Heat the Southwest; Fire Weather in the Central U.S.; Kona Low Impacting Hawaii

A rare March heat wave is ongoing with much above-normal temperatures over the Southwest U.S. through this weekend. Periods of critical fire weather will persist from the central Rockies to the central and southern Plains through the weekend as gusty winds and low relative humidity continue. A Kona low will continue to bring several rounds of moderate to heavy rainfall to Hawaii through Sunday. Read More >

Tropical Storm Brenda

July 31-August 3, 1955

A tropical depression formed across the northeastern Gulf about 200 miles south of Mobile, AL early on July 31^st, and quickly strengthened into Tropical Storm Brenda by daybreak. During the next 24 hours, the storm moved to the north northwest and strengthened, reaching a peak intensity of 70 mph (60 knots) by daybreak on August 1^st near the mouth of the Mississippi River. Brenda made landfall just east of New Orleans, Louisiana near Shell Beach at 11 AM CST August 1^st with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (55 knots).

After landfall, Brenda began a more northwesterly track over Southeastern Louisiana and steadily weakened. Early on August 2nd, Brenda weakened to a depression across extreme Southwestern Mississippi, and continued to move northwest across Northern Louisiana for the remainder of the day. Brenda dissipated over Northeast Texas on August 3^rd. Click here for an interactive map of Tropical Storm Brenda.

WIND & PRESSURE:
No tropical storm force winds were reported west of the Atchafalaya river. Winds near 50 mph were reported over Southeast Louisiana at Shell Beach, Louisiana, on the south shore of Lake Borgne near the point of landfall. ^{Observations obtained from the Hurricane Re-analysis Project (1955) and hourly surface observations from the}National Centers for Environmental Information (NECI).

STORM SURGE:
No significant coastal flooding was reported west of the Atchafalaya River. Over Southeast Louisiana, tides at Shell Beach reached 5.4 feet MSL, and Lake Pontchartrain at 3.6 feet MSL. Tides of 3-6 feet MSL were measured along the Mississippi coast.

RAINFALL:
Storm total rainfall varied greatly with 2 to 5 inches recorded over most of Central and South-Central Louisiana, and 5 to 7 inches recorded over West and Southwest Louisiana, as well as East Texas. The highest totals were recorded in Vernon Parish near Leesville, Fort Polk, with Evans, Louisiana recording 7.98 inches. For complete rainfall totals reported across our region, see the Rainfall section.

TORNADOES:
No tornadoes were reported.

Additional Data, Maps, Tables
Wind and Pressure		Storm Rainfall

Other Post Tropical Cyclone Reports
Monthly Weather Review - 1955 Atlantic Hurricane Season Summary

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Heat the Southwest; Fire Weather in the Central U.S.; Kona Low Impacting Hawaii

Tropical Storm Brenda 1955