Late on September 16, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Fran, shortly before brushing Cape Verde, and then moving further out to sea.

[1][2] Early on September 16, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Fran, based on intensity estimates via the Dvorak technique.

Late on September 17, Fran attained peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 994 mbar (29.35 inHg).

It maintained this intensity for about 24 hours,[2] during which time Fran turned to the west and later to the west-southwest due to high-pressure area located over the northeastern Atlantic.

[3] Operationally, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) did not upgrade the cyclone to Tropical Storm Fran until September 18, after receiving confirmation from satellite imagery and sparse ship reports.

[4] Consequently, the cyclone weakened as deep convection became detached center of the storm, with Fran falling to tropical depression status at 0600 UTC on September 20.

[5] Fran is thus the second deadliest tropical cyclone in the history of Cape Verde,[6] behind only Hurricane Debbie in 1961, which caused 60 fatalities after a plane crashed due to weather associated with the storm.

[5] Although extensive impacts occurred due to flooding, rainfall generated by Fran refilled underground water reserves, improving agricultural aspects in Cape Verde, which had been suffering from a drought.

Emergency relief aid requested included: two-month supply of food for 1,124 families, 1,064 mattresses, 532 kerosene stoves, 2,128 sets of dinner ware, 2,128 mugs, 1,064 cooking pots and pans, 532 water buckets, 2,128 sheets, 1,064 blankets, 2,660 articles of clothing, and building materials for repair of the 1,094 houses.