Because it was a snazzier time, people called this hurricane the long island express. After the storm surges of 1938 and 1954, providence, rhode island. The 1938 hurricane that revived new englands fall colors. The hurricane didnt curve out to sea like hurricanes usually do. Todays gorgeous scenery is the result of one of historys deadliest hurricanes. In this narrative, readers experience the great hurricane of 1938, the most financially destructive storm on record.
On september 16, the hurricane um located approxi mately at latitude 23o n. The 1938 new england hurricane was one of the deadliest and most destructive tropical. Article recalls great hurricane of 1938 and impact it had on connecticut. In the atlantic ocean, the season officially began on june 16 and ended on november 15.
Janick the eastern seaboard of the united statesblessed with abundant rainfall, relatively mild climate, and few natural calamitieshas been hospitable to a large population. In a matter of hours, 600 people were killed, 4500 were injured, and more than 75,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed. Early reports had the storm staying out in the atlantic so there was little or no concern. The storm developed near the cape verde islands on september 9, tracking across the atlantic and up the eastern seaboard. The national weather bureau learned about it from merchant ships at sea and predicted it would blow itself out at cape hatteras, north carolina, as. The new england hurricane of 1938 or great new england hurricane, yankee clipper, long island express, or simply the great hurricane was. 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.
Hurricane of 1938 the wind that shook the world new. In terms of fatalities and property damage the 1938 hurricane is still one of the worst disasters in north american history. Historian cherie burns wrote about the disaster in her 2005 book the great hurricane. The astonishing power of the great hurricane of 1938 part 1 ground zero of the great hurricane of 1938 was. The 1938 storm caused over 300 million in property damage 1938 usd and. How a deadly 1938 hurricane gave new england its fall colors new englands fall foliage wasnt always so colorful. Over the next 24 hours, it moved through new england causing incredible damage throughout those states to crops, trees, and livestock. Contact and book john today references the great hurricane of 1938 description. I live in southeastern massachusetts and i recall my mom and dad talking about the hurricane of 1938. The great hurricane of 1938 forest history society. The national hurricane center says alex is the first atlantic hurricane to form in january since 1938.
This caused enormous damage to the city and surrounding areas, 81. The blue hills observatory reported sustained winds. Many names were given to the storm including the great new england hurricane, yankee clipper, great hurricane of 1938, and long island express. Survivors, scientists recall great hurricane storm devastated entire region, but left its biggest impact on coastal areas by jeremy c. 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. Damaged trees and buildings were still seen in the affected areas as late as 1951. Yes there have been hurricanes since then, but for many, the 1938 storm is the. By 20 september, it was east of the bahamas and had reached category 5 status. The hurricane of 1938 was one of the most destructive and powerful storms ever to strike southern new england. Weather before and after the hurricane of 1938 watts up with that. This is a great book detailing a sad and disastrous event in weather annals. Seventy seven years ago today the hurricane of 1938, later called the long island. For the first time his wife irene could ever remember, harold higginbotham decided not to go to work.
The complete historical record of new englands stricken area september 21, 1938. This book was absolutely fascinating and i stayed up late at night reading it. The hurricane, one of the most destructive to ever hit new england, was followed by massive river flooding as the water dumped by the storm10 to 17 inches fell on the connecticut river basin. This was one of the biggest hurricanes of the 20th century, and killed. A gripping description of new englands storm of the century. The lowest pressure recorded with the storm was 27. The hurricane of 1938 rocks connecticut connecticut. On the day of september 21, 1938, the storm was moving at about 30 miles an hour as it passed cape hatteras and the carolina coast at 8. Seven hours later, the category 3 hurricane smacked. On september 21, 1938, new england was hit by a category 3 hurricane. It produced fifteen tropical depressions and nine tropical storms, of which four further intensified into. Us billboard 1 1938 18 weeks, your hit parade 1 of 1938, grammy hall of fame in 1977 1938, library of congress artifact added 2012 1938, us invalid bb 2 of 1938, pop 2 of 1938, music imprint 4 of 1930s, nutsie 18 of 1930s, brazil 32 of 1939, dmdb 84 1938, riaa 91, acclaimed 1163 1938, rym 10 of 1938. The hurricane that transformed new england, a 2016 book by stephen long about the 1938 new.
