During the 1979 Atlantic hurricane season a tropical wave left the west coast of Africa and continued westward where satellite and ship observation indicated strengthening to a tropical depression from which Hurricane Frederic developed. This particular tropical disturbance has an interesting history. In its westward progression it intensified to hurricane strength lasting less than 24 hours followed by a weakening east of the Lesser Antilles. Continuing westward, this disturbance became extratropical over Southeast Cuba, but quickly reintensified to hurricane strength over Northwest Cuba, tracking through the warm Gulf waters and eventually making landfall near Mobile, Alabama. A number of experiments were carried out on a multi-level primitive equation (PE) model, a one-level PE model, and a higher resolution multi-level PE model (T63) in order to simulate the progression and intensification from a wave to a hurricane over a specified limited domain. Although previous experiments using this model with its comprehensive physical processes exhibit a reasonable predictive rate of success, the early experiments during this case study produced poor results. The most successful forecasts will be examined carefully and discussed entirely. There is strong indication that for mesoscale features a higher resolution model would achieve better results. / Typescript. / "Submitted to the Department of Meteorology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science." / Advisor: T. N. Krishnamurti, Professor Directing Thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 165-167).