity and is one of the strongest Atlantic tropical cyclones of record.