1955 Atlantic hurricane season

none Atl 1955 1955 Atlantic hurricane season summary map.png July 31, 1955 October 19, 1955 Janet 914 150 1 13 Hurricane Alice developed during December 25, 1954, therefore it is part of the 1954 season and not counted in the 1955 season totals "nb" "Alice" 13 Hurricane Alice developed during December 25, 1954, therefore it is part of the 1954 season and not counted in the 1955 season totals "nb" "Alice" 9 Hurricane Alice developed during December 25, 1954, therefore it is part of the 1954 season and not counted in the 1955 season totals "nb" "Alice" 4 ~ 1110 1,601 total 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957 1955 Pacific hurricane season 1955 Pacific typhoon season 1950s North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons The 1955 Atlantic hurricane season was, at the time, the costliest season ever recorded, just ahead of the previous year. The hurricane season officially began on June 15, 1955, and ended on November 15, 1955. It was an extremely active season in terms of accumulated cyclone energy (ACE), but only slightly above average in terms of storm formation, with 13 recorded tropical cyclones. The first reported system of the year, January's Hurricane Alice, was later found to have formed on December 30, during the 1954 season. Alice caused relatively minor impact as it tracked through the Lesser Antilles and eastern Caribbean Sea. The first tropical cyclone to form in 1955, Tropical Storm Brenda, caused two deaths and minor damage along the Gulf Coast of the United States in early August. The quick succession of Hurricanes Connie and Diane caused significant flooding in the Northeastern United States, with nearly $1 billion (1955 USD, $11.05 billion in 2022 USD) in losses and at least 232 fatalities. The next three storms, Hurricanes Edith and Flora, along with Tropical Storm Five, caused very minor or no impact. In early September, Hurricane Gladys caused severe localized flooding in Mexico, primarily in Mexico City. Additionally, an offshoot of Gladys inflicted minor impact in Texas. Hurricane Hilda struck the Greater Antilles and then Mexico. It was attributed to at least 304 deaths and $120 million in losses. In mid-September, Hurricane Ione struck eastern North Carolina and contributed the flooding from Connie and Diane, resulting in seven fatalities and $88 million in damage. Later that month, Hurricane Janet, which peaked as a Category 5 hurricane, lashed several countries adjacent to the Caribbean Sea, as well as Mexico and British Honduras. Janet resulted in $53.8 million in damage and at least 716 deaths. An unnamed tropical storm in the month of October did not impact land. Hurricane Katie, the final storm, caused minor damage in a sparsely populated area of Hispaniola, totaling to at least $200,000; 7 fatalities were also reported. Collectively, the storms this year caused 1,601 deaths and $1.11 billion in losses, making it the costliest season at the time. Afterward, a thenrecord four storm names were retired. thumb|Weather map of Hurricane Connie making landfall in North Carolina with Hurricane Diane to the southeast on August 12, 1955. Season summary On April 11, 1955, which was prior to the start of the season, Gordon Dunn was promoted to the chief meteorologist of the Miami Hurricane Warning Office. Dunn was replacing Grady Norton, who died from a stroke while forecasting Hurricane Hazel of the previous season.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HgcrAAAAIBAJ&pg=1972,3933862&dq=1955+hurricane+season&hl=en 'Miss Hurricane' of '55 To Receive New Name 1955-05-08 Associated Press Reading Eagle 54 2013-02-19 In early June, the Hurricane Hunters received new reconnaissance aircraft, which contained the latest radar and electronic equipment, at the time.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=s_wyAAAAIBAJ&pg=3925,586751&dq=hurricane+season&hl=en Navy Hurricane Hunters Get New, Better Planes 1955-06-12 United Press St. Petersburg Times 17 2013-02-19 Later that month, shortly before the start of the 1955 season, a bill was proposed in the United States Senate to provide funding for 55 new radar stations along the East Coast of the United States. After the United States House of Representatives passed a bill allotting $5 million, the Senate disputed about possibly increasing the funding two-fold to $10 million.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Fnw0AAAAIBAJ&pg=649,1925968&dq=hurricane+radar+holland&hl=en Squall Brews Over Hurricanes Associated Press 1955-06-14 Daytona Beach Morning Journal 18 2013-02-19 Eventually, the radars were installed, starting in July 1955. After the devastating storms of the season, particularly Connie and Diane, a United States Government organization with the purpose of monitoring tropical cyclones was established in 1956 with $500,000 in funding; it later became the modern-day National Hurricane Center.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jD5SAAAAIBAJ&pg=4035,2831370&dq=hurricane+diane+1955&hl=en Something's To Be Done About Weather Dick Bothwell 1960-09-26 St. Petersburg Times 9 2013-02-19 The Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 15, 1955.