1979 Atlantic hurricane season facts for kids
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| Season summary map | |
| First storm formed | June 19, 1979 |
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| 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 |
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The 1979 Atlantic hurricane season was a period when tropical storms and hurricanes formed in the Atlantic Ocean. It officially started on June 1, 1979, and ended on November 30, 1979. During this season, nine tropical storms formed. Five of these storms grew strong enough to become hurricanes.
This season was quite damaging and deadly. Most of the harm came from three big storms: Tropical Storm Claudette, Hurricane David, and Hurricane Frederic. Hurricane David caused the most deaths.
Contents
What Happened During the 1979 Hurricane Season?
The 1979 Atlantic hurricane season saw a total of nine named tropical storms. Five of these storms became hurricanes. Two of the hurricanes were especially strong, reaching "major hurricane" status. A major hurricane has winds of at least 111 miles per hour (178 km/h).
Key Storms of 1979
Several storms made a big impact during this season.
- Tropical Storm Claudette: This storm brought heavy rains to parts of the United States.
- Hurricane David: David was a very powerful and deadly hurricane. It caused a lot of damage and many deaths, especially in the Caribbean.
- Hurricane Frederic: Frederic also caused a lot of damage, particularly when it hit the United States Gulf Coast.
Understanding Hurricane Names
Every year, a list of names is prepared for tropical storms. When a storm gets strong enough, it receives the next name on the list. This helps people track and talk about the storms.
How Storm Names Are Chosen
The list of names for the 1979 Atlantic hurricane season was different from earlier years. For the first time, male names were added to the list. Before 1979, only female names were used for Atlantic storms.
Here are the names that were ready for use in 1979. Names that were not needed are marked as unused:
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Why Some Names Are Retired
Sometimes, if a hurricane causes a lot of damage or deaths, its name is "retired." This means the name will never be used again for another storm in the Atlantic Ocean. This is done out of respect for the victims and to avoid confusion.
After the 1979 season, the names David and Frederic were retired. They were replaced with new names: Danny and Fabian.
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Tropical cyclones of the 1979 Atlantic hurricane season |
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Images for kids
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Five tropical cyclones were active on September 1 – Hurricanes David and Frederic, Tropical Storm Elena, and two unnumbered tropical depressions
See also
In Spanish: Temporada de huracanes en el Atlántico de 1979 para niños
