Hurricane Janet
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Janet was the most powerful hurricane
of the 1955 Atlantic hurricane season
and one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record. It made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
, causing catastrophic damage and at least 687 deaths in the Lesser Antilles
, Yucatán Peninsula
, and mainland Mexico
.
and Iberia by September 21, although because the tropical wave was so weak that the National Hurricane Center
was unable to detect it. It organized into a tropical storm on September 21 east of the Lesser Antilles
.
However, as a tropical cyclone, Janet was operationally not discovered until it attained hurricane status on September 21. Janet was a small hurricane, and rapidly intensified on September 22, becoming a Category 3
hurricane near Barbados
, completely skipping category 1 and 2 intensity. Becoming a category 3, Janet passed very close to the island of Barbados, having a 30 mi (37 km) wide eye and a very small wind field. Passing through the Grenadines
on the following day, Janet entered a region of unfavorable conditions, and rapidly weakened to on September 23. Heading westward across the Caribbean Sea
, conditions began more favorable, and Janet quickly re-intensified into a category 2 hurricane. Janet eventually reaching a peak of 175 mph (280 km/h) winds in the western Caribbean Sea.
On September 26, the Hurricane Hunter mission Snowcloud Five was lost in the storm taking with it seven crew members. This is the only Hurricane mission lost in the Atlantic.
Janet remained a Category 5 hurricane, and hit near the city of Chetumal, Mexico near the border of Quintana Roo
and British Honduras
(modern-day Belize
) on September 28. Wind gusts at landfall were measured at 175 mph (280 km/h) before instruments were destroyed, and the central pressure in Chetumal was measured at 914 mbar (hPa; 26.99 inHg). At the time this was the strongest recorded mainland landfall of any Atlantic hurricane, and second overall only behind the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane.
As it crossed the Yucatán Peninsula
, the hurricane's winds weakened to 100 mph (160 km/h). Over the Bay of Campeche
, it did not have much time to restrengthen, and struck mainland Mexico between Veracruz, Veracruz
and Nautla
on September 29 as a Category 2 hurricane. Janet dissipated the next day over Mexico
.
Janet caused at least $48 million (1955 USD) in damage through its path of destruction. In addition, Janet caused at least 687 deaths.
on September 22, the first hurricane to strike the island in 57 years; maximum winds on the south side of the island were estimated by locals at 110-120 mph. There were 38 deaths reported on Barbados.
On September 23 Janet passed directly between Grenada
and Carriacou in the Grenadines
, killing another 122 people in this island chain. St. Vincent
was leveled and St. Lucia suffered significant coastal damage.
Over $2.8 million (1955 USD
) of damage was estimated throughout the Lesser Antilles
.
under the command of Navy
Lieutenant Commander Grover B. Windham and with eleven crew and passengers on board. The last transmission from the flight came at 8:30 a.m. on September 26 and indicated they were entering the eyewall of the storm.
The eye of Janet passed over the Swan Islands
on the 27th, where a U.S weather post was destroyed. No deaths were reported as the crew abandoned the station to take shelter shortly before the worst of the storm struck the island.
just north of the border of Mexico
and British Honduras
, as a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
. In all about 500 deaths and $45 million (1955 USD
) of damage was caused at this landfall.
Corozal
in British Honduras
suffered the weaker side of the storm, as the southern eyewall passed over the city. Sixteen deaths and $5 million (1955 USD
) in damages were reported in British Honduras.
Chetumal
, Mexico
was devastated, with only four buildings left standing. Storm surge pushed water to a depth of 6.5 feet 1600 feet inland, despite the peninsula
protecting the city from the open ocean. The death toll is uncertain; 120 bodies were recovered in the city but it is unknown how many were never found; total deaths were estimated at 500 throughout Quintana Roo
. Damages in the state were $40 million (1955 USD).
, between the cities of Nautla
and Veracruz
. No reports of damage or fatalities are available from the landfall itself.
Inland, as Janet dissipated over mountainous central Mexico, the storm dropped torrential rainfall over the Tamisi and Panuco River
basins. In the vicinity of Tampico
in Tamaulipas
, the flooding added to rainfall already dropped by Hurricanes Gladys and Hilda
earlier in the 1955 season
. The flooding that resulted was reported by the New Orleans Weather Bureau Office to be one of the worst natural disasters in Mexico
's history. According to some sources, 800 people died from the floods, with thousands more being stranded in the city.
