ZCZC NFDSCCNS1 ALL TTAA00 KNFD DDHHMM STORM SUMMARY 2 FOR TROPICAL DEPRESSION "FRANCES" NATIONAL CENTERS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PREDICTION HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL PREDICTION CENTER...NWS...CAMP SPRINGS MD 100 PM EDT SAT 12 SEP 1998 AT 1200 NOON CDT THE CENTER OF TROPICAL DEPRESSION FRANCES WAS LOCATED JUST TO THE NORTHWEST OF COLLEGE STATION TEXAS. THE CENTER CONTINUES TO DRIFT SLOWLY NORTHWARD THRU EASTERN TEXAS AND WINDS SURROUNDING THE STORM CONTINUE TO WEAKEN WITH HIGHEST SUSTAINED WINDS OF 15 TO 20 MPH..EXCEPT SLIGHTLY HIGHER ALONG THE GULF COAST AND OFFSHORE WATERS. CENTRAL PRESSURE CONTINUES TO RISE AND WAS NEAR 1002 MB. THE MAIN IMPACT FROM TROPICAL DEPRESSION FRANCES WILL CONTINUE TO BE FROM HEAVY RAINS AND ISOLATED TORNADIC THUNDERSTORMS MAINLY TO THE EAST OF THE CENTER. TIDE LEVELS STILL REMAIN HIGH ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN GULF COASTS PROMPTING THE CONTINUATION OF COASTAL FLOOD WARNINGS. A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL LOUISIANA..SOUTHWEST MISSISSIPPI..AND ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS UNITL 4PM CDT. HEAVY RAINFALL AND FLOODING REMAIN A MAJOR THREAT WITH HEAVY RAINS EXTENDING AS FAR EAST AS MISSISSIPPI AND WESTERN ALABAMA. FLASH FLOOD WATCHES ARE IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF EASTERN TEXAS..ALL OF LOUISIANA..AND PARTS OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI. RADAR ESTIMATES AND ALONG WITH SURFACE OBSERVATIONS INDICATE THAT A LARGE AREA OF 5 TO 10 INCH RAINS HAVE FALLEN ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS..SOUTHWEST.. CENTRAL..AND SOUTH-CENTRAL LOUISIANA AND PARTS OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS. SOME LOCAL STORM TOTALS OF OVER A FOOT HAVE OCCURRED..ESPECIALLY IN SOUTHERN LOUISIANA. SOME PRELIMINARY STORM TOTAL AMOUNTS FROM LOUISIANA INCLUDE (THRU 7AM CDT SAT): TERRYTOWN............................................14.27 INCHES AUDUBON PARK (NEW ORLEANS)......13.64 (THROUGH 12 NOON CDT SAT) BELL CHASE NAVY BASE......................13.49 ALGIERS.....................................................13.46 DONALDSONVILLE..................................11.48 NAPOLEONVILLE.....................................11.32 THIBODAUX..............................................11.21 CHALMETTE...............................................9.22 MOISANT INTERNATIONAL....................8.60 SLIDELL ......................................................6.38 ADDITIONAL RAINFALL TOTALS OF UP TO 5 TO 8 INCHES ARE STILL POSSIBLE LOCALLY MAINLY ALONG AND EAST THE TRACK OF "FRANCES". PLEASE REFER TO STATEMENTS FROM YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE FOR UPDATED DETAILS CONCERNING RAIN AND FLOODING OVER TEXAS..LOUISIANA..AND MISSISSIPPI. THE NEXT STORM SUMMARY WILL BE ISSUED AT 7 PM EDT. SULLIVAN/FORECAST OPERATIONS BRANCH NNNN