Friday, August 26, 2011

A Look Back at Past Notable New Jersey Hurricanes

1903 New Jersey Hurricane

The last time a hurricane made a direct landfall in New Jersey was the 1903 New Jersey Hurricane.  The storm came ashore somewhere near Atlantic City and heavily damaged piers and beach structures.  The storm was a Category 1.  Sustained hurricane force winds occurred over portions of South Jersey.



1936 Hurricane Thirteen

1936 Hurricane Thirteen threatened to be the worst hurricane in over 400 years of Mid-Atlantic history . . . But turned away just in time.  The large and raging storm passed by the New Jersey Coast as a Category 2.  The bridge between Atlantic City and Brigantine was destroyed, marooning the city island of Brigantine for months.

Disaster Averted.  The very large and powerful 1936 hurricane turned before striking near New Jersey



1944 Great Atlantic Hurricane

The 1944 Great Atlantic Hurricane was one of the largest and most powerful hurricanes ever in Atlantic hurricane history.  The storm tore through the Outer Banks and was remembered as the worst 20th century hurricane 
there. 

Damage in Atlantic City from the 1944 Hurricane


The storm demolished the New Jersey coastline and was the state’s worst 20th century hurricane.  100mph sustained winds were recorded.  A giant storm surge that was described as a tidal wave wreaked havoc from Asbury Park through Cape May, ripping up entire boardwalks and flooding streets.  The Heinz Pier in Atlantic City was ripped in half when a flailing ship crashed through it.  Long Beach Island was over washed in Harvey Cedars and Holgate.


The ocean over washed Long Beach Island


1960 Hurricane Donna

1960 Hurricane Donna was the only hurricane in history to cause hurricane force winds in every East Coast state from Maine to Florida.  That’s Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine.  Incredible.  As such, Donna was one of New Jersey’s worst hurricanes in history as it steamed by, just off the coast as a Category 2.  Immense tidal flooding inundated Raritan Bay, and the Atlantic beaches were washed out.  Large chunks of earth that remain missing from the bluffs in Long Branch are a testament to Donna’s fury.
 





Hurricane Donna was the longest lived major hurricane on record

1976 Hurricane Belle

Hurricane Belle was a formidable storm as it passed the coast as a Category 1.  The hurricane came ashore in Long Island and was quickly downgraded to a tropical storm.  Bay flooding was notable with Belle.  Beaches were eroded.  The highest wind gust in the state was 90mph but average winds were closer to 50-60mph.
 


1985 Hurricane Gloria

Many refer to Gloria as the ‘storm before the calm’.  Hectic evacuations, traffic jams and loss of business, in many ways, caused a greater impact than the storm itself.  With the storm passing at low tide conditions were also less than expected.  The storm was still quite formidable though, and caused beach erosion, giant surf, flooding, as well as property damage.  The storm's greatest impact was felt in eastern Long Island where it came ashore.  Our upcoming event is the most significant tropical cyclone threat since Gloria.