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Major Hurricane Franklin Track Map & Archive

Dissipated

Local time · Active from 19 Aug 2023 14:00 GMT-4 to 09 Sep 2023 17:00 GMT-1

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Estimated Storm Impact Analysis

Real-time analysis of population and infrastructure exposure within the storm's wind field.

Radius: ~600 km
👥 Estimated Population at Risk
13.84Mpeople
🏥 Hospitals & Medical Centers
252facilities
🏕️ Evacuation Shelters & Centers
769centers
🏫 Schools & Critical Infrastructure
1846buildings
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AI Historical Storm Matches

Compare historical storms by track, pressure changes, and rapid intensification patterns.

AI Trajectory Match
Kirk96% Similarity Score
MAX: 238 m/s
MIN: 928 hPa
⚡ Rapid Intensification Risk:High Risk
View Historical Storm Track↗
Joyce71% Similarity Score
MAX: 83 m/s
MIN: 1001 hPa
⚡ Rapid Intensification Risk:High Risk
View Historical Storm Track↗
Gert71% Similarity Score
MAX: 90 m/s
MIN: 998 hPa
⚡ Rapid Intensification Risk:High Risk
View Historical Storm Track↗

Basic Information

Peak Category

Extratropical Cyclone

Minimum Pressure

926 hPa

Maximum Wind Speed

238 km/h

Region

West Pacific

Key Events

Formation

19 Aug 2023 14:00 GMT-4

12.8°N, -60.5°E

Dissipation

09 Sep 2023 17:00 GMT-1

43.1°N, -20.3°E

Frequently Asked Questions about Franklin

No, Franklin is no longer active. It dissipated or transitioned into an extratropical cyclone on 2023-09-09T18:00:00.000Z.
Franklin formed on 2023-08-19T18:00:00.000Z and dissipated on 2023-09-09T18:00:00.000Z, reaching a peak intensity of extratropical.

Storm Timeline

Franklin at 43.1°N, 20.3°W as Extratropical Cyclone with winds of 43 km/h (27 mph)

Franklin at 43.6°N, 20.0°W as Extratropical Cyclone with winds of 43 km/h (27 mph)

Franklin at 44.1°N, 19.8°W as Extratropical Cyclone with winds of 43 km/h (27 mph)

Franklin at 44.7°N, 19.6°W as Extratropical Cyclone with winds of 50 km/h (31 mph)

Franklin at 45.3°N, 19.4°W as Extratropical Cyclone with winds of 54 km/h (34 mph)

Franklin at 45.8°N, 19.2°W as Extratropical Cyclone with winds of 54 km/h (34 mph)

Franklin at 46.3°N, 19.1°W as Extratropical Cyclone with winds of 54 km/h (34 mph)

Franklin at 46.8°N, 19.0°W as Extratropical Cyclone with winds of 54 km/h (34 mph)

Franklin at 47.2°N, 18.9°W as Extratropical Cyclone with winds of 54 km/h (34 mph)

Franklin at 47.6°N, 18.7°W as Extratropical Cyclone with winds of 54 km/h (34 mph)

Franklin Becomes 2023’s First Major Hurricane in Atlantic Surge

Hurricane Franklin formed on Aug. 19, 2023, and became the first major hurricane of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season when it strengthened into a Category 3 or higher system. The storm reached Category 4 intensity on Aug. 28, with maximum sustained winds of 130 kt (150 mph, 240 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 926 mb. Franklin reached its peak near 28.9°N and 71.1°W on Aug. 29 before moving north toward Bermuda. The cyclone passed west of Bermuda, generated life-threatening surf and rip currents, and transitioned into an extratropical cyclone over the North Atlantic on Sept. 1.

Caribbean Formation and Landfall: Franklin’s Rocky Start Over Hispaniola

Franklin developed from a tropical disturbance associated with a broad monsoon trough over the tropical Atlantic. A tropical depression formed on Aug. 19 east of the Caribbean Sea, and the system strengthened into Tropical Storm Franklin on Aug. 21 as thunderstorms became better organized around the circulation center.

The storm moved west-northwestward along the southern side of a subtropical ridge before turning west and southwest. Strong wind shear disrupted Franklin’s structure after its initial formation, weakening its convection and making the circulation less organized. The storm remained poorly defined while crossing the Caribbean.

