THE GREAT NEW ENGLAND HURRICANE OF 1938
by Brandon Butcher
Chief Meteorologist - CBS 3 Springfield

The "Long Island Express" remains the greatest weather disaster ever to strike Long Island, NY and the whole of New England, and also marks the pattern for the future storm that will wrest those titles. Traversing the entirety of the Atlantic and slamming into the northeast as a maximum Category-3 hurricane, the storm also caused much ecological damage, much of which is still visible today. This hurricane arrived with little warning, though future storms will not have that problem. Nevertheless, populations and property values have skyrocketed many fold in the last 70 years, and it's quite probable that a future storm of similar track and magnitude, even with all the warnings possible, could still become the next costliest disaster in US history.

1938 Hurricane

Storm Chronology

The 1938 Hurricane moved took only about 7 hours to travel from the Carolina coast to Long Island. Most of its ominous march across the Atlantic was done in secret, as there were very few ways to monitor such a storm at the time, and every ship that encountered it did so involuntarily. Read more »

Stories Of The Storm

In the days following the Great Hurricane, stories began to appear, or become more clear as it were, that offered in themselves a targeted glimpse of the larger picture of the storm in its time. Here are some interesting anecdotes from the Great Hurricane of 1938. Read more »

The Damage

The damage and loss at the hands of the 1938 Hurricane was unprecedented, and it remains our current and future 'doomsday' scenario for what would become the maximum natural disaster for New England. Read more »

The Weather Behind The Storm

The Great Hurricane of 1938 was a landmark storm in that is sparked a more in-depth study into what made it so powerful. Perhaps more for weather buffs and hurricane enthusiasts, this is a more technical discussion of the meteorology behind the strength and stamina of the storm. Read more »

Works Cited

Reference sources used during this project on the Great New England Hurricane of 1938. Read more »

Local Residents Remember

CBS 3 Springfield searches for first-hand accounts from local residents regarding their experiences with the "Long Island Express" of 70 years ago. Their stories in unison create a picture worthy of attention, as it may reflect similar emotions to be yet experienced by those in the present.

The 1938 Hurricane In Pictures

Vivid imagery of the storm, damage, and aftermath of the New England Hurricane of 1938. Worth a look, as scenes like these will one day repeat themselves.

Weather

Current Temp 42.0 °F

Light Rain

Wind : from the East at 16.1 gusting to 25.3 MPH (14 gusting to 22 KT)

Humidity : 89 %

Pressure : 1004.9 mb

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