The great hurricane 1938

Not since 1869 had this region experienced such a violent hurricane. The gusts of 186 mph, recorded at blue hill observatory in milton, ma, would be the strongest hurricane wind ever recorded in the united states. Oct 12, 2017 but what few people realize is that the spectacular blazing colors from our hardwood forests are the result of the great hurricane of 1938, which brought 100 mph winds inland to vermont, new. The great new england hurricane of 1938 katharine hepburns connecticut beach house and 8,900 other homes were swept into the sea. Exactly 75 years ago this week, the great hurricane of 1938 caused extensive damage to the glessners new hampshire summer estate, the rocks. The great hurricane of 1938 was one of the worst natural catastrophes to hit the east coast of the united states. Jul, 2014 yet for old timers in town, sandy couldnt hold a candle to the big one the great new england hurricane of 1938 the hurricane of 1938 hit the greenwich area on sept. Weather service had barely been formed at this time, and relied almost completely on firsthand sightings of storms. In addition to the wind, there was widespread flooding in massachusetts. The great new england hurricane of 1938 was one of the most destructive and powerful storms ever to strike southern new england. Long island remembers the great hurricane of 1938 cbs new york. The great hurricane of 1938 began to rapidly increase in forward speed and approached 70 mph.

The following images snapped shortly after the great new england hurricane of 1938 are from america from the great depression to world war ii. The system developed off the cape verde islands around. This system developed in the far eastern atlantic, near the cape verde islands on september 4. A look back at the disastrous great new england hurricane of 1938. By opening the shinnecock inlet several situations developed all of which have caused rapid erosion of beaches to the west of moriches inlet. Remembering the great colonial hurricane of 1635 new. Cherie burns tells the story of this little known storm in the great hurricane. In newport, it was estimated that this was a 1 in a 400year storm. The surprise hurricane of september 21st, 1938 raced up the atlantic seaboard at 67 mph with a record low air pressure and left residents of the thickly populated northeast coast with no time to react. The great hurricane of 1938 history channel part 1 of 8. On september 21, 1938, vermonters were taken by surprise when the deadliest hurricane in new englands history made landfall.

In october 1780, a powerful storm slammed the islands of the caribbean, killing more than 20,000 people. The great hurricane of 1938 history channel part 1 of. The 1938 hurricane has had a dominoeffect on coastal erosion. The great hurricane of 1938 slammed into long island and rhode island, killing 564 in southern new england. Remembering the great hurricane of 1938 connecticut post. The 1938 atlantic hurricane season featured four hurricanes, including the great new england hurricane, regarded as one of the most powerful and destructive tropical cyclones in new england history. The great 1938 hurricane, a onceinalifetime storm new. The great new england hurricane of 1938 national weather service. Remembering the great hurricane of 38 the new york times. The system developed off the cape verde islands around september 4, 1938. On the night of september 20, 1938, the news on the radio was full of hitlers pending invasion of czechoslovakia. The great colonial hurricane, probably the strongest storm in new englands history, struck on aug.

The great hurricane of 1938 future new york hurricanes. Saturday marks the 75th anniversary of the day the great hurricane of 1938 pounded connecticut and the rest of new england. To tell you the truth, i didnt know a thing about this hurricane, so i learned a lot. Making landfall with horrific fury and 129 mph winds, the eye of. Few paid attention to the storm barreling up the coast. A stormsurge wave estimated to be nearly 50 feet in height obliterated 40. Also called the long island express, the great new england hurricane of 1938 was the most destructive storm to strike the region in the 20th century. The great new england hurricane remains the storm to which all new england storms are compared. An estimated 2billion trees were displaced in new york alone. The moriches inlet was most recently formed by a powerful northeaster in 1931. Longshore current disrupted and sand begins to be trapped in the bay. Making landfall with horrific fury and 129 mph winds, the eye of the storm slammed into long islands. The storm formed near the coast of africa in september of the 1938 atlantic hurricane season, becoming a category 5 hurricane on the saffir.

The new england hurricane of 1938 or great new england hurricane or yankee clipper or long island express or simply the great hurricane of 1938 was the first major hurricane to strike new. Sep 21, 2015 this storm, the new england hurricane of 1938, remains the strongest and worst weather disaster in our history. The great new england hurricane of 1938 weather concierge. The great hurricane of 1938 is a fascinating quick read that will have you scratching your head and wondering why this story hasnt been told in print or on film previously. Oct 15, 2011 the new england hurricane of 1938 or great new england hurricane or yankee clipper or long island express or simply the great hurricane of 1938 was the first major hurricane to strike new. A look back at the disastrous great new england hurricane. New england hurricane of 1938 oder great new england hurricane oder oft long island. This is the spellbinding hourbyhour reconstruction of the most destructive and powerful storm ever to strike new england.

