Hurricane Janet

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Hurricane Janet

Category 5 hurricane (SSHS)
Formed	September 21, 1955
Dissipated	September 30, 1955
Highest winds	175 mph (280 km/h) (1-minute sustained)
Lowest pressure	914 mbar (hPa; 27 inHg)
Fatalities	538-681 direct
Damage	$320 million (1955 USD) $2 billion (2006 USD)
Areas affected	Leeward Islands, Belize, Mexico
Part of the 1955 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Janet was the most powerful hurricane of the 1955 Atlantic hurricane season and the 10th strongest Atlantic hurricane on record. It made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, causing catastrophic damage and up to 681 deaths in the Yucatán Peninsula.

Contents 1 Storm history 2 Impact 2.1 Retirement 3 See also

[edit] Storm history

A weak tropical wave moved across the Tropical Atlantic in mid-September. It organized into a tropical storm on September 21st east of the Lesser Antilles. A small hurricane, it rapidly organized on the 22nd becoming a Category 3 hurricane just as it hit Barbados with a 20 nautical miles (37 km) wide eye. It continued through the islands, causing heavy damage in Grenada and the Grenadines.

Most intense Atlantic hurricanes Intensity is measured solely by central pressure
Rank	Hurricane	Season	Min. pressure
1	Wilma	2005	882 mbar (hPa)
2	Gilbert	1988	888 mbar (hPa)
3	"Labor Day"	1935	892 mbar (hPa)
4	Rita	2005	895 mbar (hPa)
5	Allen	1980	899 mbar (hPa)
6	Katrina	2005	902 mbar (hPa)
7	Camille	1969	905 mbar (hPa)
	Mitch	1998	905 mbar (hPa)
9	Ivan	2004	910 mbar (hPa)
10	Janet	1955	914 mbar (hPa)
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce

As it moved through the eastern Caribbean Sea, conditions became unfavorable for continued development, and Janet weakened to a minimal hurricane on the 23rd. Over the next few days, Janet steadily intensified with better conditions, reaching a peak of 175 mph (280 km/h) winds in the western Caribbean Sea, making it one of the most intense Atlantic hurricanes on record.

Janet remained a Category 5 hurricane, and hit near the city of Chetumal, Mexico on the 28th. It caused heavy flooding and wind damage to the Yucatan Peninsula and Belize (then known as British Honduras). As it crossed the peninsula, the hurricane weakened to a 100 mph (160 km/h) hurricane. Over the Bay of Campeche, it did not have much time to strengthen, and hit between Vera Cruz, Mexico and Nautla, Mexico on the 29th as a 110 mph (175 km/h) hurricane. Janet dissipated the next day over Mexico.

[edit] Impact

Storm deaths by region
(incomplete)

Region	Deaths
Barbados	35[1]
Tamaulipas	300[2]
Total	538 – 681

Janet was the only Atlantic hurricane to cause the loss of a Hurricane Hunter aircraft, a P2V Neptune under the command of Navy Lieutenant Commander Grover B. Windham. The aircraft flew from the airfield at Guantanamo Bay, and disappeared after signalling that it was entering the Category 5 hurricane. Janet also destroyed a U.S Weather Post on Swan Island.

Janet added to the flooding caused by Gladys and Hilda, and caused $47,800,000 in damage through its path of destruction. In addition, Janet caused 681 deaths (538 according to some sources) [3].

[edit] Retirement

See also: List of retired Atlantic hurricanes

The name Janet was used on various lists in the 1960s. Once formal lists for hurricane naming were created, the name Janet was retired, and will never be used for an Atlantic hurricane again.

[edit] See also

• List of notable Atlantic hurricanes
• List of Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes