Hurricane Lee has been storming the Atlantic for days, sending Category 3 winds about 75 miles out.
Edgewood Yacht Club in Cranston, Rhode Island withstands the storm surge from Hurricane Carol. (Source: New England)
In a report according to USA Today, the hurricane was north of Puerto Rico Tuesday morning and expected to parallel the East Coast. The storm should diminish and pass west of Bermuda in the coming days. Some forecasts predict Hurricane Lee hitting New England, yet the sole Northeastern advisories warn of surf and rip currents.
Biggest Hurricanes That Slammed New England
Hurricane Sandy. Now a post-tropical cyclone, was one of the biggest hurricanes that made landfall in Brigantine, New Jersey on Oct. 29, 2012, earning the nickname “Superstorm Sandy.” NOAA reported a damaging storm surge on New Jersey and New York beaches. It caused $85.9 billion in damages, according to NOAA. Hurricane Sandy killed 159. The hurricane knocked off electricity for almost 8.5 million consumers, according to FEMA.
Hurricane Irene. NOAA reported that Category 1 Hurricane Irene made landfall in Cape Lookout, North Carolina on August 27, 2011, and moved to Atlantic City, New Jersey on August 28. Hurricane Irene, one of the biggest hurricanes in New England has killed 45. The damage estimate is about $18.2 billion. The National Weather Service said Irene’s major impact was rain. According to the Burlington Free Press, part of USA TODAY Network, heavy flooding shut off numerous Vermont municipalities.
Hurricane Bob. The 1991 Annual Summary of the Atlantic Hurricane Season states that Hurricane Bob originated in the Bahamas before moving up the East Coast. On August 19, 1991, Hurricane Bob listed as one of the biggest hurricanes hit Rhode Island as a Category 2 Hurricane after passing across Long Island. Damage from Hurricane Bob is estimated at $3.4 billion. 18 people died in Hurricane Bob. Hurricane Bob produced four North Carolina tornadoes and two Long Island tornadoes.
Hurricane Gloria. When it hit Outer Banks, North Carolina on Sept. 26, 1985, Category 4 Hurricane Gloria had weakened. The National Weather Service reported that this hurricane listed as the biggest hurricane had landfall on Long Island, New York, and Connecticut from its two-day East Coast track. Hurricane Gloria damaged the currency by $900 million. Eight died in the storm. Media termed it the “Storm of the Century” as 380,000 East Coast residents evacuated.
Hurricane Donna. National Weather Service presentation: This biggest hurricane hit more than New England. The Florida Keys were hit by Hurricane Donna on September 10, 1960. It marched to South Carolina on September 11 and to Bangor, Maine, by dark on September 12. Hurricane Donna reportedly cost over $6 billion today. Over 360 people died in the hurricane. Donna downed a French airliner route to Senegal during the tropical storm.
Hurricane Carol. Hurricane Carrol one of the biggest hurricanes hit New England on Aug. 31, 1954, according to NOAA archives. The storm slowed as it entered Canada after 130 mph gusts in Block Island, Rhode Island. Damage from Hurricane Carol exceeded $460 million. The storm killed 60 individuals. Hurricane Carol is twinned to Category 3 Hurricane Edna, which followed a similar route but moved east. It hit Carol’s weak spots.
Great New England Hurricane 1938. The National Weather Service reported that this storm hit Long Island, New York, on Sept. 21, 1938, with 121 mph sustained winds at the Blue Hill Observatory in Massachusetts. Damage totaled $620 million in economic terms. The storm killed 700. One of the biggest hurricanes ever, it slammed Long Island at 47 mph and moved quickly through Connecticut and Southern New England.
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