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EihAAAAAIBAJ&pg=7094,4148647&dq=hurricane+season&hl=en Hurricane Season Opens; New England Joins Circuit 1955-06-15 Associated Press The Robesonian 2013-02-13 4 It was an above average season in which 13 tropical cyclones formed. In a typical season, about nine tropical storms develop, of which five strengthen to hurricane strength. All thirteen depressions attained tropical storm status, and eleven of these attained hurricane status. Six hurricanes further intensified into major hurricanes. The season was above average most likely because of a strong, ongoing La Niña.http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/ensostuff/ensoyears.shtml Cold and Warm Episodes by Season 2013 Climate Prediction Center 2013-02-13 Hurricane Alice was named in January 1955 but was operationally analysed to have developed in late December 1954.José A. Colón 1955 On the formation of Hurricane Alice, 1955 U.S. Weather Bureau 2017-08-08 https://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/mwr/084/mwr-084-01-0001.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20170808080837/https://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/mwr/084/mwr-084-01-0001.pdf 2017-08-08 Within the official hurricane season bounds, tropical cyclogenesis did not occur until July 31, with the development of Tropical Storm Brenda. However, during the month of August, four tropical cyclones formed – including Connie, Diane, Edith, and an unnamed tropical storm. Five additional tropical cyclones – Flora, Gladys, Hilda, Ione, and Janet – all developed in September. Tropical cyclogenesis briefly halted until an unnamed tropical storm formed on October 10. The final storm of the season, Katie, dissipated on October 19, almost a month before the official end of hurricane season on November 15. Eight hurricanes and two tropical storms made landfall during the season and caused 1,603 deaths and $1.1 billion in damage. The season's activity was reflected with an accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating of 158,Hurricane Research Division National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration June 2019 North Atlantic Hurricane Basin (1851-2018): Comparison of Original and Revised HURDAT 2021-04-23 https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/comparison_table.html which was well above the 1950-2000 average of 96.1. ACE is, broadly speaking, a measure of the power of the hurricane multiplied by the length of time it existed, so storms that last a long time, as well as particularly strong hurricanes, have high ACEs. It is only calculated for full advisories on tropical cyclones with winds exceeding 39 mph km/h on, which is tropical storm strength.David Levinson 2008-08-20 2005 Atlantic Ocean Tropical Cyclones National Climatic Data Center 2013-02-13 http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2005/2005-atlantic-trop-cyclones.html 2005-12-01 https://web.archive.org/web/20051201033336/http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2005/2005-atlantic-trop-cyclones.html Systems Tropical Storm Brenda Atl Tropical Storm Brenda analysis 1 Aug 1955.png Brenda 1955 track.png July 31 August 3 60 995 ≤ The first tropical depression of the season formed in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico early on July 31. Six hours later, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Brenda. During the next 24 hours, the storm strengthened and attained its peak intensity of 70 mph km/h on early on August 1 before making landfall in New Orleans, Louisiana, at a slightly weaker intensity of 65 mph km/h on. The storm steadily weakened inland and at 0600 UTC on August 2, it was downgraded to a tropical depression. About 24 hours later, Brenda dissipated while located over northeastern Texas. Between Pensacola, Florida, and Lake Charles, Louisiana, rainfall totals were generally about 4 in mm; flooding, if any, was insignificant. Tropical storm force winds were reported, peaking at 50 mph km/h on at Shell Beach, Louisiana, on the south shore of Lake Borgne. At the same location, tides between 5 and 6 ft m above normal were measured. Four people were rescued by the United States Coast Guard after their tugboat sank in Lake Pontchartrain, while three others swam to shore.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=e4UfAAAAIBAJ&pg=5194,110115&dq=tropical+storm&hl=en Tropical Storm Slackening Off Associated Press 1955-08-02 The Daytona Beach News-Journal 2012-07-24 Additionally, two fatalities occurred in the vicinity of Mobile, Alabama. Hurricane Connie Atl Hurricane Connie weather map (high quality), August 12, 1955.jpg Connie 1955 track.png August 3 August 15 120 944 Hurricane Connie A tropical wave developed into a tropical depression east of Cape Verde on August 3. After six hours, it strengthened into Tropical Storm Connie. By August 4, Connie began to rapidly strengthen, becoming the first major hurricane of the season later that day. Initially, it posed a threat to the Lesser Antilles, although it passed about 50 mi km north. The outer rainbands produced hurricane-force wind gusts and intense precipitation, reaching 8.65 in mm in Puerto Rico.David M. Roth 2007-05-16 Hurricane Connie - August 6-14, 1955 2013-02-13 Hydrometeorological Prediction Center http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/connie1955.html In the United States Virgin Islands, three people died due to the hurricane, and a few homes were destroyed. In Puerto Rico, Connie destroyed 60 homes and caused crop damage.54 Climatological Data: Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands United States Weather Bureau 1 8 2013-02-13 1957 Asheville, North Carolina https://books.google.com/books?id=xRoIAAAAIAAJ&q=august+1955+climatological+data&pg=PP64 After affecting Puerto Rico, Connie turned to the northwest, reaching peak