Hurricane Hilda (1955)

Hurricane Hilda

Category 3 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS)
Mid-level geopotential height map of Hilda making landfall
Formed	September 10, 1955
Dissipated	September 20, 1955
Highest winds	1-minute sustained: 125 mph (205 km/h)
Lowest pressure	952 mbar (hPa); 28.11 inHg
Fatalities	304 direct
Damage	$120 million (1955 USD)
Areas affected	Hispaniola, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Yucatán Peninsula, Mainland Mexico
Part of the 1955 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Hilda was a strong Category 3 hurricane that was the second in a succession of three hurricanes to strike near Tampico, Mexico. The eighth named storm of the 1955 Atlantic hurricane season, Hilda formed from a tropical wave on September 10 near the Lesser Antilles. It quickly intensified while moving westward into a small hurricane, and it crossed over southeastern Cuba on September 13. There, it dropped heavy rainfall and produced gusty winds that destroyed 80% of the coffee crop in Oriente Province. In the eastern Cuban city of Baracoa, Hilda severely damaged the oldest church in the country. Damage totaled $2 million in Cuba, and there were four deaths. Later, the hurricane moved across the Caribbean Sea, causing light damage in the sparsely populated region of the eastern Yucatán Peninsula.

After reaching the Gulf of Mexico, Hilda strengthened to reach peak winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) late on September 18. Before the hurricane moved ashore, there was residual flooding in Tampico from earlier Hurricane Gladys. Hilda struck the city early on September 19, with gusts estimated at 150 mph (240 km/h). It dropped heavy rainfall that flooded 90% of Tampico, while its strong winds damaged half of the homes, leaving 15,000 homeless. The storm killed 300 people and caused over $120 million (1955 USD) in Mexico. Ongoing flooding caused an outbreak of dysentery, and about 10 days after Hilda struck, Hurricane Janet struck the same region and caused further flooding and damage. Collectively, the damage from the storms represented about half of Mexico's budget in 1955.

The origins of Hurricane Hilda were from an easterly wave, which spawned a tropical depression over the northern Lesser Antilles late on September 10. By the next day, the system was producing winds of 46 mph (74 km/h) in squalls. After moving to the northwest, it turned more to the west and quickly intensified. On September 12, Hilda attained hurricane status to the north of the Mona Passage between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. It was a small cyclone, and the strongest winds were in a small region around the eye. Hilda continued to the west about 30 mi (48 km) offshore northern Hispaniola. After reaching winds of 100 mph (160 km/h), the hurricane weakened slightly while off the north coast of Haiti. Turning to the west-southwest, Hilda made landfall near the southeastern tip of Cuba on September 13. While crossing the island into the Caribbean Sea, it weakened from a hurricane into a tropical storm.