Hurricane Alice (December 1954) facts for kids

Hurricane Alice is a very special Atlantic hurricane because it's the only one ever known to have existed across two different calendar years! It started in December 1954 and continued into January 1955. This makes it quite unique. Alice is also one of only two named Atlantic tropical cyclones that happened outside of the main hurricane season. The other one was Tropical Storm Zeta in 2005.

What is a Hurricane?

A hurricane is a powerful type of storm that forms over warm ocean waters. It has strong winds that spin around a calm center called the "eye." These storms can bring very heavy rain, strong winds, and big waves. They are called "tropical cyclones" and get different names depending on where they form in the world. In the Atlantic Ocean, they are called hurricanes.

Hurricane Alice's Unique Journey

Hurricane Alice was unusual because it formed very late in the 1954 hurricane season, or even after it! The official Atlantic hurricane season usually runs from June 1 to November 30. Alice started forming around December 30, 1954. It then became a full hurricane on January 1, 1955. This means it was active during both 1954 and 1955, which is why it holds a special record.

Alice reached its strongest point as a Category 1 hurricane. This means its winds were between 74 and 95 miles per hour (119 to 153 kilometers per hour). It moved through parts of the Leeward Islands, including places like Saba and Anguilla. Even though it was a hurricane, it didn't cause a lot of damage compared to some other big storms.

Why Off-Season Storms are Rare

Most hurricanes happen during the official season because that's when ocean waters are warmest and conditions are best for these storms to grow. It's much rarer for a storm strong enough to be named, like Alice, to form in December or January. This makes Hurricane Alice a fascinating example of how weather can sometimes surprise us!

Images for kids

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  This map shows the weather analysis of Hurricane Alice on January 3, 1955, as it moved through the Atlantic.

See also

In Spanish: Huracán Alice (diciembre 1954) para niños