1955 Atlantic hurricane season
| 1955 Atlantic hurricane season |
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) |
|
|
| Duration |
July 31 – August 3 |
| Peak intensity |
70 mph (110 km/h) (1-min) ≤ 998 mbar (hPa) |
| Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
August 3 – August 15 |
| Peak intensity |
140 mph (220 km/h) (1-min) 944 mbar (hPa) |
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
August 7 – August 20 |
| Peak intensity |
105 mph (165 km/h) (1-min) 969 mbar (hPa) |
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
August 21 – August 31 |
| Peak intensity |
100 mph (155 km/h) (1-min) 967 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
August 25 – August 28 |
| Peak intensity |
45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min) ≤ 1004 mbar (hPa) |
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
September 2 – September 9 |
| Peak intensity |
105 mph (165 km/h) (1-min) 967 mbar (hPa) |
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
September 3 – September 6 |
| Peak intensity |
90 mph (150 km/h) (1-min) 996 mbar (hPa) |
| Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
September 10 – September 21 |
| Peak intensity |
140 mph (220 km/h) (1-min) 938 mbar (hPa) |
| Category 3 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
|
| 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
