Hurricanes & Tropical Storms 1955
Visitor Number 
since September 9, 2005
All Winds are in knots (1 knot = 1.15 mph), pressures are in millibars and category is based on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
Storm Summaries For The Year
| # |
Storm Name |
Dates |
Category |
Windspeed |
Pressure |
Rainfall |
Deaths |
Damages |
| 1 |
Tropical Storm Brenda |
Jul 31-Aug 3 |
TS |
60 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 2 |
Hurricane Connie |
Aug 3-15 |
4 |
125 |
936 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 3 |
Hurricane Diane |
Aug 7-21 |
3 |
105 |
969 |
-- |
-- |
$831.7 m |
| 4 |
Hurricane Edith |
Aug 21-Sep 3 |
2 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 5 |
Tropical Storm #5 |
Aug 23-30 |
TS |
40 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 6 |
Hurricane Flora |
Sep 2-9 |
2 |
90 |
967 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 7 |
Hurricane Gladys |
Sep 4-6 |
1 |
80 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 8 |
Hurricane Hilda |
Sep 10-20 |
3 |
110 |
952 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 9 |
Hurricane Ione |
Sep 10-24 |
3 |
105 |
938 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 10 |
Hurricane Janet |
Sep 21-30 |
5 |
150 |
914 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 11 |
Tropical Storm #11 |
Oct 10-14 |
TS |
55 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 12 |
Hurricane Katie |
Oct 14-20 |
3 |
100 |
984 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
Tropical Storm Brenda
July 31 - August 3, 1955
Tropical Storm
| Winds 60 kts |
Pressure -- mbs |
Rainfall -- ins |
| Deaths -- |
Damages -- |
|
Hurricane Connie
August 3 - 15, 1955
Category 4
| Winds 125 kts |
Pressure 936 mbs |
Rainfall -- ins |
| Deaths -- |
Damages -- |
|
Hurricane Connie developed in the tropical middle Atlantic on the 4th of August and moved northwest towards the north side of Puerto Rico. Forward motion slowed on August 9th, as Connie began to interact with another developing Hurricane, Diane. On the 11th, the system accelerated NNE and hit Cape Lookout, North Carolina. It crossed the coast near Norfolk, Virginia, and went back out into the Atlantic Ocean.
Heavy rains and high winds were felt all the way from North Carolina upward into New England. Winds picked up on the upper Chesapeake Bay at 4 AM reaching gale force by daylight. The Levi J. Marvel was fighting the storm. When winds reached 50 mph, the canvas sails ripped away. Twenty to twenty-five foot swells tormented the ship near Holland Point and it broke anchor. The ship took on water until it capsized around 2:40 pm. Eleven drowned. Another ship, an oil screw, La Forest L. Simmons also capsized about one and a half miles north of Sharps Island Light in Maryland.
Hurricane Diane
August 7 - 21, 1955
Category 3
| Winds 105 kts |
Pressure 969 mbs |
Rainfall -- ins |
| Deaths -- |
Damages $831.7 million |
|
The category one hurricane, Diane, caused heavy rains, made worse by Hurricane Connie just a week before. As Connie moved to the north, Diane followed and also struck Norht Carolina. It passed west of Danville, Virginia at 6 pm August 17th. The lowest pressure seen across Virginia was 29.48" at Lynchburg. Winds gusted to gale force across eastern Virginia and Washington D.C. Winds peaked at Chincoteague at 45 mph. In the tidewater of Washington D.C., tides were four feet above normal, with a peak of over 7 feet above the mean lower low water. Persistent east and southeast winds over the Chesapeake led to this condition.
The heaviest rain fell across northern Virginia, where amounts totaled over six inches. Several locations on the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains recorded over 12 inches of rain. Flood stages were reached at most points in the Potomac Basin. The heaviest flooding occurred along portions of the Shenandoah River Basin. Damage in Virginia totaled over $10 million. This hurricane produced over $800 million in damages, mainly due to the disastrous floods on the East Coast.
Hurricane Edith
August 21 - September 3, 1955
Category 2
| Winds 85 kts |
Pressure -- mbs |
Rainfall -- ins |
| Deaths -- |
Damages -- |
|
Tropical Storm #5
August 23 - 30, 1955
Tropical Storm
| Winds 40 kts |
Pressure -- mbs |
Rainfall -- ins |
| Deaths -- |
Damages -- |
|
Hurricane Flora
September 2 - 9, 1955
Category 2
| Winds 90 kts |
Pressure 967 mbs |
Rainfall -- ins |
| Deaths -- |
Damages -- |
|
Hurricane Gladys
September 4 - 6, 1955
Category 1
| Winds 80 kts |
Pressure -- mbs |
Rainfall -- ins |
| Deaths -- |
Damages -- |
|
Hurricane Hilda
September 10 - 20, 1955
Category 3
| Winds 110 kts |
Pressure 952 mbs |
Rainfall -- ins |
| Deaths -- |
Damages -- |
|
Hurricane Ione
September 10 - 24, 1955
Category 3
| Winds 105 kts |
Pressure 938 mbs |
Rainfall -- ins |
| Deaths -- |
Damages -- |
|
Ione was a major hurricane as it approached the Mid-Atlantic. Originally expected to move through Washington D.C., the storm veered off to the right, proving to be far less of a menace than anticipated. Sustained winds at Norfolk, Virginia, peaked at 47 mph with gusts to 58 mph. The pressure bottomed out at 29.13". Total rainfall from the hurricane was about 3 1/2 inches. Hurricane Ione gave a big scare to the Mid-Atlantic before it veered out to sea.
Hurricane Janet
September 21 - 30, 1955
Category 5
| Winds 150 kts |
Pressure 914 mbs |
Rainfall -- ins |
| Deaths -- |
Damages -- |
|
Tropical Storm #11
October 10 - 14, 1955
Tropical Storm
| Winds 55 kts |
Pressure -- mbs |
Rainfall -- ins |
| Deaths -- |
Damages -- |
|
Hurricane Katie
October 14 - 20, 1955
Category 3
| Winds 100 kts |
Pressure 984 mbs |
Rainfall -- ins |
| Deaths -- |
Damages -- |
|
Sources:
National Hurricane Center
NOAA
Copyright © 2003 Marla Kay Urie Price