Scotti recounts the devastating hurricane that hit new england in september 1938. Southeastern united states, northeastern united states particularly connecticut, new york, rhode island, and massachusetts, southwestern quebec. It produced fifteen tropical depressions and nine tropical storms, of which four further intensified into. Richard mather and anthony thacher had the misfortune of being on board ships that day. The great hurricane of 1938 is remembered on its 80th. By 4 pm, one of the most powerful and destructive hurricanes ever to hit southern new england made landfall between bridgeport and new haven. The storm hit long island and southern connecticut on september 21, moving at a forward speed of 47 mph. However, it was mainly known as the new england hurricane of 1938. The 1938 hurricane was the worst natural disaster in american history a gale that wreaked more death and havoc than either the great chicago fire or the san francisco earthquake. Long island remembers the great hurricane of 1938 cbs. The great 1938 hurricane took almost everyone by surprise. She gives some background information on the growth of the storm, storm tracking of the day and the history of hurricanes striking as far north as long island and new england, but for the most part stays focused on a cast of characters in the various areas.

Aug 25, 2011 the great new england hurricane of 1938 katharine hepburns connecticut beach house and 8,900 other homes were swept into the sea. Jul 28, 2019 also called the long island express, the great new england hurricane of 1938 was the most destructive storm to strike the region in the 20th century. The weather bureau advised the coast guard that the hurricane was turning out to sea, and to expect strong winds and high seas along the coast. Cbsnewyork 80 years ago, no one saw the great hurricane of 1938 coming. The great hurricane of 1938 was the first major hurricane to strike new england since 1869. Draws on period newspaper accounts, eyewitness testimony, archival footage, and weather forecasters to provide an indepth account of the great hurricane of 1938, which left a trail of death and destruction across seven communities and obliterated entire communities and families. Estimates vary, but at least 400 people died that day and maybe as many as 800.

But what few people realize is that the spectacular blazing colors from our hardwood forests are the result of the great hurricane of 1938, which brought 100. Sep 21, 20 on the afternoon of september 21st, 1938, a storm as yet surpassed in hurricane lore, hit southern new england. May 06, 2016 the great new england hurricane of 1938 was one of the most destructive and powerful storms ever to strike southern new england. That morning a new york times editorial entitled hurricane concluded,every year an average of three such whirlwinds sweep the tropical north atlantic between june and november. Inaccurate weather forecasts left residents unprepared. Yes there have been hurricanes since then, but for many, the 1938 storm is the. Perhaps the greatest longterm impact on long island of the great hurricane of 1938 was its creation of the shinnecock inlet and the widening of the moriches inlet to the west. For the auxilliary interstate highway, see long island expressway. Hurricane of 1938 the wind that shook the world new. In 1938, predicting the weather was unsophisticated, and not yet a science that had been perfected. Compared to the great hurricane of 1938, the perfect storm was a small squall. Many names were given to the storm including the great new england hurricane, yankee clipper, great hurricane of 1938, and long island express. Yet for old timers in town, sandy couldnt hold a candle to the big one the great new england hurricane of 1938 the hurricane of 1938 hit the greenwich area on sept.

Sixtyfive years ago today, what has become know as the great hurricane of 1938 hit the state, leaving 90. On the night of september 21,1938, news on the radio was full o. Few people, if anyone, knew that the most severe hurricane in southern new england history, known as the long island express or the great new england hurricane of. The 1938 new england hurricane was one of the deadliest and most destructive tropical cyclones to strike long island, new york, and new england. Check out wfo bostonnortons 1938 hurricane page on september 21, 1938, one of the most destructive and powerful hurricanes in recorded history struck long island and southern new england. Sep 21, 20 waterford, ct ground zero of the great hurricane of 1938 was the border of connecticut and rhode island at watch hill. The storm developed near the cape verde islands on september 9, tracking across the atlantic and up the eastern seaboard. Sep 21, 2003 the state has a long history of runins with hurricanes, and isabel is only the latest. Black and white photographs from the fsaowi, 19351945, which is part of the american memory collections at the website of the library of congress. This photo from island park, rhode island, shows the damage inflicted by the great new england hurricane of 1938. Great atlantic hurricane 1944 this large and powerful hurricane was first detected northeast of the leeward islands on september 9. It blew the roofs off houses and knocked down trees.

By 20 september, it was east of the bahamas and had reached category 5 status. It came ashore at long island on september 21 with winds of 155 and gusts up to 180. Specifically, it aimed for the new england area, which has had massive hurricanes almost every 100 years. Sep 20, 20 about 700 people died 75 years ago when the storm known variously as the great new england hurricane of 1938 or the long island express began plowing up the northeast coastline at 2. Sep 03, 2003 the great hurricane of 1938 was one of the worst natural catastrophes to hit the east coast of the united states. The great hurricane of 1938 john mcternans insights. This system developed in the far eastern atlantic, near the cape. Historian cherie burns wrote about the disaster in her 2005 book the great hurricane. Sep 21, 2018 few people, if anyone, knew that the most severe hurricane in southern new england history, known as the long island express or the great new england hurricane of 1938, was about to strike. The last two hurricanes were mild in comparison to the great hurricane of 1938. When it reached long island it was a powerful category 3, on september. The 1938 hurricane landfall was near bellport, ny sometime between 2. It moved westnorthwestward through the 12th, then turned northward on a track that brought the center near cape hatteras, north carolina on the 14th.

