 A low pressure area developed along the end of a quasi @-@ stationary frontal trough . Initially , vertical wind shear prevented deep convection from forming on the western portion of the system . After wind shear decreased , the system became a gale center late on October 22 . By early on the following day , the gale center had transitioned into a tropical storm , and it is estimated that Tropical Storm Frances developed at 0600 UTC on October 23 . Frances quickly strengthened after becoming a tropical storm , and was upgraded to a hurricane by 1800 UTC on that same day . After becoming a hurricane , Frances curved northeastward , and remained well east of Bermuda . By midday on October 24 , Frances peaked as an 85 mph ( 140 km / h ) Category 1 hurricane . 
