Hurricane Hilda (1955)
Encyclopedia
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 (2005 US dollars) in damage during its course through the Caribbean Sea
and Gulf of Mexico
.
. It moved to the northwest, and with favorable upper level winds and warm water temperatures, it strengthened into Tropical Storm Hilda on the 11th. Hilda, a small storm, quickly intensified as it moved westward, and became a hurricane on the 12th while north of the Mona Passage
. The storm continued to intensify, and reached 95 mph winds before turning to the west-southwest. Hilda crossed the Guantánamo Province
coastline in eastern Cuba
n on the night of the 13th, and quickly weakened to a tropical storm.
20 hours after making landfall, Hilda reached the Caribbean Sea
as a 70 mph tropical storm. Still retaining its small and compact windfield, the storm was able to intensify under the favorable conditions of the Western Caribbean Sea. Hilda became a hurricane again on September 14, and reached major hurricane status on the night of the 15th. The hurricane lost some intensity as it neared the Yucatán Peninsula
, and hit the sparsely populated area between Chetumal
and Cozumel
on the 16th as a 110 mph hurricane.
Hilda crossed the peninsula, and retained winds of at least 95 mph over land. If it weakened over land, it is impossible to know the sparse information readings and lack of reconnaissance aircraft
at this time. Upon reaching the Gulf of Mexico
on September 17, Hilda again was able to strengthen. It continued its westward track, likely due to a ridge of high pressure to the north, and reached a peak of 130 mph on the 18th in the western Bay of Campeche. The hurricane weakened prior to landfall, and hit near Tampico, Mexico on the 19th as a 95 mph hurricane. Hilda rapidly weakened over Mexico
, and dissipated on the 20th.
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 name was not retired even though the storm killed 300 people and caused over $800 million (2005 US dollars) in damage during its course through 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....
and Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
.
Meteorological history
On September 10, a westward moving tropical wave organized into a tropical depression over the northern Lesser AntillesLesser 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...
. It moved to the northwest, and with favorable upper level winds and warm water temperatures, it strengthened into Tropical Storm Hilda on the 11th. Hilda, a small storm, quickly intensified as it moved westward, and became a hurricane on the 12th while north of the Mona Passage
Mona Passage
The Mona Passage is a strait that separates the islands of Hispaniola and Puerto Rico. The Mona Passage connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean Sea, and is an important shipping route between the Atlantic and the Panama Canal....
. The storm continued to intensify, and reached 95 mph winds before turning to the west-southwest. Hilda crossed the Guantánamo Province
Guantánamo Province
Guantánamo is the easternmost province of Cuba. Its capital is also called Guantánamo. Other towns include Baracoa. The province surrounds the U.S. Navy base at Guantánamo Bay.-History:...
coastline in eastern Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n on the night of the 13th, and quickly weakened to a tropical storm.
20 hours after making landfall, Hilda reached 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....
as a 70 mph tropical storm. Still retaining its small and compact windfield, the storm was able to intensify under the favorable conditions of the Western Caribbean Sea. Hilda became a hurricane again on September 14, and reached major hurricane status on the night of the 15th. The hurricane lost some intensity as it neared 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...
, and hit the sparsely populated area between 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...
and Cozumel
Cozumel
Cozumel is an island in the Caribbean Sea off the eastern coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, opposite Playa del Carmen, and close to the Yucatan Channel. Cozumel is one of the ten municipalities of the state of Quintana Roo...
on the 16th as a 110 mph hurricane.
Hilda crossed the peninsula, and retained winds of at least 95 mph over land. If it weakened over land, it is impossible to know the sparse information readings and lack of reconnaissance aircraft
Reconnaissance aircraft
A reconnaissance aircraft is a manned military aircraft designed, or adapted, to carry out aerial reconnaissance.-History:The majority of World War I aircraft were reconnaissance designs...
at this time. Upon reaching the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
on September 17, Hilda again was able to strengthen. It continued its westward track, likely due to a ridge of high pressure to the north, and reached a peak of 130 mph on the 18th in the western Bay of Campeche. The hurricane weakened prior to landfall, and hit near Tampico, Mexico on the 19th as a 95 mph hurricane. Hilda rapidly weakened 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...
, and dissipated on the 20th.