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- A New England hurricane is a tropical cyclone originating in the Atlantic Ocean that affects the states of Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, or Maine in the United States. Since record keeping began for some Atlantic tropical cyclones in 1851, there have been approximately 30 tropical cyclones to directly strike New England. Due to the unique location of New England, most tropical cyclones that threaten the region tend to recurve out to sea, mainly due to upper-level steering patterns, such as the jet stream. Tropical cyclones also tend to weaken upon approach due to the cooler waters of the North Atlantic, which border New England for most of the year. Thus, tropical cyclone formation near New England and over the Gulf of Maine is very unfavorable. Most commonly, New England will see the remnants or weakening stage of most tropical cyclones that make landfall either along the United States east coast or Gulf coast. This can sometimes lead to excessive rainfall, and in rare cases destructive flooding. Hurricane Diane in 1955 produced over 19 inches of rain in Massachusetts and contributed to the 1955 Connecticut Floods, one of the worst flooding events in Connecticut's history. More recently, a weakening Hurricane Irene in 2011 produced historic flooding in Vermont, causing over $175 million in damage. Although rare, several hurricanes have made a direct landfall in New England throughout its history. The return period for hurricane landfalls along the southern coast of New England is generally 10-15 years, with up to 50 years along the Maine coastline. As of 2022, the most recent hurricane to make landfall in the region was Hurricane Bob in 1991. Due to the fact that sea surface temperatures around New England are generally too cold to support a tropical cyclone, the region very rarely sees a major hurricane landfall (Category 3 or higher). Since 1851, only 3 major hurricanes have ever made landfall on the New England coastline. The return period for storms of such strength along the southern New England coastline is considered to be 50-70 years, and upwards of 300 years in coastal Maine. As of 2022, the most recent major hurricane to make landfall in the region was Hurricane Carol in 1954. On September 21, 1938, a powerful Category 3 hurricane made landfall over New Haven, Connecticut with winds of 115 mph and a pressure of 941 millibars. Delivering a 186 mph wind gust to the Blue Hill Observatory in Massachusetts, a 163 mph gust atop Mount Washington, and a storm surge of 10-18 feet from the Long Island Sound to the Narragansett Bay, it is often considered to be the most intense hurricane to ever strike New England in modern times. One estimate from Rhode Island stated the water level "reflects a storm occurring roughly once every 400 years." A study of sand deposits also gives more evidence that this was the strongest hurricane to hit Rhode Island in over 300 years. (en)
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- A New England hurricane is a tropical cyclone originating in the Atlantic Ocean that affects the states of Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, or Maine in the United States. Although rare, several hurricanes have made a direct landfall in New England throughout its history. The return period for hurricane landfalls along the southern coast of New England is generally 10-15 years, with up to 50 years along the Maine coastline. As of 2022, the most recent hurricane to make landfall in the region was Hurricane Bob in 1991. (en)
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