winds of 140 mph km/h on. The hurricane weakened while slowing and turning to the north, and struck North Carolina on August 12 as a Category 2 hurricane. Connie produced strong winds, high tides, and heavy rainfall as it moved ashore, causing heavy crop damage and 27 deaths in the state of North Carolina.105 Encyclopedia of Hurricanes, Typhoons, and Cyclones, New Edition David Longshore 2008 Facts on File, Inc 2013-02-13 https://books.google.com/books?id=8kXwskQHBLoC&q=hurricane+connie+1955&pg=PA105 978-1-4381-1879-6 Connie made a second landfall in Virginia, and it progressed inland until dissipating on August 15 near Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Connie is noted for being the only hurricane in recorded history to strike Michigan/the Great Lakes region as a tropical storm. Four people were killed in Washington, D.C. due to a traffic accident.1955-08-13 2025-03-02 The Victoria Advocate United Press International Vacationers Caught As Gales Spread Out https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bltTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XYUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6163%2C2015704 In the Chesapeake Bay, Connie capsized a boat, killing 14 people and prompting a change in Coast Guard regulation.Frederick N. Rasmussen The Baltimore Sun 2004-04-24 Ship was a tragedy waiting to happen 2013-02-13 https://www.baltimoresun.com/2004/04/24/ship-was-a-tragedy-waiting-to-happen/ 2015-10-15 https://web.archive.org/web/20151015223042/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2004-04-24/features/0404240093_1_vessel-marvel-chesapeake-bay live There were six deaths each in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and eleven deaths in New York,Associated Press 1955-08-15 Hurricane Connie Now Medium-Sized 2013-02-13 Lewiston Morning-Tribune https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GbdeAAAAIBAJ&pg=5084,1260913&dq=connie+hurricane&hl=en where record rainfall flooded homes and subways.The Times Daily 1955-08-13 Associated Press New York Wallows in Heavy Rains 2013-02-13 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LBgsAAAAIBAJ&dq=connie%20hurricane&pg=1474%2C1233899 At least 225,000 people lost power during the storm.Associated Press 1955-08-13 Waning Hurricane Connie Poses Threat to Ontario 2013-02-13 The Vancouver Sun https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6T5lAAAAIBAJ&pg=6159,2401759&dq=connie+hurricane&hl=en Damage in the United States totaled around $86 million,E.V.W. Jones February 5, 1956 1955 Broke All Records for Hurricane Damage Meriden Record February 3, 2013 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9aBHAAAAIBAJ&pg=952,3389849&dq=connie+hurricane&hl=en although the rains from Connie was a prelude to flooding by Hurricane Diane. The remnants of Connie destroyed a few houses and boats in Ontario and killed three people in Ontario.Environment Canada 2009-11-09 1955-Connie 2021-02-07 http://www.ec.gc.ca/Hurricane/default.asp?lang=En&n=26DD1969-1 https://web.archive.org/web/20130703045230/http://www.ec.gc.ca/hurricane/default.asp?lang=En&n=26DD1969-1 2013-07-03 live Hurricane Diane Atl Hurricane Diane weather map (high quality), August 17, 1955.jpg Diane 1955 track.png August 7 August 20 90 969 Hurricane Diane Flood of 1955 (Connecticut) A tropical wave spawned a tropical depression between the Lesser Antilles and Cape Verde on August 7. It slowly strengthened and became Tropical Storm Diane on August 9. After a Fujiwhara interaction with Hurricane Connie, Diane curved northward or north-northeastward and quickly deepened. By early on August 8, the storm was upgraded to a hurricane. Only several hours later, Diane peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with winds of 105 mph km/h on. The storm resumed its west-northwestward motion on August 13. Colder air in the region caused Diane to weaken while approaching the East Coast of the United States. A recently installed radar in North Carolina noted an eye feature, albeit poorly defined. Early on August 17, Diane made landfall near Wilmington, North Carolina, as a strong tropical storm. The storm then moved in a parabolic motion across North Carolina and the Mid-Atlantic before re-emerging into the Atlantic Ocean on August 19. Diane headed east-northeastward until becoming extratropical on August 20. Despite landfall in North Carolina, impact in the state was minor, limited to moderate rainfall, abnormally high tides, and relatively strong winds. Further north, catastrophic flooding occurred in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and New England. Of the 287 stream gauges in the region, 129 reported record levels after the flooding from Tropical Storm Diane. Many streams reported discharge rates that were more than twice of the previous record. Most of the flooding occurred along small river basins that rapidly rose within hours to flood stage, largely occurring in populated areas; the region in which the floods occurred had about 30 million people,15, 27 Floods of August-October 1955: New England to North Carolina United States Geological Survey 1960 2013-01-23 https://books.google.com/books?id=wNAPAAAAIAAJ&q=hurricane+connie+1955&pg=PA1 and 813 houses overall were destroyed.Floods of August 1955 in the Northeastern States Howard Frederick Matthai United States Geological Survey 1–10 2013-02-09 1955 https://books.google.com/books?id=MEo-AQAAIAAJ&q=hurricane+diane&pg=PA2 The floods severely damaged homes, highways, power lines, and railroads, and affected