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
of the 1955 Atlantic hurricane season
1955 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1955 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 15, 1955, and lasted until November 15, 1955. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. The 1955 season was active, with twelve tropical storms forming.Three...
and one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record. It made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale , or the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale , classifies hurricanes — Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms — into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds...
, causing catastrophic damage and at least 687 deaths in the Lesser Antilles
Lesser Antilles
The Lesser Antilles are a long, partly volcanic island arc in the Western Hemisphere. Most of its islands form the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, with the remainder located in the southern Caribbean just north of South America...
, Yucatán Peninsula
Yucatán Peninsula
The Yucatán Peninsula, in southeastern Mexico, separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico, with the northern coastline on the Yucatán Channel...
, and mainland Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
Meteorological history
A weak tropical wave was first discovered near Cape Verde in mid-September, although no earlier history is known. After heading westward, a weak tropical disturbance noted by Air FranceAir France
Air France , stylised as AIRFRANCE, is the French flag carrier headquartered in Tremblay-en-France, , and is one of the world's largest airlines. It is a subsidiary of the Air France-KLM Group and a founding member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance...
and Iberia by September 21, although because the tropical wave was so weak that the National Hurricane Center
National Hurricane Center
The National Hurricane Center , located at Florida International University in Miami, Florida, is the division of the National Weather Service responsible for tracking and predicting weather systems within the tropics between the Prime Meridian and the 140th meridian west poleward to the 30th...
was unable to detect it. It organized into a tropical storm on September 21 east of the Lesser Antilles
Lesser Antilles
The Lesser Antilles are a long, partly volcanic island arc in the Western Hemisphere. Most of its islands form the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, with the remainder located in the southern Caribbean just north of South America...
.
However, as a tropical cyclone, Janet was operationally not discovered until it attained hurricane status on September 21. Janet was a small hurricane, and rapidly intensified on September 22, becoming a Category 3
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale , or the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale , classifies hurricanes — Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms — into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds...
hurricane near Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
, completely skipping category 1 and 2 intensity. Becoming a category 3, Janet passed very close to the island of Barbados, having a 30 mi (37 km) wide eye and a very small wind field. Passing through the Grenadines
Grenadines
The Grenadines is a Caribbean island chain of over 600 islands in the Windward Islands.-Geographic boundaries:They are divided between the island nations of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada. They lie between the islands of Saint Vincent in the north and Grenada in the south. Neither...
on the following day, Janet entered a region of unfavorable conditions, and rapidly weakened to on September 23. Heading westward across the Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
, conditions began more favorable, and Janet quickly re-intensified into a category 2 hurricane. Janet eventually reaching a peak of 175 mph (280 km/h) winds in the western Caribbean Sea.
On September 26, the Hurricane Hunter mission Snowcloud Five was lost in the storm taking with it seven crew members. This is the only Hurricane mission lost in the Atlantic.
Janet remained a Category 5 hurricane, and hit near the city of Chetumal, Mexico near the border of Quintana Roo
Quintana Roo
Quintana Roo officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Quintana Roo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 10 municipalities and its capital city is Chetumal....
and British Honduras
British Honduras
British Honduras was a British colony that is now the independent nation of Belize.First colonised by Spaniards in the 17th century, the territory on the east coast of Central America, south of Mexico, became a British crown colony from 1862 until 1964, when it became self-governing. Belize became...
(modern-day Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
) on September 28. Wind gusts at landfall were measured at 175 mph (280 km/h) before instruments were destroyed, and the central pressure in Chetumal was measured at 914 mbar (hPa; 26.99 inHg). At the time this was the strongest recorded mainland landfall of any Atlantic hurricane, and second overall only behind the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane.
As it crossed the Yucatán Peninsula
Yucatán Peninsula
The Yucatán Peninsula, in southeastern Mexico, separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico, with the northern coastline on the Yucatán Channel...
, the hurricane's winds weakened to 100 mph (160 km/h). Over the Bay of Campeche
Bay of Campeche
The Bay of Campeche is the southern bight of the Gulf of Mexico. It is surrounded on three sides by the Mexican states of Campeche, Tabasco and Veracruz. It was named by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba and Antonio de Alaminos during their expedition in 1517...