Franklin turned northward as atmospheric conditions changed and the upper-level environment became more supportive. The circulation improved south of Hispaniola, allowing the storm to regain organization before approaching the Dominican Republic.

Franklin made landfall on the Barahona Peninsula of the Dominican Republic around 1000 UTC on Aug. 23 as a tropical storm. Heavy rainfall affected parts of Hispaniola, with flooding reported in vulnerable areas. Landfall over the Barahona Peninsula disrupted the storm’s circulation, but Franklin maintained a defined low-level center after crossing the island and entering the southwestern Atlantic.

Once offshore, Franklin moved over warmer waters and into a region with reduced wind shear. The cyclone gradually rebuilt its structure as convection expanded around the center. The storm’s track away from Hispaniola allowed forecasters to monitor a renewed strengthening trend over open water.

Open-Water Explosion: Franklin’s 48-Hour Climb to Category 4

Franklin entered a period of rapid strengthening after leaving the Caribbean. On Aug. 26, the system became a hurricane as its inner core became more organized and satellite imagery showed improving banding features.

The strengthening accelerated during Aug. 27 and Aug. 28. Franklin developed a distinct eye and a stronger eyewall structure while moving northward over the southwestern Atlantic. On Aug. 28, Franklin became the first major hurricane of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season.

The cyclone reached Category 4 intensity near 0000 UTC on Aug. 29. At peak strength, Franklin produced maximum sustained winds of 130 kt (150 mph, 240 km/h), placing it at the upper end of Category 4 intensity on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Its minimum central pressure fell to 926 mb (27.34 inHg).

Franklin’s strongest winds remained offshore, but the hurricane’s large circulation generated long-period ocean swells across areas far from the center. The National Hurricane Center warned of life-threatening surf and rip currents affecting portions of the western Atlantic coastline.

The storm maintained major hurricane intensity for a short period before weakening as it moved over cooler waters and encountered less favorable conditions. Franklin remained a powerful hurricane while passing through the western Atlantic, with its wind field continuing to influence marine conditions.

The cyclone’s intensity record placed Franklin among the strongest storms of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. Its peak winds of 130 kt represented the highest end of Category 4 strength, just below the Category 5 threshold of 137 kt.

Bermuda’s Near-Miss: Franklin’s Offshore Wind and Surf Hazards

Franklin approached the Bermuda region while moving northeastward across the Atlantic. The storm did not make landfall on the island, but its outer circulation produced strong winds, heavy rain bands, and dangerous ocean conditions.

Bermuda officials monitored the storm as forecasts showed the center passing west of the island. A Tropical Storm Watch was issued on Aug. 28 as Franklin moved closer, and the alert was upgraded to a Tropical Storm Warning on Aug. 29 as the storm’s outer effects approached.

The hurricane passed west and northwest of Bermuda while weakening from its peak intensity. Residents and visitors faced life-threatening surf, strong rip currents, and rough marine conditions. Coastal exposure remained the primary concern because the strongest winds stayed away from the island.

Franklin’s offshore passage demonstrated the reach of tropical cyclone hazards beyond the center track. Large waves and dangerous currents affected coastal waters even without a direct hurricane strike.

After passing Bermuda, Franklin accelerated toward the northeast. The cyclone continued weakening while interacting with the mid-latitude weather pattern over the North Atlantic.

North Atlantic Transition: Franklin’s Shift to Extratropical Cyclone

Franklin began losing its tropical characteristics after moving into cooler North Atlantic waters. The storm’s warm-core structure weakened, convection became less concentrated, and interaction with frontal boundaries changed the cyclone’s organization.

The system completed its transition into an extratropical cyclone on Sept. 1 over the North Atlantic. The final National Hurricane Center advisory, issued at 5:00 PM AST on Sept. 1, documented Franklin as an extratropical cyclone after its tropical phase ended.

Franklin continued as a post-tropical low through early September while moving across the North Atlantic. The system gradually weakened, with its pressure rising and winds decreasing before it dissipated on Sept. 10.

Franklin’s final track recorded a complete lifecycle: tropical depression formation east of the Caribbean, intensification into the first major hurricane of the 2023 Atlantic season, and a close approach to Bermuda. The system eventually transitioned into an extratropical cyclone over the North Atlantic.