several summer camps.United States Weather Bureau 1955-08-25 Preliminary Report of Hurricane Diane and Floods in Northeast - August 1955 2013-02-04 http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/hurricanes/QC9452D53H81955a.pdf Overall utility damage was estimated at $79 million. Flooding in mountainous areas caused landslides and destroyed crop fields; agriculture losses was estimated at $7 million. Hundreds of miles of roads and bridges were also destroyed, accounting for $82 million in damage. Overall, Diane caused $754.7 million in damage, of which $600 million was in New England. Overall, there were at least 184 deaths.Edward N. Rappaport Jose Fernandez-Partagas Jack L. Beven 1997-04-22 The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492-1996 National Hurricane Center 2013-02-03 http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastdeadly.shtml Hurricane Edith Atl Hurricane Edith surface analysis August 28 1955.jpg Edith 1955 track.png August 21 August 31 85 967 An easterly tropical wave developed into a tropical depression on August 21 in the tropical Atlantic. Moving towards the west-northwest, the disturbance slowly intensified, reaching tropical storm strength at 1200 UTC on August 23 and as such was named Edith by the Weather Bureau.Spotters See Edith Howling in Atlantic https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-zMhAAAAIBAJ&pg=4228,741412&dq=edith&hl=en 2013-02-13 The Victoria Advocate 1955-08-24 United Press 1 Afterwards, Edith began to curve towards the northwest as it gradually intensified, attaining hurricane strength on August 26, but weakened back to a tropical storm early the next day. The storm re-intensified as it northeastward and accelerated, re-attaining hurricane status early on August 29. Edith became a Category 2 hurricane on August 30 and soon peaked with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph km/h on and a minimum pressure of 967 mbar inHg on. The hurricane began to gradually weaken after it passed east of the island, before becoming extratropical on August 31. The extratropical cyclone would later make a clockwise loop before dissipating completely early on September 5. Although Edith remained at sea, it was suspected that the hurricane may have caused the loss of the pleasure yacht Connemara IV, after it separated from its moorings.Travel Bermuda Incl. Hamilton, Saint George & more. MobileReference.com Boston 978-1-60778-947-5 https://books.google.com/books?id=Q5K4bWlBOkgC&q=hurricane+edith+1955+bermuda&pg=PT79 2013-02-10 2010-11-17 August tropical storm Atl Tropical Storm Five analysis 27 Aug 1955.png 1955 Atlantic tropical storm 5 track.png August 25 August 28 40 1004 ≤ A weak disturbance was first observed near Grand Cayman on August 23. The disturbance moved northeastward into the Gulf of Mexico, where it became a tropical depression late on August 25. Early the next day, the depression intensified into a tropical storm. The tropical storm marginally strengthened further, peaking with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph km/h on by 0000 UTC on August 27. Nearing the Gulf Coast of the United States, the system curved towards the west. The storm maintained its intensity up until landfall in Louisiana near New Orleans about four hours later. Moving inland, it slowly weakened while crossing the Central United States, degenerating to tropical depression strength by August 28 and dissipating over east-central Texas several hours later. Strong waves generated by the storm caused tides 4 ft m on above average, slightly damaging coastal resorts. Weather offices advised small craft offshore to remain in port due to the strong waves. Rough seas battered the schooner Princess Friday, but the ship was able to ride out the storm.Bermuda in Path Of Raging Edith https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fVtTAAAAIBAJ&pg=4087,446065&dq=storm+louisiana&hl=en 2013-02-13 The Victoria Advocate 1955-08-27 United Press 1 The storm produced squalls further inland, causing heavy rains.Edith Shaking Off Lethargy https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TXgKAAAAIBAJ&pg=3959,2940592&dq=storm+louisiana&hl=en 2013-02-13 Ellensburg Daily Record 1955-08-27 Associated Press 1 Very minor damage occurred as a result of this cyclone. Hurricane Flora Atl Hurricane Flora surface analysis September 7 1955.jpg Flora 1955 track.png September 2 September 9 90 967 A tropical wave moved along the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and passed through Cape Verde between August 30 and August 31. Although the Panair do Brasil headquarters in Recife, Brazil reported a closed circulation on August 30, Tropical Storm Flora did not develop until 0600 UTC on September 2, while located about 400 mi km of Cape Verde. The storm strengthened at a steady pace for the following 48 hours and reached hurricane status late on September 3. Flora headed on a parabolic track, initially moving west-northwestward and then northwesterly by September 4. It continued to intensify and by September 6, the storm curved northward. Around time, a minimum barometric pressure of 967 mbar inHg on was reported, along with a maximum sustained wind speed of 105 mph km/h on. Flora weakened slightly to a Category 1 hurricane curving to the northeast late on September 8 and became extratropical at 0600 UTC on September 9, while located about midway between Flores Island in the Azores and Sable Island, Nova Scotia. Hurricane Gladys Atl Hurricane Gladys analysis 5 Sep 1955.png Gladys 1955 