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CStation Offers Frances Updates Monday 8 A.M. The National Hurricane Center Report estimated that Frances would move of of the Gulf of Mexico and hit land over the central portion of the panhandle sometime this evening. Frances remains a large tropical cyclone with tropical storm force winds extending outward up to 200 miles for its center. Sunday 11 P.M. The National Hurricane Center Report says now tropical storm Frances has moved offshore about 25 miles north-north west of Tampa moving about 8 MPH. There is a chance Frances may reform into hurricane strength before it hits the Florida peninsula. Tropical force winds extend outward 200 miles from the center of the storm. Sunday 7 P.M.
Saturday 8:30 P.M. As of 8 P.M. the National Hurricane Center Report said the large eye of Frances was still located 50 miles off shore from Palm Beach as the storm continued a slow 5 MPH trek over Florida. Over 2 million people are reportedly already without power in the state. Saturday 2 P.M. Saturday 11 A.M. The National Hurricane Center Report now places the center of Frances about 80 offshore of Palm Beach moving about about 5 MPH towards the Florida coast. Forecast continue as a real possibility for much of Florida, including our area, as the storm passes over the state. The NHC reports says: FRANCES HAS BEEN DRIFTING BETWEEN THE WEST AND WEST-NORTHWEST DURING THE PAST FEW HOURS BUT IS EXPECTED TO RESUME A WEST-NORTHWEST TRACK NEAR 5 MPH... 7 KM/HR TODAY. ON THE FORECAST TRACK... THE LARGE EYE OF HURRICANE FRANCES WILL BE VERY NEAR THE FLORIDA EAST COAST BY LATE TONIGHT OR EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. Saturday 10 A.M. Most recent reports from the National Hurricane Center 8 A.M. Report and 5 A.M. Discussion report indicate that Francis is now on a path that will move across Florida towards the Tampa area. The storm is projected to hit land at no more than a category 2 or 3 Hurricane. Still powerful enough to cause wind and flood damage to the Gainesville and Ocala area. Winds can be expected between 40 and 60 MPH and heavy rain beginning Sunday. The storm is still weakening but could pick up strength as it moves closer to the Florida east coast. Forecast could still change. Hurricane Alley Map. Friday 5 P.M. The National Hurricane Center 5 P.M. Frances Report indicated the storm is now located about 200 miles east-southeast of the Florida Lower east coast moving west-westnorthwest towards Florida at 8-13 miles an hour. Outer squalls of the hurricane are moving over the Florida east coast. Maximum sustained winds are reported at 115 MPH. Friday 11 A.M. The National Hurricane Center Frances 11 A.M. Discussion report has indicated the storm is continuing to weaken. The NHC Discussion report says in part: DATA FROM AN AIR FORCE PLANE INDICATE THAT THE INNER CORE OR EYEWALL OF FRANCES HAS DETERIORATED SINCE YESTERDAY AND THE CENTRAL PRESSURE HAS RISEN TO 959 MB. IN ADDITION...SOME UPPER-LEVEL SOUTH-WESTERLY WINDS ARE CURRENTLY CREATING SOME SHEAR OVER THE HURRICANE DISRUPTING THE CLOUD PATTERN. THIS MEANS THAT THE HURRICANE HAS WEAKENED AND THE INITIAL INTENSITY HAS BEEN LOWERED TO 100 KNOTS. The report also notices that Frances should still be considered a very dangerous storm and could strengthen again before it reaches Florida landfall about 36 hours from now. The
projected path of the storm has been adjusted to again be headed
toward the Ocala and Gainesville area. However, it now appears Frances may
be greatly weakened if current patterns hold. Wind and rain damage are
still very possible in the area. Friday 9:30 A.M. Gainesville And Ocala area residents
got some temporary good news from today's 8 A.M.
National Hurricane Center update on Frances. The storm, now about 240
miles east, south-east of the lower east Florida coast in the Bahamas,
traveling at a slower pace of eight to 15 miles per hour, has weakened to
a strong category 3 hurricane. Frances could strengthen itself back to a
category 4 storm by the time it hits the Florida coast. The Storm should
be around our area sometime Sunday morning. The Associated Press reported this morning that Francis, with its imposing size -- the cloud cover was about as big as the state of Texas -- had the potential to ravage the state with its slow movement. Forecasters said the slower the storm moves across the ocean, the longer its winds and rain could linger, increasing the possibility of serious damage. Of course, the actual path of Frances could still change from predicted patterns.
Thursday 8:30 P.M. The Center reports that: "It is also important to
realize tropical cyclones are not a point. Their effects can span many
hundreds of miles from the center. " Thursday 2:15 P.M. Communication Station, www.cstation, will be offering updates on local and national news about hurricane Frances as long as our electricity holds out. In addition to local area news sites like The Gainesville Sun and Ocala Star Banner, CStation will also be pulling information links from CNN, USA Today, both the GRU and Progress Energy utility companies, and other sources on an updated basis as long as the storm remains a threat to our area, or we have power for such updates. Even if we should lose power at CStation’s office, the Web site and its links will remain operative to connect with major information sources themselves. CStation strongly urges Gainesville and Ocala area residents to take the threat of this category 4 Hurricane seriously. (Category 4 is the second strongest type of storm possible.) While no prediction can be made with complete certainty, all current predictions to Frances' path show the storm hitting our area. Residents are advised to make preparations for
their safety and our area could be without power for several days to three
weeks. People not living in regular houses will be particularly in danger.
As of Wednesday afternoon many stores were selling out of basic supplies
like water and canned food.
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