1955 was a very busy year for hurricanes for two reasons. First, this year was still part of the first active phase, which ran from 1925-1969. Second, the season was enhanced due to a La Nina event. This was part of a 3 year La Nina from Spring 1954 to February 1957. 1955 was infamous for its 5 destructive hurricanes. 3 of those hurricanes made landfall in the US state of North Carolina. Hurricane Diane was the 2nd destructive hurricane of the 1955 season and the second hurricane to strike North Carolina.

On August 5th a vigorous tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa. What is now known as the National Hurricane Center discovered the wave on a routine flight hunting developing tropical systems. The wave had a very broad center. On August the 7th it was declared a tropical depression as the center started to get tight though it was still poorly organized. Due to outflow from Hurricane Connie the depression did not develop for the next two days. As Connie moved farther away the depression started to become better organized.

On August the 9th the depression strengthened into a tropical storm and it was given the name Diane. Due to upwelling from Connie Diane slowly developed. On August 11th winds were found to be 65 mph and Diane was noted to be getting better organized. On August 12th Diane became a hurricane and continued to strengthen.

Diane started to rapidly organize due to Connie moving away and warm water temperatures. Shipping data showed Diane by the night of the 12th had increased to a 90 mph high end category 1 hurricane with pressure dropping. On August 13th Diane reached its peak intensity with winds of 105 mph and its lowest pressure of 969 millibars. This made Diane a category 2 hurricane. For the next 24 hours Diane maintained category 2 status.

On August 15th a cold front begin to pull cooler air into Diane. Diane expanded but its winds decreased as the winds decreased to 90 mph. The next day Diane winds decreased to 80 mph. On August 17th Diane made landfall with winds of 75 mph making Diane a minimal category 1 hurricane.

Diane due to its large size produced a high storm surge and its wind field was large that even inland areas saw 75-80 mph winds. As Diane moved inland it produced historic flooding in North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and even Pennsylvania. As the storm moved inland and then curved back to the east. Diane exited off the New Jersey coast as a non tropical low. Despite now being non tropical the remnants of Diane also produced flooding in the Northeast region.

Most of Diane's destruction came from its inland impacts. Diane caused over 230 deaths in the United States and about $830 million dollars worth of damage. This made Diane the costliest US Hurricane until Hurricane Betsy caused over $1 billion dollars of damage 10 years later.

Diane was historic because it was the 2nd of 3 hurricanes to strike North Carolina. To make matters worse it came a week after Hurricane Connie hit the same area. But the main reason Diane was historic was it showed how dangerous hurricanes can be even when they move inland. As stated most of Diane's damage was done inland due to the flooding. This was the costliest hurricane until 1965.

Due to the high damage totals and high death toll. The name Diane was retired from the naming lists. Diane was also the send of 4 storm names to be retired from the 1955 season. As stated Diane was the second destructive hurricane from the 1955 season. Diane also proved that even category 1 hurricanes at landfall can be destructive. Hurricane Connie was a category 4 at peak and made landfall as a category 2. Ione a few weeks later also peaked as a category 4 hurricane and made landfall as a high end category 2. Diane was barley a hurricane at landfall. Yet due to its large size and slow movement it was more destructive than the others. Diane also lead to better flood warnings being issued.