1821 Norfolk and Long Island hurricane

Norfolk and Long Island Hurricane
Category 4 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS)

Estimated track of the hurricane
Formed September 1, 1821 (1821-09)
Dissipated September 4, 1821 (1821-09-05)
Highest winds 1-minute sustained: 135 mph (215 km/h)
Lowest pressure < 995 mbar (hPa); 29.38 inHg
(≤965 mbar estimated[1])
Fatalities ≥22 direct
Damage $200,000 (1821 USD)
Areas affected North Carolina, Mid-Atlantic States, New England
Part of the 1821 Atlantic hurricane season

The 1821 Norfolk and Long Island Hurricane was one of four known tropical cyclones that have made landfall in New York City. Another, even more intense hurricane in pre-Columbian times (sometime between 1278 and 1438) left evidence that was detected in southern New Jersey by paleotempestological research.[2] The third was the 1893 New York hurricane, and the fourth was Hurricane Irene in 2011.

The first of three recorded tropical cyclones recorded in the 1821 Atlantic hurricane season, the storm that would eventually strike New York was first observed off the southeast United States coast on September 1, with winds estimated in excess of 135 mph (215 km/h). It moved ashore near Wilmington, North Carolina, and passed near Norfolk, Virginia before moving through the Delmarva Peninsula and New Jersey just inland. On September 3, the hurricane struck approximately near Jamaica Bay, which later became part of New York City, and on September 4 it was observed over New England. This was just 6 years after the destructive Great September Gale of 1815.

Meteorological history

A tropical cyclone was first observed on September 1 off the southeast coast of the United States. Initially, it was believed to be the same storm that struck Guadeloupe on the same day, though subsequent research indicated there were two separate storms.[3] The hurricane tracked by the Bahamas while tracking generally northward, and it attained major hurricane status over the western Atlantic Ocean. As it approached the United States coastline, the hurricane was very intense, with winds estimated at over 135 mph (215 km/h) and potentially as strong as 160 mph (260 km/h), or a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale.[4] Late on September 2, the hurricane made landfall near Wilmington, North Carolina and later turned to the northeast to cross the Pamlico Sound.[5]

The hurricane accelerated northeastward, and passed over the Hampton Roads area early on September 3. After crossing the Chesapeake Bay, the cyclone traversed the Delmarva Peninsula near the Atlantic coastline,[5] and at around 1500 UTC the eye passed directly over Cape Henlopen, Delaware; a thirty-minute period of calm was reported. It continued across the Delaware Bay and later passed over Cape May, New Jersey, where a fifteen-minute calm was reported.[6] Modern researchers estimate it was a Category 3 or Category 4 hurricane upon striking New Jersey, one of the few hurricanes to hit the state.[7][8] Moving ashore at very low tide,[2] it paralleled the state's coastline just inland, and after exiting into Lower New York Bay the hurricane made landfall on New York City at around 1930 UTC on September 3; this makes it the only major hurricane to directly hit the city.[1] A minimal hurricane in 1893 also made landfall on what later became part of New York City.[9] One modern researcher estimates the hurricane was moving at a forward speed of 35 mph (55 km/h), and upon moving ashore had a pressure of 965 mbar.[1] The hurricane continued northeastward through New England, and after entering Massachusetts on September 4 its exact path was unknown;[10] one researcher estimated the cyclone tracked northeastward until losing its identity over southeastern Maine,[5] while another assessed the storm as passing far to the west of Maine.[11]

Based on the arrangement of effects in New England, meteorologist William C. Redfield deduced that the wind field and center of tropical cyclones are circular; previously the winds were believed to be in a straight line.[11]

Impact

The continuous cataracts of rain swept impetuously along, darkening the expanse of vision and apparently confounding the heaven, earth and seas in a general chaos

The Norfolk Herald[5]

In North Carolina, a powerful storm surge flooded large portions of Portsmouth Island; residents estimated the island would have been completely under water had the worst of the storm lasted for two more hours. Strong winds occurred across eastern North Carolina, resulting in at least 76 destroyed houses. Numerous people were killed in Currituck.[6]

The strongest winds of the hurricane lasted for about an hour in southeastern Virginia, after which the storm rapidly abated. Several houses were completely destroyed, with many others receiving moderate to severe damage. The winds destroyed most of the roof of the courthouse, and uprooted trees across the region; fallen tree limbs damaged a stone bridge in Norfolk. The hurricane produced a strong storm surge along the Virginia coastline, which reached 10 feet (3 m) at Pungoteague on the Delmarva Peninsula. The storm surge, which reached several hundred yards inland, destroyed two bridges and flooded many warehouses along the Elizabeth River. Rough waves grounded the USS Guerriere and the USS Congress, and also destroyed several schooners and brigs. Along the eastern shore, the storm surge flooded barrier islands along the Atlantic coastline, causing severe crop damage and downing many trees. Several houses were destroyed, and at Pungoteague the impact of the hurricane was described as "unexampled destruction"; five people drowned in Chincoteague. Considered one of the most violent hurricanes on record in the Mid-Atlantic, the hurricane caused $200,000 in damage in Virginia (1821 USD, $3.1 million 2007 USD).[5]

