Hurricane Frances tornado outbreak
The Hurricane Frances tornado outbreak was a widespread tornado outbreak associated with Hurricane Frances that came ashore on eastern Florida on September 4–5, 2004. Outer bands from the hurricane and its remnants, when it moved across the Appalachian Mountains, produced one of the largest tornado outbreaks ever spawned by a tropical cyclone in the United States in terms of number of tornadoes confirmed since records were kept in 1950.
Part of Hurricane Frances and the tornado outbreaks of 2004 | |
 A weakening Hurricane Frances over the Florida Peninsula on September 5 | |
| Type | Tornado outbreak |
|---|---|
| Duration | September 4–8, 2004 |
| Tornadoes confirmed | 103 confirmed |
| Max. rating1 | F3 tornado |
| Duration of tornado outbreak2 | 4 days |
| Casualties | 0 fatalities, 13 injuries |
| 1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale 2Time from first tornado to last tornado | |
At least 103 tornadoes were confirmed from September 4 to September 8 across the Southeast and Middle Atlantic States. However, Hurricane Beulah in 1967 and Hurricane Ivan, which affected western Florida less than two weeks after Frances, produced more tornadoes. Other tornadoes from a separate system were spawned in Iowa and Minnesota on September 5.[1] Most of the tornadoes were weak F0's and F1's but a few strong tornadoes were produced across the Carolinas. In particular, an F3 affected areas near Camden, South Carolina producing extensive damage.[2]
While the hurricane itself killed 49 including seven attributed directly to the storm, the tornadoes associated with Frances did not produced any direct fatalities.[3] However, 13 people were injured in South Carolina by the storm including five from an F2 in Chesterfield County[4] three others in Sumter County,[5] three in the Gadsden area in Richland County,[6] one near Camden in Kershaw County [2] and one in Jasper County.[7]
Background
Frances began as a tropical depression west-southwest of Cabo Verde on August 25 from a vigorous tropical wave that departed the coastline of Africa several days prior. As the system moved generally west-northwest, it grew steadily in strength, first to tropical storm strength later on August 25, and then hurricane intensity the next afternoon. After attaining its peak strength as a Category 4 hurricane while north of Puerto Rico, Frances made two landfalls as a major hurricane on San Salvador Island and subsequently Cat Island, in addition to two additional landfalls at Category 2 intensity on Eleuthera Island and Grand Bahama Island. High pressure built north of the cyclone by September 4, causing Frances to turn west and make landfall over the southern end of Hutchinson Island, Florida, with winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) early on September 5. The system weakened over the state, briefly emerging into the northeastern Gulf of Mexico before making a final landfall at the mouth of the Aucilla River in Florida on the afternoon of September 6, with winds of 60 mph (95 km/h). Frances continued inland, ultimately dissipating over the Gulf of St. Lawrence late on September 10. Along its path, the storm accrued over $9 billion (2004 USD) in damage and resulted in 50 deaths.[8]
The brunt of tornadic activity associated with Frances occurred on September 5 through September 8 as the system progressed northward across the East Coast of the United States. An attendant frontal boundary, originally positioned offshore on September 5, lifted northward across the region over subsequent days. Along the east-to-west-oriented boundary, low to moderate convective available potential energy, plentiful moisture, and strong low-level wind shear culminated in the development of several long-lived supercell thunderstorms within the outer rainbands of Frances. Like in most hurricanes, the concentration of rotating storms was focused well northeast of the storm's center. These supercells resulted in numerous tornadoes, including 45 in South Carolina on September 7 alone, setting a new daily record in the state previously held by 1994's Tropical Storm Beryl.[9][10] Frances also spawned 14 tornadoes in Virginia, tying Hurricane Gaston from the same year as the fifth-most-prolific producer in the state.[11] Overall, 106 tornadoes were confirmed in association with Frances, surpassed only by 127 with Hurricane Ivan and 115 associated with Hurricane Beulah.[12]
