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1955 Atlantic hurricane season

1955 Atlantic hurricane season
1955 Atlantic hurricane season summary map.png
Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formed July 31, 1955
Last system dissipated October 19, 1955
Strongest storm
Name Janet
 • Maximum winds 175 mph (280 km/h)
 • Lowest pressure 914 mbar (hPa; 26.99 inHg)
Seasonal statistics
Total storms 13
Hurricanes 10
Major hurricanes
(Cat. 3+)
4
Total fatalities 1518
Total damage ~ $1.2 billion (1955 USD)
Atlantic hurricane seasons
1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Tropical Storm Brenda analysis 1 Aug 1955.png Brenda 1955 track.png
Duration July 31 – August 3
Peak intensity 70 mph (110 km/h) (1-min) ≤ 998 mbar (hPa)
Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS)
Connie1955HATradar.png Connie 1955 track.png
Duration August 3 – August 15
Peak intensity 140 mph (220 km/h) (1-min)  944 mbar (hPa)
Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS)
Hurricane Diane August 17, 1955 weather map.jpg Diane 1955 track.png
Duration August 7 – August 20
Peak intensity 105 mph (165 km/h) (1-min)  969 mbar (hPa)
Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS)
Edith 1955 track.png 
Duration August 21 – August 31
Peak intensity 100 mph (155 km/h) (1-min)  967 mbar (hPa)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Tropical Storm Five analysis 27 Aug 1955.png 1955 Atlantic tropical storm 5 track.png
Duration August 25 – August 28
Peak intensity 45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min) ≤ 1004 mbar (hPa)
Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS)
Flora 1955 track.png 
Duration September 2 – September 9
Peak intensity 105 mph (165 km/h) (1-min)  967 mbar (hPa)
Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS)
Hurricane Gladys analysis 5 Sep 1955.png Gladys 1955 track.png
Duration September 3 – September 6
Peak intensity 90 mph (150 km/h) (1-min)  996 mbar (hPa)
Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS)
Ione 1955-09-19 weather map.jpg Ione 1955 track.png
Duration September 10 – September 21
Peak intensity 140 mph (220 km/h) (1-min)  938 mbar (hPa)
Category 3 hurricane (SSHWS)
September 19, 1955 Hurricane Hilda map.jpg Hilda 1955 track.png
Duration September 12 – September 20
Peak intensity 120 mph (195 km/h) (1-min)  952 mbar (hPa)

The 1955 Atlantic hurricane season was, at the time, the costliest season ever recorded. The hurricane season officially began on June 15, 1955, and ended on November 15, 1955. It was slightly above average, with 13 recorded tropical cyclones. The first storm, Alice, had persisted since December 30, 1954. Alice caused relatively minor impact as it tracked through the Lesser Antilles and eastern Caribbean Sea in early January. 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) in losses and at least 232 fatalities. The next three storms – Hurricanes Edith and Flora and Tropical Storm Five – caused very minor or no impact. In early August, 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 caused 1518 deaths and $1.2 billion in losses, making it the costliest season at the time. A record number of names – four – were retired following the season, which was tied by 1995 and 2004, and then surpassed in 2005 (when five names were retired).


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Wikipedia

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