The 1955 season was an above average season due to a continuing La Nina. 1955 was also infamous for its 5 destructive hurricanes. In fact, the 1955 season had two category 4 hurricanes, and 1 category 5 hurricane. Hurricane Janet was the category 5 hurricane and the 5th and final destructive hurricane from the 1955 season.
On September 21st what would become the National Hurricane Center detected a vigorous tropical low just to the east of the southern Antilles. Shipping data reported winds up to 50 mph. The Hurricane Hunters flew into the system and discovered it was a tropical storm, so it was given the name Janet.
Janet quickly intensified reaching hurricane status the next day. By the evening of the 22nd Janet had achieved category 2 status with winds up to 100 mph. The small hurricane made landfall in Barbados as a category 2 hurricane. On September 23rd Janet entered into a hostile environment and weakened to a high end tropical storm. However, what would become the National Hurricane Center started to issue bulletins that Janet would likely become very strong once it moved into the Western Caribbean with very warm water.
Early on September 24th Janet's winds went from 65 mph to 85 mph and by that night Janet's winds were up to 110 mph. On September 25th Janet's winds went from 110 to 150 mph making Janet a high end category 4 hurricane. On September 26th Janet's winds increased to 160 mph making Janet a category 5 hurricane. Also a Hurricane Hunter aircraft crew was lost while flying into the hurricane.
On September 27th Janet strengthened to 175 mph and a very low pressure of 914 millibars was observed. Later on the 27th Janet made landfall in Mexico at peak intensity. On the 28th Janet emerged in the Gulf of Mexico as a 90 mph category 1 hurricane. While going over the Gulf of Mexico Janet strengthened to 110 mph and made its final landfall at that intensity. Janet caused heavy wind damage and flooding. On September 30th Janet fizzled out in the mountains of Mexico.
Janet was the deadliest hurricane of the 1955 season killing 1,023 people including a Hurricane Hunter Aircraft Crew. In Barbados Janet caused $4 million and 5 deaths. In Mexico Janet caused $66 million in damages and 1,000 deaths. Overall, Janet caused $70 million in damages, and 1,023 deaths.
Due to its high death toll and severe impacts the name Janet would later be retired. Janet was the 4th name from 1955 that would later have its name retired. It was also the 5th and final destructive hurricane of the 1955 season. Janet was also the second hurricane within a year to cause over 1,000 deaths. In 1954 hurricane Hazel killed over 1,100 people.
Janet was a historic storm because it made landfall at category 5 intensity, and due to its death toll. Also it had a very low pressure at landfall. Now, Since 1955 Janet has been passed by other hurricanes that have struck Mexico mostly Gilbert and Dean from 1988 and 2007 respectively. But Janet was one of the early category 5 hurricanes to make landfall. Even though 1955 was 70 years ago this hurricane is still talked about to this day. It should be noted Janet was one of the few hurricanes to bring down a Hurricane Hunter aircraft.
The 1955 season was an above average season due to a continuing La Nina. 1955 was also infamous for its 5 destructive hurricanes. In fact, the 1955 season had two category 4 hurricanes, and 1 category 5 hurricane. Hurricane Janet was the category 5 hurricane and the 5th and final destructive hurricane from the 1955 season.
On September 21st what would become the National Hurricane Center detected a vigorous tropical low just to the east of the southern Antilles. Shipping data reported winds up to 50 mph. The Hurricane Hunters flew into the system and discovered it was a tropical storm, so it was given the name Janet.
Janet quickly intensified reaching hurricane status the next day. By the evening of the 22nd Janet had achieved category 2 status with winds up to 100 mph. The small hurricane made landfall in Barbados as a category 2 hurricane. On September 23rd Janet entered into a hostile environment and weakened to a high end tropical storm. However, what would become the National Hurricane Center started to issue bulletins that Janet would likely become very strong once it moved into the Western Caribbean with very warm water.
Early on September 24th Janet's winds went from 65 mph to 85 mph and by that night Janet's winds were up to 110 mph. On September 25th Janet's winds went from 110 to 150 mph making Janet a high end category 4 hurricane. On September 26th Janet's winds increased to 160 mph making Janet a category 5 hurricane. Also a Hurricane Hunter aircraft crew was lost while flying into the hurricane.
On September 27th Janet strengthened to 175 mph and a very low pressure of 914 millibars was observed. Later on the 27th Janet made landfall in Mexico at peak intensity. On the 28th Janet emerged in the Gulf of Mexico as a 90 mph category 1 hurricane. While going over the Gulf of Mexico Janet strengthened to 110 mph and made its final landfall at that intensity. Janet caused heavy wind damage and flooding. On September 30th Janet fizzled out in the mountains of Mexico.
Janet was the deadliest hurricane of the 1955 season killing 1,023 people including a Hurricane Hunter Aircraft Crew. In Barbados Janet caused $4 million and 5 deaths. In Mexico Janet caused $66 million in damages and 1,000 deaths. Overall, Janet caused $70 million in damages, and 1,023 deaths.
Due to its high death toll and severe impacts the name Janet would later be retired. Janet was the 4th name from 1955 that would later have its name retired. It was also the 5th and final destructive hurricane of the 1955 season. Janet was also the second hurricane within a year to cause over 1,000 deaths. In 1954 hurricane Hazel killed over 1,100 people.
Janet was a historic storm because it made landfall at category 5 intensity, and due to its death toll. Also it had a very low pressure at landfall. Now, Since 1955 Janet has been passed by other hurricanes that have struck Mexico mostly Gilbert and Dean from 1988 and 2007 respectively. But Janet was one of the early category 5 hurricanes to make landfall. Even though 1955 was 70 years ago this hurricane is still talked about to this day. It should be noted Janet was one of the few hurricanes to bring down a Hurricane Hunter aircraft.
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