track.png September 3 September 6 80 996 A tropical depression developed in the Bay of Campeche at 1800 UTC on September 3. About 24 hours later, it strengthened into Tropical Storm Gladys. The storm quickly intensified and reached hurricane status on September 5, roughly 24 hours after developing. Around that time, Gladys peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph km/h on. Later on September 5, an offshoot of Gladys with cyclonic turning formed in the northern Gulf of Mexico and struck Texas on September 6; it may have been a separate tropical cyclone. Initially, Gladys headed north-northwestward, but then re-curved south-southwestward while approaching the Gulf Coast of Mexico. Early on September 6, it made landfall near Tampico, Tamaulipas, as a minimal hurricane. Gladys curved southward while just barely inland and weakened, dissipating near Tuxpan, Veracruz, late on September 6. Gladys dropped up to 25 in mm in Tampico, Tamaulipas. The worst of the flooding from Gladys occurred in Mexico City. Roughly 5,000 residents were isolated and required rescue. Police estimated that 2,300 homes were inundated with 5 to 7 ft m of water. About 30,000 families were impacted by the storm. Two children drowned and five additional people were listed as missing.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OxoNAAAAIBAJ&pg=3782,1772795&hl=en Floods Hit Mexico City, Peril Texas Associated Press 1955-09-06 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 1 2013-02-13 In Texas, the highest sustained wind speed was 45 mph km/h on in the Corpus Christi–Port O'Connor area, with gusts between 55 and 65 mph km/h on offshore. Precipitation peaked at 17.02 in mm in Flour Bluff, a neighborhood of Corpus Christi.http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/gladys1955.html Hurricane Gladys - September 4-8, 1955 David M. Roth 2010-01-13 Hydrometeorological Prediction Center 2013-02-13 Flooding in the area forced "scores" of people to evacuate their homes.Texas Coast Pounded Associated Press 1955-09-07 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 2 Damage estimates reached $500,000. Hurricane Ione Atl Hurricane Ione weather map (high quality), September 19, 1955.jpg Ione 1955 track.png September 10 September 21 120 938 Hurricane Ione A tropical wave developed into a tropical depression early on September 10, while located about midway between Cape Verde and the Lesser Antilles. After six hours, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Ione. Eventually, it turned to the northwest. At 0000 UTC on September 15, Ione reached hurricane intensity, while situated north of the Leeward Islands. Ione continued to deep while moving northwest. The storm reached Category 4 intensity with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph km/h on and a minimum barometric pressure of 938 mbar inHg on early on September 18. Around midday on the following day, it made landfall near Wilmington, North Carolina, as a Category 2 hurricane. Shortly after moving inland over eastern North Carolina, Ione weakened to a tropical storm. Late on September 19, Ione re-emerged into the Atlantic near Norfolk, Virginia. The storm quickly re-strengthened early on September 20, but transitioned into an extratropical cyclone on September 21. Strong winds, heavy rainfall, and abnormally high tides lashed some areas along the East Coast of the United States, especially North Carolina. In Cherry Point, sustained winds reached 75 mph km/h on, with gusts up to 107 mph km/h on.Town of Wrightsville Beach Hazard Mitigation Plan March 2010 27 http://www.towb.org/Portals/0/HazardMitigationPlan.pdf 2013-02-13 Holland Consulting Planners, Inc. https://web.archive.org/web/20120313072016/http://www.towb.org/Portals/0/HazardMitigationPlan.pdf 2012-03-13 Overall, damage was slightly more than $88 million, mostly to crops and agriculture. Rainfall in the state peaked at 16.63 in mm in Maysville.http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/ione1955.html Hurricane Ione - September 18-20, 1955 David M. Roth 2007-06-20 Hydrometeorological Prediction Center 2013-02-13 Storm surge in North Carolina peaked at 5.3 ft m in Wrightsville Beach.W. C. Conner W. H. Kraft and D. Lee Harris April 1957 Monthly Weather Review Storm Surge Methods Monthly Weather Review 85 4 113–116 http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/mwr/085/mwr-085-04-0113.pdf#search=%22hurricane%20ione%201955%20effects%22 2013-02-13 15 July 1957 10.1175/1520-0493(1957)085<0113:emfftm>2.0.co;2 1957MWRv...85..113C As a result, several coastal roadways were flooded, including a portion of Highway 94 and Route 264.http://www.ncgenweb.us/hyde/maps/HURICANE.HTM History of Northeastern North Carolina Storms Merlin S. Berry 1995 NCGenWeb Project 2013-02-13 Seven deaths were reported in North Carolina. The remnants of Ione brought gusty winds to Atlantic Canada, which broken poles, uprooted trees, interrupted telephone service, damaged chimneys and caused power outages, especially in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.1955-Ione http://www.ec.gc.ca/hurricane/default.asp?lang=En&n=733122F7-1 Environment Canada 2021-02-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20130703045251/http://www.ec.gc.ca/hurricane/default.asp?lang=En&n=733122F7-1 2013-07-03 live Hurricane Hilda Atl September 19, 1955 Hurricane Hilda map.jpg Hilda 1955 track.png September 12 September 20 105 952 Hurricane Hilda (1955) A tropical wave spawned Tropical Storm Hilda north of Puerto Rico early on September 12. Hilda quickly intensified while moving westward into a small hurricane by September 13. Although the storm passed just north of Hispaniola on that day, damage is unknown, if any. Later on September 13, Hilda made landfall near the southeastern tip of Cuba on September 13. There, it dropped heavy rainfall and produced gusty winds that destroyed 80% of the coffee crop in Oriente Province.Associated Press Hurricane Hilda Due To Hit The Yucatan Peninsular Tonight 1955-09-15 Lewiston Evening Journal 2013-02-13 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PT1HAAAAIBAJ&pg=1726,1362713&dq=hurricane+yucatan&hl=en In the eastern Cuban city of Baracoa, Hilda severely damaged the oldest church in the country.Cuba Damaged by Hilda; Ione Brews Sarasota Herald-Tribune 1955-09-16 United Press 2013-02-13 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5SEhAAAAIBAJ&pg=6315,2485405&dq=hurricane+cuba&hl=en Damage totaled $2 million in Cuba,Roger A. Pielke Jr. Jose Rubiera Christopher Landsea Mario L. Fernández Roberta Klein Hurricane Vulnerability in Latin America and The Caribbean: Normalized Damage and Loss Potentials National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Hazards Review August 2003 108 2013-01-20 http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/Landsea/NHR-Cuba.pdf and there were four deaths. Although Hilda weakened to a tropical storm over southeastern Cuba, the system re-strengthened into a hurricane as it struck Grand Cayman early on September 15. The storm intensified further over the northeastern Caribbean, becoming a Category 3 major hurricane and reaching sustained winds of 120 mph km/h on about 24 hours later. Late on September 16, Hilda struck a sparsely populated region of the eastern Yucatán Peninsula, causing light damage.326–328 Tropical Storms of the North Atlantic, September 1955 C.E. Rhodes United States Weather Bureau 2013-02-13 https://books.google.com/books?id=pRrOAAAAMAAJ&q=hurricane+hilda+1955&pg=PA326 1955 Although Hilda quickly weakened to a tropical storm over the Yucatán Peninsula, the cyclone re-strengthened to again reach winds of 120 mph km/h on early on September 19. Before the hurricane moved ashore, there was residual flooding in Tampico from earlier Hurricane Gladys.Daytona Beach Morning Journal Ione is Bypassing Florida Associated Press 1955-09-18 2013-02-13 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DooeAAAAIBAJ&pg=683,2178066&dq=hurricane+yucatan&hl=en Hilda struck the city early on September 19 and then rapidly weakened inland, dissipating on September 20. The storm is estimated to have generated gusts up to 150 mph km/h on and dropped heavy rainfall that flooded 90% of Tampico, while its strong winds damaged half of the homes, leaving 15,000 homeless.Associated Press 1955-09-20 Hilda Leaves 15,000 Homeless, 12 Dead, 350 Hurt in Tampico The Free Lance-Star 2013-02-13 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=M95LAAAAIBAJ&pg=4489,1088530&dq=hurricane+hilda&hl=en Throughout Mexico, 11,432 people were directly affected by Hilda.Así es Tampico 1955, the year that marked Tampico's History 2013-01-20 http://www.asiestampico.com.mx/ap_552.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20150518095630/http://www.asiestampico.com.mx/ap_552.htm 2015-05-18 Overall, the storm killed 300 people and caused over $120 million in damages. Additionally, the outer bands of Hilda caused minor flooding in southern Texas, particularly in Raymondville.Brazos River Settling Down Following Crest at Seymour Associated Press 1955-09-29 The Victoria Advocate 2013-02-13 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cGNTAAAAIBAJ&pg=5334,2998778&dq=hurricane+hilda&hl=en Hurricane Janet Atl Hurricane Janet analysis 28 Sep 1955.png Janet 1955 path.png September 21 September 30 150 914 Hurricane Janet Hurricane Janet was the most powerful tropical cyclone of the season and one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record. The hurricane formed from a tropical wave east of the Lesser Antilles on September 21. Moving toward the west across the Caribbean Sea, Janet fluctuated in intensity, but generally strengthened before reaching its peak intensity as a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale with winds of 175 mph km/h on. The intense hurricane made landfall at that intensity near Chetumal, Mexico on September 28. Janet's landfall as a Category 5 hurricane on the Yucatán Peninsula marked the first recorded instance that a storm of such intensity in the Atlantic basin made on a continental mainland, with all previous storms making landfall as Category 5 hurricanes on islands.Category 5 MONSTERS! http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/satellite/satelliteseye/educational/cat5hur.html United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2013-02-13 National Climatic Data Center https://web.archive.org/web/20140710093625/https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/satellite/satelliteseye/educational/cat5hur.html 2014-07-10 After weakening to a Category 2 over the Yucatán Peninsula, it moved into the Bay of Campeche and remained mostly unchanged in intensity before making its final landfall near Veracruz on September 29. Janet quickly weakened over Mexico's mountainous terrain before dissipating on September 30. In its developmental stages near the Lesser Antilles, Janet caused significant damage to the island chain, resulting in 189 deaths and $7.8 million in damages in the Grenadines and Barbados.Hurricane Janet remembered after 50 years Khalil