Hurricane Frederic
| Category 4 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS) | |
 Hurricane Frederic nearing the Alabama coast | |
| Formed | August 29, 1979 |
|---|---|
| Dissipated | September 15, 1979 |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 135 mph (215 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 943 mbar (hPa); 27.85 inHg |
| Fatalities | 5 direct, 9 indirect |
| Damage | $2.3 billion (1979 USD) |
| Areas affected | Lesser Antilles, Hispaniola, Cuba, Florida Panhandle, Alabama, Mississippi, most of eastern North America |
| Part of the 1979 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Hurricane Frederic was the sixth named storm of the 1979 Atlantic hurricane season. It was the third hurricane and the second major hurricane of that season. At the time, Hurricane Frederic was the costliest hurricane to hit the United States. This record was beaten in 1989, when Hurricane Hugo caused about $14 billion in damage. Many storms have beaten the record since, Frederic has fallen to about the seventeenth costliest U.S. hurricane. Frederic caused 14 deaths and $2.3 billion in damage.
Retirement
[change | change source]In the Spring of 1980 the name "Frederic" was retired because of the damage. Frederic was only the second male hurricane name to get its name retired. In 1985 Fabian was used instead.