slides: Worst Storms in Rhode Island History

Friday, February 08, 2013

GoLocalProv News Team

With a big blizzard hitting Rhode Island, take a moment to browse through the biggest hurricanes and tropical storms ever to hit Rhode Island.

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August 1778

August 1778

“The Battle of Rhode Island began on August 9, 1778, when 11,000 Continental line troops and militia crossed Howland’s Ferry to reinforce the state militia in preparation for an attack on the British in that state. Meanwhile, the French fleet under d’Estaing blocked the small naval force at Narragansett Bay. When a larger British fleet arrived to challenge the French, they prepared to do battle, but a hurricane (August 13–14) scattered the ships and severely damaged both fleets. The French sailed to Boston for repairs, leaving the Americans without naval back-up or the anticipated French landing troops. The Americans attempted to withdraw, the British troops attacked on August 29. The 1st Rhode Island, a black regiment, took part in the action. After a twelve-day siege, the Americans realized they could not penetrate the British lines without naval back-up from the French. They were forced to withdraw, leaving the British in place.”

Source: http://www.gilderlehrman.org

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September 1815

September 1815

“The Great September Gale produced significant wind damage in Connecticut, Rhode Island, east-central Massachusetts, and southeastern New Hampshire. Parts of Providence, RI, experienced tides 4.3 m (14 ft) greater than usual and in Buzzards Bay, MA, the tide is calculated to have risen 4.8 m (15.9 ft) above normal. At least 38 fatalities were a result of the Great September Gale. The hurricane also caused the destruction of some 500 homes and 35 ships in Narragansett, RI, as a 3.4m (11ft) storm surge funneled up Narragansett Bay.”

Source: www.hurricanescience.org

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September 1869

September 1869

“A tremendous hurricane pounded New England on September 8th, 1869. The eye cut across the eastern tip of Long Island and, as so often occurs, Providence, Rhode Island was swamped. Boston also reported extensive damage. On October 5, 1869 the more infamous hurricane known as ‘Saxby’s Gale’ took a more easterly track striking Nova Scotia, Canada full on. This hurricane did little damage in the United States. It is famous because a British Navy Lieutenant, S.M. Saxby, had predicted the storm almost one year earlier in November 1868 based upon his “prophesy” of an unprecedented lunar high tide occurring due to the moon’s close ‘passage to the equator by October 1869’. The storm did happen. In New England the result was extraordinary rainfall: 4.27” in two hours at Goffstown, New Hampshire and 12.25” storm total at Canton near Hartford, Connecticut, a similar total to those of Hurricane Connie in 1955.”

Source: http://www.wunderground.com

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November 1927

November 1927

For the 1927 New England flood, all lives lost occurred in Vermont with the exception of a death in Rhode Island. Of the Vermont fatalities, 55 were in the Winooski Valley where the storm's heaviest rains fell during the night time hours, according to Albert Kachic, a retired weather service regional hydrologist who specializes in flood history. Total property damage was conservatively estimated as $40 million ($960 million in 1997 dollars), of which $28 million dollars ($672 million in 1997 dollars) occurred in Vermont.

Source: www.noaa.gov

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September 1938

September 1938

“The hurricane, one of the most destructive to ever hit New England, was followed by massive river flooding as the water dumped by the storm—10 to 17 inches fell on the Connecticut River basin—returned to the sea. By the time the devastation was over, 564 people were dead and more than 1,700 injured, 8,900 homes were completely gone as were 2,600 boats. Trees and buildings damaged by the storm could still be seen by the 1950s.”

Source: http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com

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September 1944

September 1944

“In Connecticut, the most significant storm impact was the heavy, widespread rainfall. Totals of around 178 mm (7 in) were seen in the Hartford area, but the city of Bridgeport saw the greatest official total at 272.8 mm (10.7 in). Tobacco and fruit damage in Connecticut totaled to about $2 million (1944 USD) with similar overall damage costs occurring in Rhode Island. Greater than $5 million (1944 USD) in damage done on Cape Cod can be attributed to lost boats, as well as fallen trees and utility damage.”

Source: www.hurricanescience.org

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August 1954

August 1954

“On the morning of August 31, Hurricane Carol, the most destructive hurricane to strike Southern New England since the Great New England Hurricane of 1938, came crashing ashore near Old Saybrook, Connecticut, leaving 65 people dead in her wake. Carol had developed in the Bahamas several days earlier, making only slow progress northward. Carol began her rapid acceleration during the evening of August 30, while passing just east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Carol made landfall on eastern Long Island and southeastern Connecticut about 12 hours later, moving at over 35 mph.”

Source: www.noaa.gov

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September 1960

September 1960

“Donna is the only hurricane of record to produce hurricane-force winds in Florida, the Mid-Atlantic states, and New England. Sombrero Key, Florida reported 128 mph sustained winds with gusts to 150 mph. In the Mid-Atlantic states, Elizabeth City, North Carolina reported 83 mph sustained winds, while Manteo, North Carolina reported a 120 mph gust. In New England, Block Island, Rhode Island reported 95 mph sustained winds with gusts to 130 mph.”

Source: www.noaa.gov

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September 1985

September 1985

“Hurricane Gloria produced a rather modest storm surge of 4 to 7 feet above normal in most of the north Atlantic States. Fortunately for tens of thousands of people - Gloria arrived at low tide. A few locations on eastern Long Island reported modest storm surge damage. Tides of 7-feet above normal flooded homes from Hempstead to the Hamptons. In Connecticut, tides were measured at 5.5 feet above normal at New Haven and 4.5 feet above normal from the Lymes to Groton. In Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, storm surges were generally less than 5-feet above normal.”

Source: http://www.oocities.org

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August 2011

August 2011

FM Global, one of the world’s largest commercial property insurers, warned that Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene had the potential to leave unprecedented damage because of her severity, path and overall geographic footprint, if the current forecast holds true. Hurricane Katrina left damages of $108 billion, according to the company, but because of where Irene was expected to hit, FM Global said there was potential for significantly more damage.

Source: GoLocalProv