Hurricane Francis is a fearsome Category 4 storm and the third Hurricane of the 2004 Atlantic Season, after Hurricane Alex and
Hurricane Charley. Category 4 indicates sustained winds of 130-155 miles per hour and "extreme" damage when a storm strikes land. Computer generated forecasts indicate that Francis may become a full Category 5 storm, as its projected path takes it over warm waters which favor intensification. Francis is expected to smash into the coastlines of Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina late in the week -- unwelcome news for Floridians still recovering from the estimated 7.4 billion dollars in damage caused by Charley.
Further Information: National Hurricane Center http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
