1600s

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1600s

By Brandon Butcher


1609 - July 24th (or perhaps August 4th ) - The first supposed hurricane documented to strike New England is still a matter of debate. The settlement of Bermuda itself was undertaken as a direct result of a hurricane on this date (arguably also the inspiration for Shakespear's "The Tempest")...though it appears that this hurricane (as many before it and after it would do) was recurving out to sea South and East of the shoreline. For example, Henry Hudson on his "Third Voyage to the New World", sailing from Maine through Cape Cod in late July through early August (the presumed time of this hurricane), has no mention of inclimate weather in his journals.

The twin light-houses of Thatcher Island 1635 - August 26th (though some records indicate August 15th)- The "Great Colonial Hurricane". Records have indicated that this hurricane first skirted parts of Eastern Virginia, though the eye still offshore. By most accounts, this storm was a high Category-3 storm, with winds sustained near 130mph at landfall. It moved quite quickly, going between Boston and Plymouth, and out to sea with 6 hours of lasting impact. This storm had a landfall pressure of 930mb, the lowest of any New England Hurricane to date. Many accounts exist of this storm, and it's affect on early citizens, including from William Bradford, John Wintrop, and some years later from Increase Mather. The storm also is the basis of the account of the ship "The Angel Gabriel", and sparked the Legend of Thatcher Island.

1638 - October 4th (or perhaps August 3rd, August 13th, or September 24th) - Oddly enough barely 3 years later, after a spectacularly recorded hurricane, hardly any data at all exists to document either the track or intensity of the storm, though by most evidence it made landfall between Connecticut and Rhode Island, and continued up through Maine. Storm surge with this hurricane was reported to be around 14' in some areas. John Winthrop in Massachusetts, and John Jocelyn of Maine each wrote brief accounts of this storm.

1675 - September 7th - Sometimes referred to as the "Second" Great Colonial Hurricane, This storm took a track up through Connecticut, into Massachusetts, and on through New Hampshire and Maine. Though unlikely, it could be the same strong hurricane that struck a week earlier in Barbados. There are few accounts of this storm in New England, though admittedly fighting King Philips War could have taken up most folks attention.

1683 - August 23 - Hurricane (and flood) of 1683. Affecting Virginia and New England, Increase Mather wrote of the widespread damage to crops. This storm could have made landfall briefly in Virginia before heading through Connecticut. This storm stayed inland and was known more for its major flooding than for its winds.

Fire Island - east of New York City 1693 - October 29th - This late season storm appears to have first made landfall near the Delmarva Peninsula, then curved up through toward New York City. Storm surge in the Big Apple was estimated to be around or above 10 feet. The storm broke through Fire Island Cut, a scene of many hurricanes' crimes. The erosion was strong in New England as well, as many permanent inlets were reportedly created.

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