This book was absolutely fascinating and i stayed up late at night reading it. This was one of the biggest hurricanes of the 20th century, and killed. The great hurricane of 1938 forest history society. A new book offers a rare glimpse of storms aftermath. Irene goodwin kane, then 14, returned home to roslindale from the girls latin school on sept. But what few people realize is that the spectacular blazing colors from our hardwood forests are the result of the great hurricane. Sudden sea the great hurricane of 1938 by r a scotti available in. Scotti if you live near the sea, you will experience storms, and most likely a hurricane.
One of the biggest hurricaneinduced forest disturbances in the u. On the afternoon of september 21st, 1938, a storm as yet surpassed in hurricane lore, hit southern new england. Last night the history channel premired a 2 hour show in the 1938 hurricane. Jul 28, 2019 the hurricane lost intensity as it passed over northern new england, but by the time the storm reached canada around 11 p. 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.
The atlantic hurricane reanalysis project analyzed the 1938 atlantic hurricane season in 2014, and weather bureau forecaster ivan ray tannehill noted that the knowledge of the storms existence remained tenuous clarification needed until september 17 when the cyclone had already increased to a hurricane. Before and after the hurricane of 1938, horseneck beach flickr. The atlantic hurricane reanalysis project analyzed the 1938 atlantic hurricane season in 2014, and weather bureau forecaster ivan ray tannehill noted that the knowledge of the storms existence remained tenuous clarification needed until september 17. The hurricane of 1938 was one of the most destructive and powerful storms ever to strike southern new england. Because it was a snazzier time, people called this hurricane the long island express.
If you think this book is a print version of the weather channel, thats just not the case. I live in southeastern massachusetts and i recall my mom and dad talking about the hurricane of 1938. The hurricane didnt curve out to sea like hurricanes usually do. The hurricane of 1938 rocks connecticut connecticut history. 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. Rhode island picture post cards great new england hurricane. This system developed in the far eastern atlantic, near the cape verde islands on september 4. The last january hurricane on record was alice, which formed in december of 1954 and continued into 1955. The great hurricane of 1938 was the first major hurricane to strike new england since 1869. Hurricane sandys predecessor, the great hurricane of 1938. This year marks the 77th anniversary of one such storm, the great new england hurricane of 1938 also commonly referred to as the long island express hurricane which struck on september 21st, 1938. The system developed in the eastern atlantic, near the cape verde islands on september 4th, came ashore in suffolk county, long island on september 21 and then hit. In terms of fatalities and property damage the 1938 hurricane is still one of the worst disasters in north american history. What became known as the great new england hurricane of 1938.
These photos demonstrate the utter devastation caused by the might hurricane of 1938. 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. Although the worst of the hurricanes force was directed at long island, connecticut and southern rhode island, westports beach communities were utterly destroyed. Sep 21, 2003 the state has a long history of runins with hurricanes, and isabel is only the latest. It crossed the atlantic and threatened florida on september 20. In a matter of hours, 600 people were killed, 4500 were injured, and more than 75,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed. The great new england hurricane of 1938 weatherworks. On the night of september 21, 1938, news on the radio was full of the invasion of czechoslovakia.
Fall foliage and hurricane season go hand in hand in new england. Sep 08, 2015 this year marks the 77th anniversary of one such storm, the great new england hurricane of 1938 also commonly referred to as the long island express hurricane which struck on september 21st, 1938. Aug 31, 2006 last night the history channel premired a 2 hour show in the 1938 hurricane. By 20 september, it was east of the bahamas and had reached category 5 status. It was the best documentary ive ever seen regarding the 1938 hurricane. The great new england hurricane of september 21, 1938 on its. Meanwhile, new jersey has not been directly impacted by a hurricane in some 180 years, and is long overdue for one.
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. Jun 08, 2010 one of the biggest hurricane induced forest disturbances in the u. Hurricane sandy vs hurricane of 1938 business insider. The 1938 hurricane that revived new englands fall colors. Soares acquired a large picture collection of the aftermath of the 1938 hurricane on coast guard facilities in new england and thats what informs the content of this book. The weather doctor almanac 2008 the great hurricane of 1938. Oct 12, 2017 fall foliage and hurricane season go hand in hand in new england.
Before the dawn of satellite observations, a fastmoving category 3 hurricane snuck up on new england in midseptember 1938. 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. 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 1938 hurricane, a onceinalifetime storm new. On the night of september 21, 1938, news on the radio was full o. Contact and book john today references the great hurricane of 1938 description. Historian cherie burns wrote about the disaster in her 2005 book the great hurricane. Many names were given to the storm including the great new england hurricane, yankee clipper, great hurricane of 1938, and long island express. The 1938 hurricane along new englands coast is not a complete treatment of this natural disaster. 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. Publishers weekly raved, from start to finish, this powerful story of natures fury and human. Although in many respects the hurricane of 1944 was much worse it killed more people around the vineyard than any storm in the 20th century, the 1938 hurricane is the. Jul 24, 2015 on september 21, 1938, new england was hit by a category 3 hurricane.
