1938 New England hurricane

1938 New England hurricane
NOAA Library · Public domain · source
Name	1938 New England hurricane
Type	hurricane
Year	1938
Basin	Atl
Formed	September 9, 1938
Dissipated	September 22, 1938
1-min winds	140
Pressure	940
Damages	306
Fatalities	682–800+ direct
Areas	Long Island, New England, New York, Quebec
Hurricane season	1938 Atlantic hurricane season

1938 New England hurricane. The 1938 New England hurricane, also known as the Great New England Hurricane or the Long Island Express, was one of the deadliest and most destructive tropical cyclones to strike the United States. The storm formed near the Cape Verde islands in early September and moved unusually quickly westward, making landfall on Long Island and Connecticut as a Category 3 hurricane on the modern Saffir–Simpson scale. With little warning, the hurricane caused catastrophic damage across Long Island, New York City, and the six-state region of New England, resulting in hundreds of fatalities and profound economic and environmental changes.

Meteorological history

The system was first identified as a tropical disturbance east of the Lesser Antilles on September 9, 1938, and rapidly intensified as it tracked west-northwestward. It passed north of Puerto Rico on September 18, where the San Juan weather station recorded a barometric pressure of 27.65 inches, indicating a powerful storm. Unusually, the hurricane was steered by a strong, blocking high-pressure area over the Atlantic Ocean, preventing it from recurring out to sea. This propelled the storm at forward speeds exceeding 60 mph toward the Northeastern United States. On September 21, the hurricane made landfall at Bayport on Long Island with estimated winds of 120 mph and a central pressure of 940 mb, equivalent to a major hurricane. It then crossed Long Island Sound and made a second landfall near New Haven, Connecticut, before moving northward through the Connecticut River Valley into Vermont and Quebec, where it transitioned into an extratropical cyclone.

Preparations and impact

Preparations were severely hampered by inadequate forecasting from the United States Weather Bureau, which failed to predict the storm's unprecedented speed and direct path into New England. Warnings were issued too late for effective evacuation, particularly on Long Island and in coastal Connecticut. The storm surge, exceeding 15 feet in some areas, obliterated entire communities like Napatree Point in Rhode Island and devastated the Jersey Shore. The Blue Hills Observatory in Massachusetts recorded a sustained wind gust of 186 mph, the highest ever measured in a hurricane at the time. Widespread flooding from both surge and torrential rain inundated cities including Providence, where water reached 20 feet in downtown streets. The hurricane destroyed over 57,000 homes, damaged the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, and leveled an estimated 2 billion trees across New England, causing extensive damage to the White Mountain National Forest. The official death toll was between 682 and 800, with hundreds more missing.

Aftermath and recovery

The aftermath prompted a massive relief and recovery effort coordinated by the American Red Cross, the Works Progress Administration, and state National Guard units. President Franklin D. Roosevelt toured damage in Connecticut and allocated funds from the New Deal for reconstruction. The storm's destruction led to major reforms in meteorology, including improved tracking and communication protocols within the United States Weather Bureau and increased investment in hurricane research. The widespread deforestation changed the ecology of regions like the Berkshires and increased flooding risks for years. Economically, the hurricane accelerated the decline of the New England agricultural sector and spurred a shift in coastal development patterns. The disaster also influenced the creation of the National Hurricane Center in later decades.

In popular culture

The hurricane has been featured in numerous historical accounts and cultural works. It is the subject of books like *The Great Hurricane: 1938* by Everett S. Allen and is depicted in episodes of documentary series such as *The Weather Channel's* "Storm Stories". The event is a central plot point in the 2011 novel *The Hurricane Sisters* by Lizzie Church. Artistic interpretations include paintings and photographs held by institutions like the Mystic Seaport Museum, and the storm is frequently referenced in regional folklore and oral histories throughout New England.

See also

* Hurricane Carol * Hurricane Sandy * 1944 Great Atlantic hurricane * New England hurricane of 1938

Category:1938 meteorology Category:1938 in the United States Category:History of New England Category:Retired Atlantic hurricanes