1979 Atlantic hurricane season

The 1979 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1979 and ended on November 30, 1979. This was an average season with 20 storms, however only 9 became tropical. This was a damaging and deadly season most of the damage was caused by Tropical Storm Claudette, Hurricane David and Hurricane Frederic. Most deaths were caused by Hurricane David.

1979 Atlantic hurricane season
Season summary map
First storm formed June 19, 1979
Last storm dissipated October 25, 1979
Strongest storm David – 924 mbar (hPa) (27.3 inHg), 175 mph (280 km/h) (1-minute sustained)
Total storms 9
Hurricanes 5
Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+) 2
Total fatalities 2118
Total damage $4.27 billion (1979 USD)
Atlantic hurricane seasons
1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981

Storms

  • Tropical Depression One
  • Tropical Depression Two
  • Tropical Storm Ana
  • Tropical Depression Four
  • Hurricane Bob
  • Tropical Storm Claudette
  • Tropical Depression Nine
  • Tropical Depression Ten
  • Hurricane David
  • Tropical Storm Elena
  • Hurricane Frederic
  • Hurricane Gloria
  • Hurricane Henri
  • Tropical Depression Nineteen
  • Tropical Depression Twenty
  • Tropical Depression Twenty-One
  • Tropical Depression Twenty-Two
  • Subtropical Storm One
  • Tropical Depression Twenty-Five
  • Tropical Depression Twenty-Six

Storm names

This is the list of names that were set aside for the 1979 Atlantic hurricane season. The list is not the same as in 1973 because in 1979 male names were added to the list. Names that were not used are marked in gray.

  • Ana
  • Bob
  • Claudette
  • David
  • Elena
  • Frederic
  • Gloria
  • Henri
  • Isabel (unused)
  • Juan (unused)
  • Kate (unused)
  • Larry (unused)
  • Mindy (unused)
  • Nicholas (unused)
  • Odette (unused)
  • Peter (unused)
  • Rose (unused)
  • Sam (unused)
  • Teresa (unused)
  • Victor (unused)
  • Wanda (unused)

Retired names

In the spring of 1980, the names, David and Frederic were retired and replaced with the names Danny and Fabian.

1979 Atlantic Hurricane Season Media

Other websites

Tropical cyclones of the 1979 Atlantic hurricane season

Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale
TD TS C1 C2 C3 C4 C5