The 1940 New England hurricane moved off of the U.S. East Coast and Atlantic Canada in August and September1940, producing strong winds and torrential rainfall. The fourth tropical cyclone and third hurricane of the season, the storm originated from a well-defined low-pressure area in the open Atlantic Ocean on August26. Moving slowly in a general west-northwest motion, the disturbance intensified, reaching tropical storm strength on August28 and subsequently hurricane intensity on August30. The hurricane passed within 85mi (137km) of Cape Hatteras before recurving towards the northeast. The hurricane continued to intensify, and reached peak intensity as a Category2hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110mph (180km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 961mbar (hPa; 28.38inHg), though these statistical peaks were achieved at different times on September2. Afterwards, the hurricane began a weakening trend as it proceeded northeastward, and had degenerated into a tropical storm by the time it made its first landfall on Nova Scotia later that day. The storm transitioned into an extratropical cyclone the next day while making another landfall on New Brunswick. The extratropical remnants persisted into Quebec before merging with a larger extratropical system late on September3.
Despite not making landfall on the United States, the hurricane caused widespread damage. Extensive precautionary measures were undertaken across the coast, particularly in New England. The heightened precautions were due in part to fears that effects from the storm would be similar to that of a devastating hurricane that struck the region two years prior. Most of the damage associated with the hurricane occurred in New Jersey, where the combination of moisture from the hurricane and a stationary front produced record rainfall, peaking at 24in (610mm) in the Ewan section of Harrison Township. This made the storm the wettest in state history. The resultant floods damaged infrastructure, mostly to road networks. Damage in the state amounted to $4million.[nb 1] Farther north in New England, strong winds were reported, though damage remained minimal. Although the storm made two landfalls in Atlantic Canada, damage there too was minimal, and was limited to several boating incidents caused by strong waves. Overall, the hurricane caused seven fatalities.
Meteorological history
The origins of the hurricane can be traced to a compact and slow-moving low-pressure area in the open Atlantic Ocean in late August1940. As the system progressed in a west-northwest direction, its center of circulation became more organized.[1] As a result, the disturbance was classified as a tropical depression between the Greater Antilles and Bermuda at 1200UTC on August26.[2] Operationally, the storm was analyzed to have undergone tropical cyclogenesis on August30.[3] However, a reanalysis of the storm conducted in 2012 found that the system was already organized prior.[1][4] In its initial stages, the depression remained weak,[2] with few ships reporting abnormally strong winds in association with the storm.[1] Continuing in a slow west-northwest movement, the disturbance gradually intensified, and was analyzed to have attained tropical storm intensity by 1800UTC on August28.[2] At 0600UTC on August30, the tropical storm strengthened further into the equivalent of a modern-day Category1hurricane,[2] roughly 225mi (362km) east of the Florida peninsula.[3] At the same time, the hurricane began to intensify and move quicker than it had previously.[2] Later that day, a ship within the periphery of the storm reported winds of 60mph (97km/h) and a barometric pressure of 979mbar (hPa; 28.90inHg).[1][3]
At 1200UTC on September1, the hurricane attained modern-day Category2intensity. Ships continued to report strong winds and low pressures associated with the storm.[2] Early on September1,[3] the hurricane passed 85mi (137km) of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina,[1] before recurving towards the northeast and away from the coast.[3] That same day, two ships reported hurricane-force winds. At 0200UTC on September2, the American steamboatFranklin K. Lane reported a barometric pressure of 965mbar (965hPa; 28.5inHg) while located within the hurricane's radius of maximum wind;[1] this was the lowest pressure measured in association with the tropical cyclone and the lowest measured in the entire North Atlantic Ocean in September1940.[5] Based on the ship observation, the storm was analyzed to have reached peak intensity on September2 with maximum sustained winds of 105mph (169km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 961mbar (961hPa; 28.4inHg). However, stronger winds of 110mph (180km/h) were analyzed to have been present in the hurricane earlier. As it traversed though more northerly latitudes, the storm began to gradually weaken.[2] The storm made landfall slightly northwest of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia at 2100UTC later on September2 as a tropical storm with winds of 70mph (110km/h).[1][3] After quickly passing over Nova Scotia, the weakening tropical storm transitioned into an extratropical storm over the Bay of Fundy at 0000UTC on September3.[2] At the same time, the cyclone made a second landfall on New Brunswick as a slightly weaker storm with winds of 65mph (105km/h). The extratropical system progressed over the Gulf of Saint Lawrence before it was absorbed by a larger extratropical storm at 1800UTC later that day in Quebec just north of Anticosti Island.[1][3]
On September1, the Venezuelan tankerAcosta relayed an SOS signal while near the hurricane 200mi (320km) southeast of the Frying Pan Shoals. United States Coast Guard stations in Norfolk, Virginia and Morehead City, North Carolina dispatched cutters to aid the ship.[8] Off of the East Coast, an offshoot of the hurricane resulted in the drownings of two people.[13] In the Mid-Atlantic states, the passing hurricane's outflow interacted with a cold front that had become quasi-stationary over the area. The cyclone's flow pattern enhanced the moisture environment over the region, resulting in locally heavy rainfall, particularly in New Jersey, where precipitation peaked at 24in (610mm) in Ewan in a nine-hour period on September1.[14] This made the hurricane the wettest tropical cyclone in state history.[15] Most of the rain was in western portions of the state, however, with minimal rainfall at the coast.[14] The floods caused small rivers to overflow, breaching dams.[14] An overflowed creek inundated parts of Lumberton Township, rendering 2,000people homeless. Rail service between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and areas of southern New Jersey was suspended as a result of washed out tracks.[9] Resulting damage to infrastructure totaled $4,000,000in the southwestern quarter of New Jersey alone. Damage to roads in Burlington County amounted to $2,500,000.[16] In Camden County, damage was estimated at $1million.[13] Four fatalities were reported as a result of the floods.[17] In Delaware, rainfall was comparatively less.[14] However, rough seas generated by the hurricane offshore caused $50,000in damages and one death.[9] Further north, strong gusts were reported across New England. Winds of 60mph (97km/h) were recorded by a weather station in Nantucket. Peak winds in Massachusetts were estimated at 65mph (105km/h). In Eastport, Maine, winds of 45mph (72km/h) were reported.[1]
After the storm, New Jersey state health department investigators from Trenton were dispatched to study the possibility for an increase in typhoid fever in flooded areas.[18] In Woodbury, where the city pumping station was flooded, water was rationed. Gas service was also limited in Woodbury, Pedricktown, Penns Grove. As a result of a gas plant becoming inundated in Glassboro, electricity was rationalized in Hammonton, forcing residents to eat uncooked food. Police were forced to transport residents of Mount Holly to work via boat due to the high floodwaters.[13]
Despite making two separate landfalls in Atlantic Canada on September2 and September3, the hurricane caused minimal damage. Effects in Nova Scotia were limited to boating incidents. In Lake Milo, near Yarmouth, six yachts capsized due to the strong winds. In New Brunswick, damage was also minimal. A car accident associated with the storm injured a man near Barnesville.[19]
Atlantic Oceanography and Meteorological Laboratory's Hurricane Research Division. "The Atlantic Hurricane Database Re-analysis Project". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 2, 2013.
"Carolina Awaits Severe Hurricane". The Palm Beach Post. Manteo, North Carolina. Associated Press. September 1, 1940. p.1. Retrieved August 31, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
"New Jersey Fights To Prevent Disease". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Camden, New Jersey. Associated Press. September 2, 1940. p.1. Retrieved May 5, 2013.