Hurricane Diane was one of three hurricanes to hit North Carolina during the 1955 Atlantic hurricane season. Diane struck an area that had been hit by Hurricane Connie five days earlier. Diane was the costliest hurricane in United States history until it was surpassed by Hurricane Betsy in 1965, and was the sixth costliest U.S. hurricane of the 20th century Total damages from the storm amounted to a record $3.25 billion, making it the first billi...
more
Hurricane Diane was one of three hurricanes to hit North Carolina during the 1955 Atlantic hurricane season. Diane struck an area that had been hit by Hurricane Connie five days earlier. Diane was the costliest hurricane in United States history until it was surpassed by Hurricane Betsy in 1965, and was the sixth costliest U.S. hurricane of the 20th century Total damages from the storm amounted to a record $3.25 billion, making it the first billion-dollar storm.
A tropical wave developed into a tropical depression on August 7 in the tropical Atlantic. It moved west-northwestward, and became a tropical storm on the 9th. A cold low above and warm waters below provided instability, and as Diane turned northeastward on the August 11 and August 12, it rapidly strengthened to its peak as a 120 mph (195 km/h) major hurricane. When the cold low left the storm, Diane turned to the west again, with a ridge of high pressure to its north.
Diane retained its peak intensity for three days, but...
less