Goodman http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/NewViewNewsleft.cfm?Record=22887 The Barbados Advocate 2005-09-21 2013-02-13 https://web.archive.org/web/20051224065313/http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/NewViewNewsleft.cfm?Record=22887 December 24, 2005Lessons to learn from Janet Chester Layne http://www.nationnews.com/story/296429429352463.php The Daily Nation September 21, 2005 February 2, 2013 In Barbados, 35 people died, over 8 000 homes were destroyed and 20,000 were left homeless. https://web.archive.org/web/20051225072120/http://www.nationnews.com/story/296429429352463.php December 25, 2005 While Janet was in the central Caribbean Sea, a reconnaissance aircraft flew into the storm and was lost, with all eleven crew members believed perished. This was the only such loss which has occurred in association with an Atlantic hurricane.Bill Murray 2009-09-26 1955: Hurricane Janet and the Hurricane Hunters http://www.alabamawx.com/?p=23208 The Alabama Weather Blog 2013-02-13 A Category 5 upon landfall on the Yucatán Peninsula, Janet caused severe devastation in areas on Quintana Roo and British Honduras. Only five buildings in Chetumal, Mexico remained intact after the storm. An estimated 500 deaths occurred in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. At Janet's second landfall near Veracruz, significant river flooding ensued, worsening effects caused by Hurricanes Gladys and Hilda earlier in the month. The floods left thousands of people stranded and killed at least 326 people in the Tampico area. The flood damage would lead to the largest Mexican relief operation ever executed by the United States.Tampico Toll 326 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sB9UAAAAIBAJ&pg=1531,763070&dq=relief+hurricane&hl=en 2013-02-13 The Leader-Post 1955-10-06 Associated Press Mexico City, Mexico 1 At least 1,023 deaths were attributed to Hurricane Janet, as well as $65.8 million in damages.Thousands Homeless as Hurricane Janet Smashes Barbados https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JVhjAAAAIBAJ&pg=7192,3181504&dq=janet&hl=en 2013-02-13 Saskatoon Star-Phoenix 1955-09-23 Associated Press Miami, Florida 6 September tropical storm Atl Tropical storm weather map, September 24, 1955.jpg 1955 Atlantic tropical storm 11 track.png September 23 September 27 40 1012 ≤ A tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa on September 18 and continued west-northwestward. It is possible that the system developed into a tropical depression the next day, although lack of data prevented such classification until September 23, when a nearby ship reported winds of 35 mph km/h on. An approaching cold front turned the system to the north on September 24. The structure gradually became better organized, and after turning to the northeast on September 26, the depression intensified into a tropical storm. This was based on a ship report of 45 mph km/h on winds, which was also estimated as the system's peak intensity. On September 27, the system became extratropical and accelerated its forward motion, dissipating within a larger extratropical storm south of Iceland on the next day.Chris Landsea May 2015 Documentation of Atlantic Tropical Cyclones Changes in HURDAT (1955) Hurricane Research Division 2016-03-28 http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/metadata_master.html#1955_11 etal October tropical storm Atl Tropical Storm weather map, October 12, 1955.jpg 1955 Atlantic tropical storm 12 track.png October 10 October 14 55 995 ≤ A tropical wave was reported to have passed through Cape Verde on October 4. The system slowly developed a vortex as it curved in a generally northward direction. By early on October 10, two ships reported that a tropical depression formed almost halfway between the Azores and the Leeward Islands. After six hours, the depression strengthened into a tropical storm. While re-curving to the northeast, the storm attained its maximum sustained winds of 65 mph km/h on; the lowest atmospheric pressure recorded in relation to the storm was 1000 mbar inHg on, but the time of measurement is unknown. Although no significant weakening occurred, it eventually merged with an extratropical cyclone on October 14, while still well southwest of the Azores. During its extratropical stage, a ship in the area reported an atmospheric pressure as low as 979 mbar inHg on. Hurricane Katie Atl Hurricane Katie surface analysis October 16 1955.jpg Katie 1955 track.png October 14 October 19 95 984 ≤ A disturbance in the ITCZ developed into a tropical depression north of Panama on October 14. Early on the following day, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Katie. The system moved generally northeast due to the presence of a strong low pressure area along the East Coast of the United States.Jack W. Roberts Miami Daily News 1955-10-17 Hurricane Buffets Haiti, Moving Away from U.S. 2021-02-19 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71457347/the-miami-news/ Newspapers.com Later that day, Hurricane Hunters observed a rapidly intensifying hurricane, encountering winds of 110 mph km/h on and a pressure of 984 mbar inHg on several hours before the peak intensity. Early on October 17, Katie made landfall in extreme eastern Sud-Est, Haiti, as a strong Category 2 hurricane (although it may have been stronger). About half of homes in the town of Anse-à-Pitres were destroyed.Associated Press The Telegraph 1955-10-18 No Danger as Hurricane Katie Goes Out to Sea 2011-09-10 