Tropical Storm Frances (1998)

Tropical Storm Frances
Tropical Storm Frances near peak intensity off the coast of Texas on September 10
Meteorological history
FormedSeptember 8, 1998
DissipatedSeptember 13, 1998
Tropical storm
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds65 mph (100 km/h)
Lowest pressure990 mbar (hPa); 29.23 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities1 direct, 1 indirect
Damage$500 million (1998 USD)
Areas affectedTexas, western Louisiana, Midwestern United States
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Part of the 1998 Atlantic hurricane season

Tropical Storm Frances caused extensive flooding in Mexico and Texas in September 1998. The sixth tropical cyclone and sixth named storm of the annual hurricane season, Frances developed from a low pressure area in the Gulf of Mexico on September 8. The cyclone moved northward through the western Gulf of Mexico, making landfall across the central Texas coastline before recurving across the Midwest through southeast Canada and New England. A large tropical cyclone for the Atlantic basin,[1] yet an average sized system by western Pacific standards,[2] the storm produced heavy rains across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Texas, western Louisiana and the Great Plains.

The interaction between developing Frances and Pacific Tropical Storm Javier produced torrential rainfall in southeastern Mexico, causing flooding that killed over 200 people and caused $63 million in damage. Coastal flooding overran the coasts of Louisiana and Texas, which worsened river flooding across the region. Federal disaster declarations were made for the states of Louisiana and Texas on September 23 for damage relating to this tropical cyclone. Damage totaled US$500 million (1998 dollars), mainly from flooding.[3] There was one direct death and one indirect death associated with the tropical storm. Frances was the second tropical cyclone to hit Texas during the 1998 season, with Charley being the other.[4]

  1. ^ Robert T. Merrill (1984). A Comparison of Large and Small Tropical Cyclones. Monthly Weather Review. Retrieved on 2008-07-14.
  2. ^ David M. Roth (2008). HPC’s role in providing Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Products. Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. Retrieved on 2008-10-01.
  3. ^ Miles B. Lawrence (1998). NHC Frances Report. Archived 2010-10-04 at the Wayback Machine National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2008-10-01.
  4. ^ National Hurricane Center (2008). Atlantic Hurricane Database. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2008-10-01.