Confirmed tornadoes
September 4 event
| F# | Location | County | Time (UTC) | Path length | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | ||||||
| F0 | E of St. Cloud | Osceola | 1404 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) |
A sheriff's vehicle was pushed off the road. | |
| F0 | Gibsonia/Galloway area | Polk | 0108 | 3.6 miles (5.8 km) |
Weak tornado with no damage. | |
| Source: Tornado History Project - September 4, 2004 Storm Data | ||||||
September 5 event
| F# | Location | County | Time (UTC) | Path length | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | ||||||
| F0 | Fruit Cove area | St. Johns | 0805 | 5 miles (8 km) |
Weak tornado with little or no damage. | |
| F0 | Citra area | Marion | 0905 | 1 miles (1.6 km) |
Some roof damage occurred. | |
| F0 | Orange Park area | Clay | 1110 | 1 miles (1.6 km) |
Damage limited to trees. | |
| F0 | Palm Coast area | Flagler | 1220 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
Caused minor damage to a few homes. | |
| F0 | SE of Gopher Ridge | St. Johns | 1225 | 3 miles (4.8 km) |
Caused minor damage to a few homes. | |
| F0 | Wellborn area | Suwannee | 1730 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
Damage limited to trees. | |
| F0 | W of Crescent City | Putnam | 1813 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
Minor property and tree damage occurred. | |
| F0 | N of Francis to Interlachen | Putnam | 2150 | 10 miles (16 km) |
A trampoline was picked up. | |
| F0 | High Springs area | Alachua | 2200 | 5 miles (8 km) |
Damage limited to trees. | |
| F0 | SE of Durbin | St. Johns | 0515 | 1 miles (1.6 km) |
Minor damage to homes occurred. | |
| Georgia | ||||||
| F0 | NW of Shiloh | Lowndes | 1915 | 0.2 miles (0.32 km) |
Trees were uprooted, one of which was hurled into a garage. | |
| F0 | Darien area | McIntosh | 2330 | 0.3 miles (0.5 km) |
Trees and power lines were damaged, and a porch was ripped off a house. | |
| F0 | NE of Riceboro | Liberty | 0305 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
Damage to tree limbs and a roof occurred. | |
| F0 | SW of Daniel | Bryan | 0630 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
Damage limited to trees and power lines. | |
| F0 | NE of Excelsior | Bulloch, Candler | 0720 | 5 miles (8 km) |
Damage limited to trees. | |
| Source: Tornado History Project - September 5, 2004 Storm Data | ||||||
September 6 event
| F# | Location | County | Time (UTC) | Path length | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | ||||||
| F0 | NW of Jacksonboro | Colleton | 1605 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
Damage limited to trees. | |
| F1 | N of Hilton Head Island | Beaufort | 1740 | 1 miles (1.6 km) |
A picket fenced was knocked down. Part of the fence went through the door of a house. The roof of a house was partially lifted and then set back down. This caused some interior damage to the home. | |
| F1 | SE of Hardeeville | Jasper | 1755 | 2 miles (3.2 km) |
Damage mostly to trees, although one tree fell on a mobile home, injuring 1 occupant | |
| F0 | Fort Motte area | Calhoun | 0620 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
Damage limited to trees. | |
| F0 | NE of Hardeeville | Jasper | 0630 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
Damage limited to trees. | |
| F0 | SE of Dorchester | Dorchester | 0655 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
Damage limited to trees. | |
| F2 | Gadsden area | Richland | 0746 | 2.5 miles (4 km) |
3 mobile homes were destroyed with others damaged. Two businesses were damaged as well, and many trees and power lines were downed. 3 people were injured. | |
| Florida | ||||||
| F0 | SW of Bartow | Polk | 1332 | 0.3 miles (0.5 km) |
Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | Jupiter area | Palm Beach | 1940 | 0.2 miles (0.32 km) |
Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F1 | Green Cove Springs area | Clay | 2145 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
7 powerboats, 6 sailboats, and 1 boat house were destroyed. Trees were damaged as well. | |
| F0 | NW of Fruit Cove (1st tornado) | St. Johns | 2210 | 1 miles (1.6 km) |
Minor damage reported. | |
| F0 | NW of Fruit Cove (2nd tornado) | St. Johns | 2220 | 1 miles (1.6 km) |
Minor damage reported. | |
| F0 | NE of Hudson | Pasco | 0100 | 0.2 miles (0.32 km) |
Damage limited to trees. | |
| Georgia | ||||||
| F1 | NW of Fleming | Liberty | 1200 | 8.5 miles (13.6 km) |
Damage limited to trees. | |
| F1 | Savannah area | Chatham, GA, Jasper, SC | 1402 | 6 miles (9.6 km) |
Damage to trees and power lines. A fence was destroyed as well. | |
| Source: Tornado History Project - September 6, 2004 Storm Data | ||||||
September 7 event
| F# | Location | County | Time (UTC) | Path length | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | ||||||
| F0 | NW of Hilden | St. Johns | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
Shingles were blown off of a roof. | ||
| F0 | Jacksonville area | Duval | 1 miles (1.6 km) |
A large oak tree was blown onto a home, another was blown onto a car, and two other oak trees greater than 12 inches in diameter were snapped off about 25 feet in the air. People in the area reported a roaring noise around the time of the damage. | ||
| F0 | College Park area | St. Johns | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
Homes sustained minor damage. | ||
| F0 | Jacksonville Beach area | Duval | 1 miles (1.6 km) |
Multiple trees were downed, some of which landed on homes. | ||
| F0 | Candler area | Marion | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
Brief tornado caused no damage. | ||
| F0 | Interlachen area | Putnam | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
Damage limited to trees. | ||
| South Carolina | ||||||
| F0 | NW of Allendale | Allendale | 0820 | 2 miles (3.2 km) |
Damage limited to trees. | |
| F1 | E of Columbia | Richland | 0825 | 1 miles (1.6 km) |
22 homes had light to moderate damage. | |
| F0 | N of Appleton | Allendale | 0840 | 1 miles (1.6 km) |
Damage limited to trees. | |
| F0 | Columbia area | Richland | 0917 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
Damage limited to trees. | |
| F0 | SW of Barnwell | Barnwell | 0935 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
Damage to trees, power lines, and signs. | |
| F0 | SE of Monetta | Aiken | 1014 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
Damage limited to trees. | |
| F2 | Millwood area | Sumter | 1028 | 4 miles (6.4 km) |
55 homes were damaged, with 9 destroyed. 3 people were injured | |
| F1 | NE of Gillisonville | Jasper | 1035 | 4 miles (6.4 km) |
Damage limited to trees. | |
| F1 | NE of Woodrow | Lee | 1140 | 4 miles (6.4 km) |
Several homes and a cotton mill had moderate damage. Trees and power lines were downed as well. | |
| F0 | SW of Bishopville | Lee | 1210 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
Damage to a mobile home, trees, and power lines. | |
| F0 | E of Camden | Kershaw | 1218 | 3 miles (4.8 km) |
Minor damage to mobile homes occurred. Trees and power lines were knocked down as well. | |
| F1 | Cassatt area | Kershaw | 1235 | 5 miles (8 km) |
Damage to homes, mobile homes, and a turkey farm. | |
| F0 | NW of Jamison | Calhoun | 1248 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
Damage to trees and power lines. | |
| F0 | SW of Paxville | Clarendon | 1248 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
Damage limited to trees. | |
| F1 | E of Oakland | Sumter | 1303 | 3 m1iles (4.8 km) |
Several homes had light to moderate damage at Shaw Air Force Base. | |
| F1 | E of Elgin | Lancaster | 1340 | 2 miles (3.2 km) |
Several buildings at a turkey farm, mobile homes, and homes were damaged, some heavily. | |
| F3 | N of Camden | Kershaw | 1415 | 7 miles (11.2 km) |
Several outbuildings and mobile homes were destroyed, while several cinder block horse stables were heavily damaged. A horse trailer was also lifted on top of a stable. Numerous trees and power lines were downed. | |
| F2 | Tega Cay area | York, SC, Mecklenburg, NC | 1443 | 3 miles (4.8 km) |
Damage limited to trees, with some falling onto homes and automobiles in South Carolina. In North Carolina, several homes sustained damage. | |
| F0 | SW of Darlington | Darlington | 1535 | 1.3 miles (2.1 km) |
Damage limited to trees, though some fell onto homes. | |
| F1 | Cheraw area | Chesterfield | 1540 | 8 miles (12.8 km) |
Minor damage to several homes, businesses, and an elementary school. Numerous trees and power lines were downed. | |
| F0 | SW of Rowesville | Orangeburg | 1545 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
Damage limited to trees. | |
| F0 | S of Society Hill | Darlington | 1610 | 0.7 miles (1.1 km) |
One home had roof damage, and several trees were snapped. | |
| F1 | SE of Clio | Marlboro | 1705 | 5 miles (8 km) |
Several homes were damaged. Trees were snapped and uprooted. | |
| F1 | S of McColl | Marlboro | 1727 | 0.3 miles (0.5 km) |
A mobile home was destroyed. | |
| F1 | N of Mont Clare | Darlington | 1811 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) |
Damage to several trees and a mobile home. | |
| F1 | SE of Sycamore | Hampton, Allendale | 1830 | 4.5 miles (7.2 km) |
Damage limited to trees. | |
| F0 | SE of Society Hill | Chesterfield | 1850 | 1 miles (1.6 km) |
Damage limited to trees. | |
| F0 | NE of Jenkinsville | Fairfield | 1900 | 16 miles (25.6 km) |
Damage limited to trees. | |
| F0 | E of Ehrhardt | Bamberg | 1920 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
Damage to trees and power lines. | |
| F0 | Quinby area | Florence, Darlington | 2045 | 1 miles (1.6 km) |
Damage to trees and a billboard. | |
| F0 | NW of Gaddys Crossroads | Dillon | 2211 | 1.3 miles (2.1 km) |
A barn was destroyed and the roof of a shed was torn off. Several trees were downed, one of which landed on a house. | |
| F0 | W of Lebanon | Anderson | 2230 | 1.2 miles (1.9 km) |
A cattle shelter was destroyed and several trees were damaged. | |
| F1 | W of Rossville | Chester | 2315 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
Three small trailers were damaged or destroyed. A carport was also destroyed and one home was damaged. Several trees were blown down as well. | |
| F2 | E of Middendorf | Chesterfield | 2323 | 7 miles (11.2 km) |
Two mobile homes were destroyed and several others were damaged. Numerous trees and power lines were downed. 5 people were injured. | |
| F0 | SW of Bennettsville | Marlboro | 0005 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
A porch at a church and a steel conveyor belt track were damaged. | |
| F0 | W of Barton | Allendale | 0005 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
Damage limited to trees. | |
| F0 | N of Martin | Allendale | 0020 | 1 miles (1.6 km) |
Damage limited to trees. | |
| F1 | SE of Adamsburg | Union | 0300 | 4 miles (6.4 km) |
Homes sustained roof and gutter damaged, and a mobile home was rolled. Many trees were downed as well. | |
| North Carolina | ||||||
| F1 | SW of Chadbourn to NE of Orrum | Columbus, Robeson | 1638 | 10 miles (16 km) |
Three homes and businesses were destroyed, with four others damaged. | |
| F1 | NE of Morven | Anson | 1724 | 2 miles (3.2 km) |
Two turkey barns were destroyed, killing thousands of turkeys. | |
| F0 | Lumberton area | Robeson | 1747 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) |
Brief touchdown with no damage. Trees and power poles were downed as well. | |
| F1 | NW of Marietta | Robeson | 1853 | 4.2 miles (6.7 km) |
Four homes were damaged and a shed was destroyed. | |
| F0 | E of Arabia | Hoke | 1856 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | SW of Barnesville | Robeson | 2110 | 1.6 miles (2.6 km) |
One shed was destroyed and several trees were snapped. | |
| F0 | N of Rockfish | Hoke | 0755 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
Numerous trees were downed, damaging a roof and a car. | |
| Source: Tornado History Project - September 7, 2004 Storm Data | ||||||
September 8 event
| F# | Location | County | Time (UTC) | Path length | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | ||||||
| F0 | SE of Pleasant Grove | Northampton | 1130 | 3 miles (4.8 km) |
A storage trailer was rolled over, one home had roof damage, and trees were damaged. | |
| F0 | E of Vass | Moore | 1425 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | White Hill | Lee | 1430 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
