| Tropical storm (SSHS) | |
|---|---|
| Tropical Storm Frances at peak intensity | |
| Formed | September 8, 1998 |
| Dissipated | September 13, 1998 |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 65 mph (100 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 994 mbar (hPa; 29.35 inHg) |
| Fatalities | 1 direct, 1 indirect |
| Damage | $500 million (1998 USD) |
| Areas affected | Texas, western Louisiana, Midwestern United States |
| Part of the 1998 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Originating over the southwest Caribbean sea on September 4, Tropical Storm Frances became the sixth tropical storm of the 1998 Atlantic hurricane season. 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.
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]
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A broad area of low pressure formed in the southwest Caribbean on September 4. It moved to the northwest and slowly organized, developing a low pressure center on September 8. This coincided with the existence of a large area of convection over the western Gulf of Mexico. The area continued to organize and developed into Tropical Depression Six later on the 8th while 160 miles (260 km) east-southeast of Brownsville, Texas. Initially, the depression was large, without a well-defined center of circulation. It more resembled a monsoon depression commonly seen in the Western Pacific Ocean and the Northern Indian Ocean. The depression drifted southward and strengthened into Tropical Storm Frances on the 9th.[3]
Frances turned to the northwest and strengthened due to warm water temperatures of 30 °C (86 °F), weak vertical shear, and a large anticyclone aloft. Just before making landfall on Corpus Christi, Texas, the storm reached a peak of 65 mph (105 km/h), and quickly weakened as it continued inland. Shortly after landfall, the storm executed a small loop before turning to the north and dissipating as a tropical cyclone on September 13.[3] The remnant low of Frances persisted another day, becoming a frontal wave over Iowa. This frontal wave moved across the Great Lakes and New England into the north Atlantic by the 16th.[5]
A tropical storm warning was issued for the Texas coast between High Island and Brownsville on the afternoon of the 8th. The next afternoon, the warning area was extended southward into northeast Mexico to Tampico. By the afternoon of the 10th, strong winds along the Louisiana coast led to an extension of the tropical storm warning eastward to the Pearl River. On the 11th, as Frances moved inland, tropical storm warnings were slowly lifted.[3]
Federal disaster declarations were made for the states of Louisiana and Texas on September 23 for damage relating to this tropical cyclone.[6] Although there was little wind damage, Frances caused $500 million dollars (1998 USD) in damage, mostly from flooding. In addition, it killed one person. Several counties in Texas and Louisiana were declared disaster areas.[3]
The main inflow band of this system remained stationary across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec for several days, leading to extremely heavy rainfall. The highest amount noted was 44.06 inches (1,119 mm) at Independencia/Escuintla.[7]
Though on the outskirts of the storm, Tropical Storm Frances dropped 10 to 15 inches (250 to 380 mm) of rain across southwest Louisiana, and over 23 inches (580 mm) of rainfall near New Orleans, Louisiana.[5] This rainfall helped relieve drought conditions.[8] Along the coast, the system caused a storm surge of 5.1 feet (1.6 m) in Cameron,[3] the worst experienced along the coast of southwest Louisiana since Hurricane Carla. The storm surge swept away five houses, destroyed a fishing pier, and submerged Grand Isle.[8] A tornado in the outer bands of the storm killed one person in Lafourche Parish, while six others were injured.[3] At least eight tornadoes were witnessed statewide, with seven touching down across Acadiana.[8] In addition, the storm caused an indirect death in the New Orleans area in an automobile accident.[3]
Winds gusted as high as 66 miles per hour (106 km/h) at Sea Rim State Park as Frances lashed the coast. The lowest pressure reported from a land station was 29.33 inches of mercury (993 hPa) at Rockport, Texas. Three tornadoes touched down across the Lone Star State, at Caney Creek, La Porte, and Galveston. A major disaster declaration was issued for Brazoria, Galveston, and Harris counties.[9]
Tropical Storm Frances caused significant amounts of flooding across southeastern Texas, with a peak of 21.46 inches (545 mm) in Houston, Texas metropolitan area.[10] Severe flooding was also reported in Harris County and Houston.[11] More than 1,400 homes and businesses in and around Houston were either damaged or destroyed by the floods. In addition, three main highways in Houston were washed out, leaving many motorists stranded.[11][12]
Sections of the Middle Texas coast, closer to the point of landfall, and the Golden Triangle of southeast Texas reported over 10 inches (250 mm) of rainfall as well, resulting in significant flood damage. Roads and bridges were submerged near Corpus Christi.[8] Flooding was also reported along the San Bernard River where several roads and a subdivision was flooded. The flooding also disrupted barge traffic at the Phillips Petroleum facility.[11]
Coastal flooding occurred well in advance of the cyclone's landfall. A storm surge of 5.4 feet (1.6 m) was measured at Sabine Pass, Texas and 8 feet (2.4 m) was measured at the Matagorda Locks. Meacom's pier and San Luis Pass pier were severely damaged. Coastal flooding worsened backwater flooding in area rivers since their waters were blocked from flowing southeast into the Gulf of Mexico.[8] Sabine Pass was cutoff from the mainland for a week, until Hermine's passage to the east eased coastal flooding conditions.[9]