, it did not have much time to restrengthen, and struck mainland Mexico between Veracruz, Veracruz
Veracruz, Veracruz
Veracruz, officially known as Heroica Veracruz, is a major port city and municipality on the Gulf of Mexico in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The city is located in the central part of the state. It is located along Federal Highway 140 from the state capital Xalapa, and is the state's most...
and Nautla
Nautla
Nautla is a settlement in the Mexican state of Veracruz.Nautla comes from the Nahuatl Naui, four; and from tlan, that means place; so it is known as Four Places....
on September 29 as a Category 2 hurricane. Janet dissipated the next day over Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
Impact
| Region | Deaths |
|---|---|
| Barbados Barbados Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint... |
38 |
| Grenadines Grenadines The Grenadines is a Caribbean island chain of over 600 islands in the Windward Islands.-Geographic boundaries:They are divided between the island nations of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada. They lie between the islands of Saint Vincent in the north and Grenada in the south. Neither... |
122 |
| Hurricane Hunters Hurricane Hunters The Hurricane Hunters are aircraft that fly into tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic Ocean and Northeastern Pacific Ocean for the specific purpose of directly measuring weather data in and around those storms. In the United States, the Air Force, Navy, and NOAA units have all participated in... |
11 |
| British Honduras British Honduras British Honduras was a British colony that is now the independent nation of Belize.First colonised by Spaniards in the 17th century, the territory on the east coast of Central America, south of Mexico, became a British crown colony from 1862 until 1964, when it became self-governing. Belize became... |
16 |
| Quintana Roo Quintana Roo Quintana Roo officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Quintana Roo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 10 municipalities and its capital city is Chetumal.... |
500 |
| Veracruz Veracruz Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is... |
? |
| Tamaulipas Tamaulipas Tamaulipas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 43 municipalities and its capital city is Ciudad Victoria. The capital city was named after Guadalupe Victoria, the... |
? |
| Total | 687+ |
Janet caused at least $48 million (1955 USD) in damage through its path of destruction. In addition, Janet caused at least 687 deaths.
Lesser Antilles
While in its early stages, Janet passed just south of BarbadosBarbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
on September 22, the first hurricane to strike the island in 57 years; maximum winds on the south side of the island were estimated by locals at 110-120 mph. There were 38 deaths reported on Barbados.
On September 23 Janet passed directly between Grenada
Grenada
Grenada is an island country and Commonwealth Realm consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea...
and Carriacou in the Grenadines
Grenadines
The Grenadines is a Caribbean island chain of over 600 islands in the Windward Islands.-Geographic boundaries:They are divided between the island nations of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada. They lie between the islands of Saint Vincent in the north and Grenada in the south. Neither...
, killing another 122 people in this island chain. St. Vincent
Saint Vincent (island)
Saint Vincent is a volcanic island in the Caribbean. It is the largest island of the chain called Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It is located in the Caribbean Sea, between Saint Lucia and Grenada. It is composed of partially submerged volcanic mountains...
was leveled and St. Lucia suffered significant coastal damage.
Over $2.8 million (1955 USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
) of damage was estimated throughout the Lesser Antilles
Lesser Antilles
The Lesser Antilles are a long, partly volcanic island arc in the Western Hemisphere. Most of its islands form the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, with the remainder located in the southern Caribbean just north of South America...
.
Central Caribbean
Janet was the only Atlantic hurricane to cause the loss of a Hurricane Hunter aircraft, a P2V NeptuneP-2 Neptune
The Lockheed P-2 Neptune was a Maritime patrol and ASW aircraft. It was developed for the United States Navy by Lockheed to replace the Lockheed PV-1 Ventura and PV-2 Harpoon, and being replaced in turn with the Lockheed P-3 Orion...
under the command of Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
Lieutenant Commander Grover B. Windham and with eleven crew and passengers on board. The last transmission from the flight came at 8:30 a.m. on September 26 and indicated they were entering the eyewall of the storm.
The eye of Janet passed over the Swan Islands
Swan Islands, Honduras
The Swan Islands, or Islas Santanilla, are a chain of three islands located in the northwestern Caribbean Sea, approximately ninety miles off the coastline of Honduras, with a land area of .-Detailed location and features:...
on the 27th, where a U.S weather post was destroyed. No deaths were reported as the crew abandoned the station to take shelter shortly before the worst of the storm struck the island.
