On August 4 at 12:00 UTC, the NHC noted a disturbance in the middle of the Atlantic.[110] Consolidating in a favorable environment for development, the NHC began issuing advisories on the system as Potential Tropical Cyclone Six on August 9.[111] The system continued organizing as it neared the Leeward Islands; however, the system lacked a well-defined center.[112] On August 11 at 03:00 UTC, the NHC upgraded the system to tropical storm status and gave it the name Fred after radar data, reconnaissance observations, and surface observations revealed tropical storm-force winds and a better-defined circulation.[113] The system moved over the Caribbean Sea until landfall on the island of Hispaniola at about 18:00 UTC August 11.[114] As the system moved over the island, it became disorganized due to the island's mountainous terrain.[115] Consequently, at 00:00 UTC August 12, the system weakened into a tropical depression.[116] On August 14, shear caused by an upper-level trough over the Gulf of Mexico and land interaction with Cuba caused Fred to degenerate into an open wave.[117] However, on August 15 at 15:00 UTC, Fred regenerated to a tropical storm because the system had a well-defined low-level center.[118] At 18:00 UTC on August 16, Fred reached its peak intensity with winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 993 mb (29.32 inHg).[119] An hour later at 19:15 UTC, the storm made landfall near Cape San Blas, Florida, with the same wind speed and a slightly risen pressure of 994 mb (29.35 inHg).[120] Fred began to weaken shortly after as it accelerated north-northeastwards.