One home had roof damage. | |
| F0 | NW of Chapel Hill | Orange | 1545 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | E of Olivia | Harnett | 1620 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
A few trees were damaged. | |
| Maryland | ||||||
| F1 | W of McConchie | Charles | 5 miles (8 km) |
Shelters and storage facilities were damaged or destroyed and several homes sustained minor damage. One recreational van was flipped over. Numerous trees were downed, causing additional damage to homes and vehicles. | ||
| Virginia | ||||||
| F0 | SE of Aylett | King William | 1705 | 1 miles (1.6 km) |
One home had roof damage. | |
| F2 | S of Bealeton | Fauquier | 1720 | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) |
A roof was peeled off one home and some of the outside walls showed signs of bowing. At another dwelling, a garage door was blown into the garage and out of the sidewall. Several projectiles were lodged in the south side of the house. Three large green houses and some portable outhouses were also damaged. Two Ryder trucks were overturned. One truck fell on a small pickup, which sustained considerable damage. | |
| F1 | NE of Opal | Fauquier | 1730 | 0.8 miles (1.3 km) |
Damage limited to trees. | |
| F1 | NE of Elkwood | Culpeper | 1757 | 0.3 miles (0.5 km) |
Tornado caused damage to a greenhouse complex. A 20-foot square building with a sturdy metal roof was completely destroyed. Two cars in a parking lot were moved and a pickup truck was tipped over. | |
| F1 | NW of Wrightsville to E of Daffan | Caroline, King George, Stafford | 1825 | 17.8 miles (28.5 km) |
Several buildings were damaged or destroyed. Trees were uprooted and boats were displaced. | |
| F0 | E of Aquia | Stafford, King William | 1918 | 5.5 miles (8.8 km) |
A few homes sustained minor damage, and extensive tree damage occurred. | |
| F0 | E of Sunny Side | Buckingham | 1930 | 0.8 miles (1.3 km) |
Damage limited to trees. | |
| F0 | SW of Kerfoot | Fauquier | 2005 | 0.3 miles (0.5 km) |
Damage limited to trees. | |
| F0 | S of Stringtown | Clarke | 2030 | 0.3 miles (0.5 km) |
Damage limited to trees. | |
| F0 | E of Truxillo | Amelia | 2040 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
Damage limited to trees. | |
| F0 | SW of Cunningham | Fluvanna | 2040 | 1 miles (1.6 km) |
Tornado destroyed a mobile home and blew the roof off of a house. Trees were downed as well. | |
| F0 | NW of Montpelier Station | Orange | 2140 | 0.3 miles (0.5 km) |
Damage limited to trees and wires. | |
| F0 | SW of Midlothian | Chesterfield | 2215 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
Damage limited to trees. | |
| F0 | Richmond area | Henrico, Richmond | 0.7 miles (1.1 km) |
Structural damage to outbuildings and storage facilities. Businesses sustained minor damage as well. | ||
| Source: Tornado History Project - September 8, 2004 Storm Data | ||||||
See also
References
- Tornado History Project - Tornado Map
- NCDC: Event Details
- NCDC Storm Events-Select State Archived 2008-08-13 at WebCite
- NCDC: Event Details
- NCDC: Event Details
- NCDC: Event Details
- NCDC: Event Details
- John L. Beven II (November 6, 2014). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Frances (PDF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
- Justin D. Lane. Environmental Aspects of Two Tornado Outbreaks Associated with Landfalling Tropical Cyclones (PDF) (Report). Greer, South Carolina: National Weather Service. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
- Paul Yura; Frank Alsheimer; Joseph Calderone. An Examination of the Synoptic and Mesoscale Environments Involved in Tornado Outbreaks from Hurricanes Frances (2004) and Jeanne (2004) over Northeast Coastal Georgia and Southern South Carolina (PDF) (Report). Charleston, South Carolina: National Weather Service. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
- John Boyer (April 4, 2019). "Virginia has seen more tornadoes in April than any other month". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
- Bill McCaul; Chris Vaccaro (May 6, 2014). "TCFAQ L7) What is the largest known outbreak of TC tornadoes?". Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. Retrieved April 24, 2019.