Yucatán Peninsula
At 1 a.m. CST on September 28 Janet made landfall on the Yucatán PeninsulaYucatán Peninsula
The Yucatán Peninsula, in southeastern Mexico, separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico, with the northern coastline on the Yucatán Channel...
just north of the border of Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and British Honduras
British Honduras
British Honduras was a British colony that is now the independent nation of Belize.First colonised by Spaniards in the 17th century, the territory on the east coast of Central America, south of Mexico, became a British crown colony from 1862 until 1964, when it became self-governing. Belize became...
, as a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale , or the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale , classifies hurricanes — Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms — into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds...
. In all about 500 deaths and $45 million (1955 USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
) of damage was caused at this landfall.
Corozal
Corozal
Corozal may mean:* Corozal American Cemetery and Memorial, Panama City, Panama* Corozal District, Belize* Corozal Town, Belize, capital of the district* Corozal, Puerto Rico* Corozal, Sucre, a city of Colombia...
in British Honduras
British Honduras
British Honduras was a British colony that is now the independent nation of Belize.First colonised by Spaniards in the 17th century, the territory on the east coast of Central America, south of Mexico, became a British crown colony from 1862 until 1964, when it became self-governing. Belize became...
suffered the weaker side of the storm, as the southern eyewall passed over the city. Sixteen deaths and $5 million (1955 USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
) in damages were reported in British Honduras.
Chetumal
Chetumal
Chetumal is a city on the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. It is the capital of the state of Quintana Roo and the municipal seat of the Municipality of Othón P. Blanco...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
was devastated, with only four buildings left standing. Storm surge pushed water to a depth of 6.5 feet 1600 feet inland, despite the peninsula
Peninsula
A peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered by water on three sides but connected to mainland. In many Germanic and Celtic languages and also in Baltic, Slavic and Hungarian, peninsulas are called "half-islands"....
protecting the city from the open ocean. The death toll is uncertain; 120 bodies were recovered in the city but it is unknown how many were never found; total deaths were estimated at 500 throughout Quintana Roo
Quintana Roo
Quintana Roo officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Quintana Roo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 10 municipalities and its capital city is Chetumal....
. Damages in the state were $40 million (1955 USD).
Mainland Mexico
Janet made another landfall in the Mexican state of VeracruzVeracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
, between the cities of Nautla
Nautla
Nautla is a settlement in the Mexican state of Veracruz.Nautla comes from the Nahuatl Naui, four; and from tlan, that means place; so it is known as Four Places....
and Veracruz
Veracruz, Veracruz
Veracruz, officially known as Heroica Veracruz, is a major port city and municipality on the Gulf of Mexico in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The city is located in the central part of the state. It is located along Federal Highway 140 from the state capital Xalapa, and is the state's most...
. No reports of damage or fatalities are available from the landfall itself.
Inland, as Janet dissipated over mountainous central Mexico, the storm dropped torrential rainfall over the Tamisi and Panuco River
Pánuco River
The Pánuco River is a river in Mexico that flows from the River Moctezuma in the Valley of Mexico to the Gulf of Mexico.At its source, it serves as a channel for water-drainage for Mexico City. From there, it becomes the state border between Hidalgo and Querétaro as it moves towards San Luis...
basins. In the vicinity of Tampico
Tampico
Tampico is a city and port in the state of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located in the southeastern part of the state, directly north across the border from Veracruz. Tampico is the third largest city in Tamaulipas, and counts with a population of 309,003. The Metropolitan area of...
in Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 43 municipalities and its capital city is Ciudad Victoria. The capital city was named after Guadalupe Victoria, the...
, the flooding added to rainfall already dropped by Hurricanes Gladys and Hilda
Hurricane Hilda (1955)
Hurricane Hilda was a strong Category 3 hurricane in the 1955 Atlantic hurricane season. The name was not retired even though the storm killed 300 people and caused over $800 million in damage during its course through the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.-Meteorological history:On...
earlier in the 1955 season
1955 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1955 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 15, 1955, and lasted until November 15, 1955. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. The 1955 season was active, with twelve tropical storms forming.Three...
. The flooding that resulted was reported by the New Orleans Weather Bureau Office to be one of the worst natural disasters in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
's history. According to some sources, 800 people died from the floods, with thousands more being stranded in the city.
Retirement
The name Janet was used on various tropical cyclone naming lists in the 1960s. Once formal lists for hurricane naming were created, however, the name Janet was retired and will never be used for an Atlantic hurricane again.See also
- List of Atlantic hurricanes
- List of Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes