What is Hurricane Fran?
{{Infobox Hurricane | Name=Hurricane Fran | Type=Hurricane | Year=1996 | Basin=At1 | Image location=Hurricane Fran sept 1996.jpg | Image name=Hurricane Fran at peak intensity on September 4, nearing landfall | Formed='''August 23, 1996''' | Dissipated='''September 8, 1996''' | 1-min winds=105 | Pressure=946 | Damages=3200 | Inflated=1 | Fatalities=22 direct, 5 indirect | Areas=[[South Carolina]], [[North Carolina]], [[Virginia]], [[West Virginia]], [[Maryland]], [[Pennsylvania]], [[Toronto]] | Hurricane season=[[1996 Atlantic hurricane season]] }} '''Hurricane Fran''' was a hurricane during the [[1996 Atlantic hurricane season]]. This storm caused over [[$]]3 billion in damage. It killed 20-30 people. Fran struck North Carolina as a strong Category 3 hurricane with winds of {{convert|115|mph}}. The name '''Fran''' was later retired and replaced by '''Fay''' for the 2002 Atlantic season. ==Storm History== {{storm path|Fran 1996 track.png|left|200px}} Hurricane Fran started from a tropical wave that moved off the western coast of Africa, entering the Atlantic Ocean, on August 22. The low pressure area became a tropical depression on August 23. Little changed for several days. By August 26, the storm had been disorganized. On August 27, the storm grew into a tropical storm and was named Fran. On August 29, the storm intensified into a category 1 hurricane. The interaction with [[Hurricane Edouard (1996)|Hurricane Edouard]] led to weakening and the storm took a northwestward direction. When Edouard was gone, the storm grew into a category 1 hurricane again. [[File:Hurricane Fran peak.png|thumb|Fran near peak intensity.]] Fran grew in early September. By September 3, it the winds were at {{convert|90| mph}}. The system started to develop an eye. By September 5, winds were at 120 mph (195 km/h) and its pressure was 946 mbar. On September 6, the storm hit [[North Carolina]] with winds of {{convert|115| mph}}. Once on land, the storm rapidly weakened. It moved through [[Virginia]]. It died on September 8. ==Preparat