 Fran near peak intensity east of Florida on September 4 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | August 23, 1996 |
| Extratropical | September 8, 1996 |
| Dissipated | September 10, 1996 |
| Category 3 major hurricane | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Highest winds | 120 mph (195 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 946 mbar (hPa); 27.94 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 27 |
| Damage | $5 billion (1996 USD) |
| Areas affected | South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania |
| IBTrACS | |
Part of the 1996 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Hurricane Fran caused extensive damage in the United States in early September 1996. The sixth named storm, fifth hurricane, and third major hurricane of the 1996 Atlantic hurricane season, Fran developed from a tropical wave near Cape Verde on August 23. Due to nearby Hurricane Edouard, the depression remained disorganized as it tracked westward, though it eventually intensified into Tropical Storm Fran on August 27. While heading west-northwestward, Fran steadily strengthened into a hurricane on August 29, but weakened back to a tropical storm on the following day. On August 31, Fran quickly re-intensified into a hurricane. By September 2, Fran began to parallel the islands of the Bahamas and slowly curved north-northwestward. Early on September 5, Fran peaked as a 120 mph (195 km/h) Category 3 hurricane. Thereafter, Fran weakened slightly, before it made landfall near Cape Fear, North Carolina early on September 6. The storm rapidly weakened inland and was only a tropical depression later that day. Eventually, Fran curved east-northeastward and transitioned into an extratropical cyclone over Ontario early on September 9.
In Florida, high tides capsized a boat with five people aboard, though all were rescued. No significant effects were reported in Georgia. The outer bands of Fran produced high winds and light to moderate rainfall in South Carolina. As a result, numerous trees and powerlines were downed, which damaged cars, left over 63,000 people without electricity. Large waves in North Carolina caused significant coastal flooding in some cities. Overall, 27 fatalities and $5 billion (1996 USD) in damage were attributed to Fran. Fran is also the most recent hurricane to make landfall in the Carolinas as a major hurricane.[1][2]
- ^ Supal, Linnie. "NC Residents Remember Hurricane Fran 20 Years Later". Spectrum News. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
- ^ Hurricane Research Division (2012). "Chronological List of All Hurricanes which Affected the Continental United States: 1851-2012". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 2014-02-10. Retrieved 2017-08-18.