Gale force winds affected the Delmarva Peninsula; on Poplar Island in Talbot County, Maryland, winds peaked at 1600 UTC on September 3.[6] The strongest winds were confined to the Atlantic coastline, with outer rainbands producing heavy rainfall in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland.[12] Fierce winds were observed in Cape Henlopen, Delaware, with the strongest gales occurring after the eye passed over the area.[6]

Upon making landfall on Cape May, New Jersey, the cyclone produced a 5 foot (1.5 m) storm surge on the Delaware Bay side of the city.[12] Lasting for several hours, the hurricane force winds were described as "[blowing] with great violence",[6] causing widespread devastation across the region. In Little Egg Harbor, its passage caused damage to the port. Strong winds reached as far inland as Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where winds of over 40 mph (60 km/h) downed trees and chimneys; in the city, precipitation accrued to 3.92 inches (99.6 mm). Further to the north, the hurricane destroyed a windmill at Bergen Point, New Jersey.[12] Though the hurricane struck at low tide, it produced a storm surge of over 29 feet (9 m) along several portions of the New Jersey coastline, causing significant overwash.[2]

The hurricane produced a storm surge of 13 feet (4 m) in only one hour at Battery Park, a record only broken 191 years later by Hurricane Sandy. Manhattan Island was completely flooded to Canal Street; one hurricane researcher remarked that the storm surge flooding would have been much worse, had the hurricane not struck at low tide.[13] However, few deaths were reported in the city, since the flooding affected neighborhoods much less populated than today.[14] The hurricane brought light rainfall as it passed New York City, though strong winds left severe damage across the city. High tides occurred along the Hudson River. Strong waves and winds blew many ships ashore along Long Island. One ship sank, killing 17 people. Along Long Island, the winds destroyed several buildings and left crops destroyed.[12]

In New England, the hurricane produced widespread gale force winds, with damage greatest in Connecticut.[10] The Black Rock Harbor Light in Black Rock, Connecticut, was destroyed on September 21.[15][12] Elsewhere in the state, the winds damaged or destroyed churches, houses and small buildings. Moderate crop damage to fruit was reported as well. Strong winds extended into eastern Massachusetts, though little damage was reported in the Boston area.[10]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 F.P. Ho. "The Norfolk and Long Island Hurricane - Sept. 3-4 - Pt. 2" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-07-02.
  2. 1 2 3 Donnelly, Jeffrey P.; et al. (2001). "Sedimentary evidence of intense hurricane strikes from New Jersey". Geology 29 (7): 615–618. Bibcode:2001Geo....29..615D. doi:10.1130/0091-7613(2001)029<0615:SEOIHS>2.0.CO;2.
  3. ↑ Chenoweth (2006). "A Reassessment of Historical Atlantic Basin Tropical Cyclone Activity, 1700-1855" (PDF). NOAA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-02.
  4. ↑ Bossak (2003). "Early 19th Century U.S. Hurricanes: A GIS Tool and Climate Analysis". Florida State University. Retrieved 2007-07-02.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 David Roth & Hugh Cobb (2001). "Early Nineteenth Century Virginia Hurricanes". Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. Archived from the original on 29 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-03.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 David Ludlum. "The Norfolk and Long Island Hurricane - Sept. 3-4 - Pt. 1" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-07-04.
  7. ↑ Alexander Lane (2005). "What if it happened here?". New Jersey Star Ledger. Retrieved 2007-07-04.
  8. ↑ Protectingnewjersey.org (2006). "New Jersey: Exposed and Unprepared". Retrieved 2007-07-04.
  9. ↑ Hurricane Research Division (2006). "Continental U.S. hurricanes: 1851-1914" (TXT). NOAA. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  10. 1 2 3 David Ludlum. "The Norfolk and Long Island Hurricane - Sept. 3-4 - Pt. 3" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-07-04.
  11. 1 2 Cotterly (1999). "1821 New England Hurricane" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-07-04.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 David Ludlum. "The Norfolk and Long Island Hurricane - Sept. 3-4 - Pt. 2" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-07-07.
  13. ↑ Aaron Naparstek (2005-07-20). "The Big One for New York City". The New York Press. Archived from the original on 30 December 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  14. ↑ New York City Office of Emergency Management. "Early New York Hurricanes". Archived from the original on 17 December 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  15. ↑ D'Entremont, Jeremy. The Lighthouses of Connecticut. Commonwealth Editions. pp. 49–53.
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