The 1938 hurricane that revived new englands fall colors. That afternoon, 80 years ago friday, the great hurricane of 1938 struck unannounced and with such force as to register on seismographs in alaska. Sep 04, 2010 in the midafternoon of september 21, 1938, a fastmoving hurricane, the likes of which hadnt been seen in twohundred years, slammed without mercy into long island, new york, at great south bay and continued hastily north along its path of despair, racing across long island sound into the unsuspecting coastal town of milford, connecticut. The great hurricane of 1938 in photos the weather channel. The 1938 new england hurricane also referred to as the great new england hurricane, long island express, and yankee clipper was one of the deadliest and most destructive tropical cyclones to strike long island, new york, and new england. The great hurricane of 1938, which hit on september 21, was the first major hurricane to strike new england since 1869. It remains the deadliest and most powerful hurricane to ever hit new england.

In the atlantic ocean, the season officially began on june 16 and ended on november 15. According to the author, no one could have been prepared for the 1938 storms speed and ferocity. On the afternoon of september 21st, 1938, a storm as yet surpassed in hurricane lore, hit southern new england. August 19, 1991, hurricane bob category 2 brushed the eastern tip of long island and moved into southeastern new england. Aug 26, 2011 the great hurricane of 1938 began to rapidly increase in forward speed and approached 70 mph. The great hurricane of 1938 was accompanied by strong winds that reached over 100mph. Known as the great hurricane of 1780, it is among the. Over the next 24 hours, it moved through new england causing incredible damage throughout those states to crops, trees, and livestock. Hurricane sandys predecessor, the great hurricane of 1938. The great hurricane, 1938 is a spellbinding hourbyhour reconstruction of one of the most destructive and powerful storms ever to hit the united states. A building in the northern reaches of narragansett bay. If the 1938 storm occurred today, it would be a major catastrophe for the region, said the. About 700 people died 75 years ago when the storm known variously as the great new england hurricane of 1938 or the long island express began. Seventy years ago, new england was struck by the most destructive hurricane in its history.

Long islanders and new englanders have always spoken of the event, long before hurricanes were named by the government, as the great hurricane of 1938. The weather channel host matt sampson takes us through the 1938 long island express hurricane that forever changed the northeast. With riveting detail, burns weaves together countless personal stories of loved ones lost and lives changed foreverfrom those of the moore family, washed to sea on a raft formerly their. With riveting detail, burns weaves together the countless personal stories of loved ones lost and lives changed forever from those of the moore family, washed to sea on a raft formerly. Presentation in narragansett details destruction of the. Eightymileanhour winds lashed the coast and the torrential downpour caused rivers and streams to overflow. The great hurricane of 1938 the long island express. With riveting detail, burns weaves together the countless personal stories of loved ones lost and lives changed forever from those of the moore family, washed to sea on a raft formerly their attic floor, to katharine hepburn, holed up in her connecticut mansion, watching her car take to the air like a bit of paper. The 1938 hurricane was the worst natural disaster in american history a gale that wreaked more death and havoc than either the great chicago fire or the san. As new yorkers braced for hurricane sandy on monday, the memory of another superstorm swirled in the air the great hurricane of 1938, which devasted long island and the eastern seaboard 74 years. The total damages from the hurricane are estimated at 708 fatalities, 4,500 homes destroyed, and millions of dollars in damages. The great 1938 hurricane crossed over the tip of long island, slammed into new london and raced up the connecticut river valley at 50 miles per hour.

The tropical storm began to form off of the coast of cape verde, africa somewhere between september 9 and 10th of 1938, and quickly became a category 5 hurricane. Waterford, ct ground zero of the great hurricane of 1938 was the border of connecticut and rhode island at watch hill. Jul 24, 2015 on september 21, 1938, new england was hit by a category 3 hurricane. Vintage postcard the great new england hurricane 1938 springfield mass. On september 21, 1938, one of the most destructive and powerful hurricanes in recorded history struck long island and southern new england. The great new england hurricane of 1938 cat 3 september 21, 1938 the great new england hurricane of 1938 was one of the most destructive and powerful storms ever to strike southern new england. Mather, father to increase mather and grandfather to cotton mather, had been suspended by the church of england for failing to. The hurricane, often referred to as the long island express, due to. The next time a major hurricane hits, it will be impacting a highlyurbanized region.