probably more intense now

[ilmc172pilot]

shes a die hard thats for sure

[clueless newbie]

Looking at the radar loop from Melbourne, the center of circulation became much better organized: fully closed and circular. Luckily, it is now very close to the land and will not have time to strenghten much.

It's got lots of time left to strengthen yet--still about 24 hours prior to landfall.

I am not so sure. The west side of the eyewall is grazing the coast at West Palm Beach right now. And Frances seems to be heading west. I don't think she will strenghten while a portion of the eyewall is over land. At least I hope so.

[B-Bear]

I don't see her eye as being all that close to land by IR satelite...at least, the area where I believe the eye to be trying to develop.

[tallywx]

Differential friction could help induce tightening. Right now, Frances has a very broad wind core. You still have a drop in pressure between the "clear" inside edge of the "eyewall" and the actual center of circulation. In other words, a continued broad pressure drop with no precipitation. As the outer eyewall band moves onshore, it will slow down because of land friction. At the same time, the pressure drop area between it and the actual center is still without friction and over warm water. As the outside part slows down and the inside spins at the same speed, this could actually help tighten the core and spin it up more. Just something to look out for...

[tallywx]

To make it even clearer, try this experiment at home (it's Saturday morning, after all). Find a large circular pot, and with your hand make a counterclockwise water swirl in the entire thing. Now place your hand at the side of the pot at a 90 degree angle to the water movement. You'll see the remaining swirl at the center of the pot tighten up.

We saw this effect most notably with Isidore in LA, which tightened up upon landfall.