The storm formed near the coast of africa on september 9, becoming a category 5 hurricane on the saffirsimpson hurricane scale, before making landfall as. Nothing makes me happier than to sit in front of the weather channel and watch a severe storm front develop into a potential monster hurricane. Glenn field, the warning coordinator in the taunton, mass. Not since 1869 had this region experienced such a violent hurricane. The states of new york, connecticut, and rhode island, suffered their worst natural disaster in recorded history.
The 1938 new england hurricane was an extremely damaging and highly deadly atlantic tropical cyclone which struck long island, connecticut, rhode island, massachusetts, maine, new hampshire and vermont with strong winds of category 4 hurricane level. For more information on the 1938 new england hurricane, the forest history society image database features nearly 150 photos of the storms aftermath and cleanup efforts browse gallery. Hurricane sandys predecessor, the great hurricane of 1938. The 1938 hurricane brought the strongest winds ever recorded in the region, according to the weather service. The 1938 hurricane, by the works project administration during this storm, frank schubert, last keeper of coney island light, was aboard the. The great hurricane of 1938 in photos the weather channel. But what few people realize is that the spectacular blazing colors from our hardwood forests. Sixtyfive years ago today, what has become know as the great hurricane of 1938 hit the state, leaving 90. The great hurricane of 1938, the long island express hurricane of 1938 as it has been called, struck long island and new england on september 21, 1938. 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. In scott mandias web site, the long island express. Hurricane gloria in 1985, a category 1 storm that was the last one to hit long island. 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.
Scotti back bay books paperback 304 pages august 2004. Fall foliage and hurricane season go hand in hand in new england. Weather service warns that 1938type hurricane could. The great hurricane of 1938 englisch taschenbuch 24. Scotti if you live near the sea, you will experience storms, and most likely a hurricane.
The state has a long history of runins with hurricanes, and isabel is only the latest. The great hurricane, 1938 and millions of other books are available for instant access. See more ideas about new england, westhampton beach and hurricane history. It came ashore at long island on september 21 with winds of 155 and gusts up to 180. The hurricane, one of the most destructive to ever hit new england, was followed by massive river flooding as the water dumped by the storm10 to. As im sure you know, hurricane michael, a category 4, devastated parts of the florida panhandle, and the after affects of hurricane florence are still making the lives of thousands of families and businesses miserable. The previous record, 48 fahrenheit, was set in van buren, maine almost. On the afternoon of september 21st, 1938, a storm as yet surpassed in hurricane lore, hit southern new england. I had never heard of this book until a family member recommended it.
A historical marker discusses the use of turkey pond to store trees downed by the hurricane of 1938. The great hurricane of 1938 was the first major hurricane to strike new england since 1869. However, it was mainly known as the new england hurricane of 1938. Even with these largescale responses to the 1938 hurricane, this single storm greatly influenced the longterm makeup of the new england forest landscape. Hurricane alice of 1955 first formed in late december, but lasted into january. Seventy years after the storm, a new pictorial history of one of the most deadly storms to ever strike the area the 1938 hurricane along new englands. On the night of september 21,1938, news on the radio was full of the invasion of czechoslovakia. Publishers weekly raved, from start to finish, this powerful story of natures fury and human. The astonishing power of the great hurricane of 1938 part 1 ground zero of the great hurricane of 1938 was the border of connecticut and rhode island at watch hill.
Hurricane sandy vs hurricane of 1938 business insider. Remembering the great hurricane of 38 the new york times. This book is the true account of a storm that developed quickly in late september 1938. On the night of september 21, 1938, news on the radio was full of the invasion of czechoslovakia. Now a yankee classic, this article was first published in september, 1988. 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 system developed off the cape verde islands around september 4, 1938. It had sustained winds of 121 mph, and a peak wind gust of 186 mph in massachussetts.
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. Hurricane of 1938 longwood central school district. 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. The hurricane lost intensity as it passed over northern new england, but by the time the storm reached canada around 11 p.