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Hurricane Frances tornado outbreak

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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. In addition, it was the largest tornado outbreak in South Carolina history, with nearly half of the tornadoes in that state.[2]

Hurricane Frances tornado outbreak
A weakening Hurricane Frances over the Florida Peninsula on September 5
TypeTornado outbreak
DurationSeptember 4–8, 2004
Tornadoes
confirmed		103 confirmed
Max. rating1F3 tornado
Duration of
tornado outbreak2		4 days
Fatalities0 fatalities, 13 injuries
Damage$5.305 million (2004 USD)[1]

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.[3] 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.[4]

While the hurricane itself killed 49 including seven attributed directly to the storm, the tornadoes associated with Frances did not produce any direct fatalities.[5] However, 13 people were injured in South Carolina by the storm including five from an F2 in Chesterfield County[6] three others in Sumter County,[7] three in the Gadsden area in Richland County,[8] one near Camden in Kershaw County[4] and one in Jasper County.[9]

Background

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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 (169 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 (97 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.[10]

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.[11][12] Frances also spawned 14 tornadoes in Virginia, tying Hurricane Gaston from the same year as the fifth-most-prolific producer in the state.[13] Overall, 106 tornadoes were confirmed in association with Frances, surpassed only by 127 with Hurricane Ivan and 115 associated with Hurricane Beulah.[14]

Tornado table

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Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
0 72 25 5 1 0 0 103

Confirmed tornadoes

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September 4 event

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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References

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  1. ^ Storm Events Database, NOAA
  2. ^ A look back at the April 13, 2020 tornado outbreak, WLTX, April 13, 2021
  3. ^ Tornado History Project - Tornado Map
  4. ^ a b "NCDC: Event Details". Archived from the original on 2008-09-29. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
  5. ^ NCDC Storm Events-Select State Archived 2008-08-14 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "NCDC: Event Details". Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
  7. ^ "NCDC: Event Details". Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
  8. ^ "NCDC: Event Details". Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
  9. ^ "NCDC: Event Details". Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
  10. ^ John L. Beven II (November 6, 2014). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Frances (PDF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ John Boyer (April 4, 2019). "Virginia has seen more tornadoes in April than any other month". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  14. ^ 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.
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