Over the next 24 hours, it moved through new england causing incredible damage throughout those states to crops, trees, and livestock. Sep 02, 2010 there have been other hurricanes since then hurricane bob, which mostly missed long island, in 1991. As a boy i attended camp passumpsic on lake fairlee, ely,vt. The new england hurricane of 1938 or great new england hurricane, yankee clipper, long island express, or simply the great hurricane was the first major hurricane to strike new england since 1869. Yes there have been hurricanes since then, but for many, the 1938 storm is the. The astonishing power of the great hurricane of 1938 part 1 ground zero of the great hurricane of 1938 was. 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.
Weather service warns that 1938type hurricane could someday devastate mass. The great hurricane of 1938 in photos the weather channel. On september 21, 1938, a deadly, recordbreaking hurricane hit new england. Sixtyfive years ago today, what has become know as the great hurricane of 1938 hit the state, leaving 90.
From the first pages, burns work of nonfiction is a pageturner, that when i needed a book set in rhode island for my 52 books around the usa challenge, i was stumped. Not since 1869 had this region experienced such a violent hurricane. The 1938 storm, which came ashore in long island, n. Hughes stated that major hurricanes have hit the new york region in 1635, 1815, 1821, 1893, and 1938. Hurricane number 4 of the 1938 season atlantic storms were not given names until 1950, blew a devastating path through the new england region in september of that year, affecting new york, rhode island, connecticut, massachusetts, vermont, maine, and new hampshire. Survivors, scientists recall great hurricane the boston globe. A gripping description of new englands storm of the century. Although the worst of the hurricane s force was directed at long island, connecticut and southern rhode island, westports beach communities were utterly destroyed.
Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. Although in many respects the hurricane of 1944 was much worse it killed more people around the vineyard than any storm in the 20th century, the 1938 hurricane is the one that stands in the record books. But what few people realize is that the spectacular blazing colors from our hardwood forests. I was practially glued to the screen as the show recalled the hurricane from a human perspective that really touched on the human cost these disaste.
This is the third in a 5 part series of short viniets to discuss the great new england hurricane of 1938 and the behavior of the wind field associated with land falling hurricane in the northeast. 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. Sep 12, 20 this is the third in a 5 part series of short viniets to discuss the great new england hurricane of 1938 and the behavior of the wind field associated with land falling hurricane in the northeast. 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. Hurricane of 1938 hit with force and surprise vineyard gazette. 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. This one hit hard, with sustainded winds at 87 mph. 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. History channel special on the 1938 hurricane coffee milk. It stands as one of the most powerful and destructive hurricanes to impact long island and southern new england of all time. Hurricane of 1938 the wind that shook the world new. This is a great book detailing a sad and disastrous event in weather annals. On september 21, 1938, new england was hit by a category 3 hurricane.
The system developed off the cape verde islands around september 4, 1938. Sep 21, 20 on the afternoon of september 21st, 1938, a storm as yet surpassed in hurricane lore, hit 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. Hurricane gloria in 1985, a category 1 storm that was the last one to hit long island. In the atlantic ocean, the season officially began on june 16 and ended on november 15. Remembering the great hurricane of 38 the new york times. Mitchel field army airfield was buffeted by winds of nearly 100 mph 160 kmh and was under kneedeep water. Aug 25, 2011 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. See more ideas about new england, westhampton beach and hurricane history. The state has a long history of runins with hurricanes, and isabel is only the latest.
Photo courtesy mitchell field, 2nd air base squadron u. 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 most destructive hurricane to hit new england in the last two hundred years. This fascinating pageturner documents in full, glorious detail every minute leading up to what history has come to know as the great hurricane of 38, a devastating monster of a storm that rolled up and into the unsuspecting northeast coast with a fury and speed even the most weathered forecasters and stormwatchers werent prepared for. Weather service warns that 1938type hurricane could someday. The storm developed near the cape verde islands on september 9, tracking across the atlantic and up the eastern seaboard. The 1938 hurricane along new englands coast images of. My first year was 1948 some 10 years after the hurricane of 1938 i remember getting off the train at ely station, being met by the camp truckeasy riding dodge and riding on rte. A hurricane also supposedly struck staten island in november, 1950, and it was the worst storm to hit there. The hurricane that transformed new england, a 2016 book by stephen long about the 1938 new. Janick the eastern seaboard of the united statesblessed with abundant rainfall, relatively mild climate, and few natural calamitieshas been hospitable to a large population.
The 1938 new england hurricane was one of the deadliest and most destructive tropical. Before and after the hurricane of 1938, horseneck beach. The great 1938 hurricane devastated new england as no other hurricane has before or since. It came ashore at long island on september 21 with winds of 155 and gusts up to 180.
I refer readers wishing to know more to the well written books on the storm. I had never heard of this book until a family member recommended it. 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. What made it worse was that people didnt know it was coming. Sep 21, 2012 weather service warns that 1938 type hurricane could someday devastate mass. However, it was mainly known as the new england hurricane of 1938. The complete historical record of new englands stricken area september 21, 1938. It had been several decades since the area had seen a major storm. The great hurricane, 1938 and millions of other books are available for instant access. 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.