Hurricane of 1938

Hurricane of 1938. Also known as the Long Island Express, the Hurricane of 1938 was an extremely powerful and destructive Atlantic hurricane that struck the Northeastern United States in September 1938. The storm caused catastrophic damage from New Jersey to New England, resulting in hundreds of fatalities and profound economic and environmental impacts. Its rapid forward speed and unexpected track made it one of the most significant natural disasters in American history.

Meteorological history

The hurricane originated from a tropical wave that moved off the coast of West Africa in early September, developing into a tropical storm near the Cape Verde islands. It intensified rapidly as it moved westward across the Atlantic Ocean, reaching Category 5 intensity on September 19 while passing north of The Bahamas. The United States Weather Bureau initially forecast the storm to recurve harmlessly into the Atlantic, but a strong, persistent high-pressure area over the North Atlantic blocked this path. Instead, the hurricane accelerated to an unprecedented forward speed of over 60 mph, making a direct landfall on Long Island as a high-end Category 3 hurricane on September 21. It then raced across Long Island Sound and made a second landfall near New Haven, Connecticut, before moving through New England and dissipating over Canada.

Impact

The storm surge and wind caused unparalleled destruction along the coast of Long Island and New England. In Westhampton Beach, New York, entire communities were swept away, while the surge funneled into Narragansett Bay, devastating Providence and other coastal communities in Rhode Island. The Blue Hill Observatory in Massachusetts recorded a wind gust of 186 mph, the highest ever measured in a hurricane at the time. Inland, the Connecticut River flooded, inundating cities like Hartford and Springfield, Massachusetts. The storm destroyed over 57,000 homes, damaged the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, and leveled millions of trees, particularly in the forests of the White Mountain National Forest. Casualty estimates range from 682 to over 800, with hundreds more missing.

Aftermath and recovery

The scale of the disaster prompted a massive response from local authorities, the American Red Cross, and the Works Progress Administration. President Franklin D. Roosevelt toured damage in Connecticut and authorized emergency funds, while the United States Army and United States Coast Guard assisted in rescue and cleanup operations. The storm exposed critical flaws in the Weather Bureau's forecasting and communication systems, leading to major reforms and the eventual establishment of the National Hurricane Center. The economic cost was estimated at $306 million (1938 USD), equivalent to billions today, impacting industries from New England's timber to its textile industry.

In popular culture

The hurricane has been the subject of numerous historical works, such as Everett S. Allen's book *A Wind to Shake the World*. It features prominently in American folklore and local memory throughout New England, with many communities holding annual remembrances. The storm has been depicted in episodes of documentary series like The Weather Channel's *Storm Stories* and is often cited in studies of meteorology and disaster preparedness.

See also

* 1938 Atlantic hurricane season * Hurricane Carol * Hurricane Sandy * Great New England Hurricane of 1938 (disambiguation) * New England hurricane of 1938

Category:1938 Atlantic hurricane season Category:1938 natural disasters Category:History of New England Category:Hurricanes in New York (state) Category:Hurricanes in Connecticut Category:Hurricanes in Rhode Island Category:Hurricanes in Massachusetts