Hurricane Janet
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| Duration | Sept. 21 - 30, 1955 |
| Highest winds | 175 mph (280 km/h) sustained |
| Damages | $320 million (2005 dollars) |
| Fatalities | 680 direct |
| 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 of all time. At its strongest, it was a Category 5.
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.
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 winds in the western Caribbean Sea, making it one of the most intense Atlantic hurricanes on record.. There, Janet caused the first 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 hurricane. Janet also destroyed a U.S Weather Post on Swan Island.
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 hurricane. Over the Bay of Campeche, it didn't have much time to strengthen, and hit between Vera Cruz, Mexico and Naulta, Mexico on the 29th as a 110 mph hurricane. Janet dissipated the next day over Mexico.
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 680 deaths.
The name Janet was used on various lists in the 1960's. However, once formal lists were created, the name Janet was retired.
| Top ten most intense Atlantic hurricanes since measurements began Hurricane intensity is measured solely by central pressure; source: NOAA |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Atlantic | Landfall U.S. | ||||||
| Rank | Hurricane | Year | Minimum pressure recorded mbar (hPa) |
Rank | Hurricane | Year | Minimum pressure at landfall mbar (hPa) |
| 1 | Wilma | 2005 | 882 | 1 | Labor Day | 1935 | 892 |
| 2 | Gilbert | 1988 | 888 | 2 | Camille | 1969 | 909 |
| 3 | Labor Day | 1935 | 892 | 3 | Katrina | 2005 | 918 |
| 4 | Rita | 2005 | 897 | 4 | Andrew | 1992 | 922 |
| 5 | Allen | 1980 | 899 | 5 | Indianola | 1886 | 925 |
| 6 | Katrina | 2005 | 902 | 6 | Florida Keys | 1919 | 927 |
| 7 | Camille | 1969 | 905 | 7 | Okeechobee | 1928 | 929 |
| 8 | Mitch | 1998 | 905 | 8 | Donna | 1960 | 930 |
| 9 | Ivan | 2004 | 910 | 9 | New Orleans | 1915 | 931 |
| 10 | Janet | 1955 | 914 | 10 | Carla | 1961 | 931 |
| Based on data from: The Weather Channel | Based on data from: U.S. National Hurricane Center | ||||||
