The 1938 New England Hurricane was one of the deadliest and most destructive tropical cyclones to strike the United States. The storm formed near the coast of Africa on September 9, becoming a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale, before making landfall as a Category 3 hurricane on Long Island on Wednesday, September 21. It is estimated that the hurricane killed 682 people, damaged or destroyed more than 57,000 homes and caused property losses estimated at $306 million. Also, numerous others estimate the real damage between $347 million and almost $410 million. Damaged trees and buildings were still seen in the affected areas as late as 1951. It remains the most powerful and deadliest hurricane to ever strike New York State and New England in history, perhaps eclipsed in landfall intensity only by the Great Colonial Hurricane of 1635.
The Great New England Hurricane made landfall on Long Island, New York, killing an estimated 682 people and injuring 1,754 others.
On September 21, in the year 1938, The Great New England Hurricane made landfall on Long Island, New York, killing an estimated 682 people and injuring 1,754 others. This event is recorded as a Selected Events event in the history of September 21, one of 479 recorded events on this date across all of history.
Key Facts
- This event took place on September 21, 1938 (AD era).
- It is categorised as a Selected Events event in recorded history.
- Referenced in 3 Wikipedia articles.
- Wikipedia source last updated on 18 August 2026.
On This Date in History 479
This article draws on content from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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