Hurricane Audrey made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale in 1957.
- Audrey originated from a tropical wave over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico.
- Just prior to landfall, Audrey experienced a period of rapid development, growing from a Category 2 to a Category 4 hurricane.
- Storm Surge: Estimated 8 to12 feet, with penetration as far as 25 miles inland.
- Audrey rendered significant damage under storm surge to the southwest coast of Louisiana, especially for the Cameron area. An estimated 60 to 80 percent of homes were floated off their foundations.
- Reliable wind observations are unavailable for a more precise estimate of sustained winds at landfall. (1)
- The landfall location was very close to that of Hurricane Ike (2008), a Category 2 hurricane at landfall.
- The 1957 tropical season was a moderate El Niño year that produced three hurricanes in the Atlantic Basin and one U.S. landfall.
- At least 390 fatalities were reported as a result of Audrey.
Note:
1. National Hurricane Center, 2015: Tropical Cyclone Reports (Hurricane Andrew, Hurricane Betsy, Hurricane Audrey). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. www.nhc.noaa.gov. Accessed May, 2015.