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5n9jAAAAIBAJ&pg=6857,4193092&dq=hurricane&hl=en Across the border in Pedernales, Dominican Republic, 68 houses were damaged. Overall losses were at least $200,000 and 7 fatalities were reported. While crossing the mountainous terrain of Hispaniola, Katie became very disorganized and rapidly weakened to a tropical storm early on October 17, within a few hours after moving inland. Later that day, the storm emerged into the Atlantic Ocean just east of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Katie began accelerating to the northeast on October 18. During that time, the storm re-intensified and briefly approached hurricane intensity, although it failed to strengthen further due to interaction with a cold front. After passing just east of Bermuda on October 19, the storm transitioned into an extratropical cyclone. The remnants of Katie were last observed the following day.Gordon E. Dunn Walter R. Davis Paul L. Moore Hurricanes of 1955 Monthly Weather Review National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 315–326 2011-09-10 http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1955.pdf December 1955 83 12 10.1175/1520-0493(1955)083<0315:HO>2.0.CO;2 1955MWRv...83..315D Storm names The following list of names were used for tropical cyclones that reached at least tropical storm intensity in the North Atlantic in 1955. This was a completely new set of names, thus every name used this season was used for the first (and only, in cases of Connie, Diane, Ione and Janet) time.Gary Padgett History of the Naming of Atlantic Tropical Cyclones Part 1 – The Fabulous Fifties February 20, 2024 http://australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/2008/summ0707.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20110606013629/http://australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/2008/summ0707.htm June 6, 2011 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=T2RTAAAAIBAJ&pg=2320,4230613&dq=alice+brenda+connie&hl=en Gals' Names Still United Press International February 15, 1955 The Victoria Advocate 2 February 5, 2013 Alice (see below) Brenda Connie Diane Edith Flora Gladys Hilda Ione Janet Katie Linda Martha Nelly Orva Peggy Queena Rosa Stella Trudy Ursa Verna Wilma Xenia Yvonne Zelda Additionally, Alicewhich formed in December 1954persisted into 1955, lowering the actual number of tropical storms in the 1955 season from 14 to 13. Retirement List of retired Atlantic hurricane names After the season, the names Connie, Diane, Ione, and Janet were retired from future use within the North Atlantic basin because of their severity.Tropical Cyclone Naming History and Retired Names https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutnames_history.shtml National Hurricane Center Miami, Florida January 25, 2024 As of , the 1955 season is one of four seasons to have four storm names retired, along with: 1995, 2004, and 2017; only the 2005 season has had morewith five names retired.Kier Justin 4 deadly 2017 hurricane names retired April 13, 2018 https://wach.com/weather/4-deadly-2017-hurricane-names-retired WACH Columbia, South Carolina January 25, 2024 Season effects This is a table of all of the storms that formed in the 1955 Atlantic hurricane season. It includes their name, duration, peak classification and intensities, areas affected, damage, and death totals. Deaths in parentheses are additional and indirect (an example of an indirect death would be a traffic accident), but were still related to that storm. Damage and deaths include totals while the storm was extratropical, a wave, or a low, and all of the damage figures are in 1955 USD. center1955 North Atlantic tropical cyclone storm Brenda July 31 – August 3 70 (110) 998 Louisiana, Florida, Alabama Minimal 2 cat4 Connie August 3 – 15 140 (220) 944 Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, North Carolina, Mid-Atlantic states, New England, Canada $86 million 74 cat2 Diane August 7 – 21 105 (165) 969 North Carolina, Mid-Atlantic states, New England $754.7 million ≥184 cat2 Edith August 21 – 31 100 (155) 967 None None None storm Unnamed August 25 – 28 45 (75) 1000 Louisiana, Florida, Alabama Minimal None cat2 Flora September 2 – 9 105 (165) 967 None None None cat1 Gladys September 3 – 6 90 (150) 996 Western Mexico, Yucatan Peninsula $500 thousand None cat4 Ione September 10 – 21 140 (220) 938 Leeward Islands, North Carolina, Virginia, Newfoundland $88 million 7 cat3 Hilda September 12 – 20 125 (205) 952 Hispaniola, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Yucatán Peninsula, Mainland Mexico $120 million 304 cat5 Janet September 21 – 30 175 (280) 914 Barbados, Windward Islands, British Honduras, Yucatán Peninsula, Mainland Mexico $65.8 million 1,023 storm Unnamed September 23 – 27 45 (75) 1012 None None None storm Unnamed October 10 – 14 65 (100) 995 None None None cat2 Katie October 14 – 19 110 (175) 984 Central America, Dominican Republic, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Bahamas, Dominica $200 thousand 7 13 July 31 – October 19 175 (280) 914 $1.115 billion 1,601 See also Tropical cyclones 1955 Pacific hurricane season 1955 Pacific typhoon season Australian region cyclone seasons: 1954–55 1955–56 South Pacific cyclone seasons: 1954–55 1955–56 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 1954–55 1955–56 Notes nb References 3 External links Monthly Weather Review gov.archives.arc.2569588 Big Picture: Operation Noah 1950 Atlantic hurricane 1955 Category:Articles which contain graphical timelines