Hurricane Fran made landfall as a category three hurricane with sustained surface winds estimated at 115 mph (Figure 1.28). This resulted in significant storm surge flooding on the North Carolina coast and widespread wind damage over North Carolina and Virginia. It also resulted in extensive river and flash flooding, including, in a few cases, record river flooding from the Carolinas to Pennsylvania.  Although the center passed over the Cape Fear area, the radius of winds extended over much of the North Carolina coastal areas including Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender, Onslow and Carteret counties. Fran was about the same size as Hurricane Hugo and bigger than Hurricane Andrew, although it was not as intense as either of these storms. It nearly covered the entire coast of North Carolina when it came ashore. Tropical storm force winds of 39 mph or higher extended out nearly 300 miles from the eye as Fran approached the coast.  Hurricane force winds of 74 mph or higher stretched out nearly 150 miles from the eye.
 

Figure 1.28. Hurricane Fran 11:45 p.m. September 5	Figure 1.29. Hurricane Fran 2:45 a.m. September 6

Figure 1.30. Hurricane Fran 7:45 a.m. September 6	Figure 1.31. Hurricane Fran 10:15 a.m. September 6

Over the early morning hours of September 6, the hurricane tracked slowly north (Figures 1.29, 1.30, and 1.31). When Fran struck the coast, it was moving northward at less than 20 mph.  Fortunately, the hurricane struck during astronomical low tides, which prevented the coast from experiencing another 2 to 4 feet of sea water elevation.  However, dune erosion caused by Hurricane Bertha left many landward properties exposed to the full force of Fran's storm surge.

In New Hanover County, the high water marks from Hurricane Fran ranged from 9.3 feet to 15.5 feet.  The highest stillwater level (not caused by breaking waves and wave runup) on Figure Eight Island was 12.7 feet; on Wrightsville Beach, 11.1 feet; on Carolina Beach, 11.1 feet; and on Kure Beach, 15.4 feet (Figure 1.32). Although New Hanover County was hit hard by Fran and sustained some of the worst damage, some of the worst winds and storm surge occurred well northeast of Fran's landfall along a relatively deserted stretch of beach near Camp Lejeune.
 
 

Figure 1.32. High Water Mark locations by beach community in  New Hanover County