NHC AL061938 · Atlantic basin
Unnamed Hurricane of 1938 — the New England Hurricane
September 9, 1938 – September 23, 1938
Data: NOAA NHC HURDAT2 and NOAA SPC tornado and hail reports, through 2025 · Updated
Hurricane Unnamed 1938 storm peaked at Category 5 with 161 mph sustained winds and passed within 75 miles of 1,094 US cities, 967 of them while still at hurricane strength.
The New England Hurricane in the record
HURDAT2 tracks the New England Hurricane of 1938 for 14 days, from September 9, 1938 to September 23, 1938. Its first position, at 12.8°N 19.4°W, records it as a tropical depression; its last, at 45.0°N 77.0°W, as an extratropical cyclone. It reached tropical-storm strength on September 10, hurricane strength on September 15 and major-hurricane strength on September 16. Its peak was 161 mph (140 knots), Category 5, on September 19, and its lowest central pressure was 940 millibars on September 21. It spent about 7 days at hurricane strength. HURDAT2 marks 2 landfalls within 50 miles of a US city on this site; they were on September 21 at 121 mph (Category 3), 5 miles from Mastic Beach, NY; on September 21 at 115 mph (Category 3), 2 miles from New Haven, CT. Its centre passed within 75 miles of 1,094 US cities, in 7 states, most in New York (440) and New Jersey (194). The strongest pass was 121 mph (Category 3) 7 miles from Blue Point, NY; the centre came closest to Bristol, CT, less than a mile away. 967 of the cities had it at hurricane strength at the closest point, 572 at major-hurricane strength. It reached more US cities than 89% of the 737 storms on this site, and more than any other storm of 1938 on this site.
HURDAT2 lists this storm as AL061938 without a name; "New England Hurricane of 1938" is the name the National Hurricane Center uses on its Hurricanes in History page.
- Peak strength
- Category 5
- Cities within 75 mi
- 1,094
- At hurricane strength
- 967
- States
- 7
161 mph
when closest
Cities Unnamed 1938 storm passed near, strongest first
New York (440)
- Blue PointCategory 3 · 7 mi
- BayportCategory 3 · 8 mi
- SayvilleCategory 3 · 9 mi
- West SayvilleCategory 3 · 11 mi
- OakdaleCategory 3 · 12 mi
- East IslipCategory 3 · 15 mi
- Islip TerraceCategory 3 · 15 mi
- IslipCategory 3 · 16 mi
- Bay ShoreCategory 3 · 19 mi
- BrightwatersCategory 3 · 19 mi
- West IslipCategory 3 · 21 mi
- North BabylonCategory 3 · 22 mi
- BabylonCategory 3 · 22 mi
- West BabylonCategory 3 · 24 mi
- LindenhurstCategory 3 · 25 mi
- CopiagueCategory 3 · 26 mi
- AmityvilleCategory 3 · 27 mi
- FarmingdaleCategory 3 · 28 mi
- Massapequa ParkCategory 3 · 29 mi
- MassapequaCategory 3 · 30 mi
- BethpageCategory 3 · 31 mi
- SeafordCategory 3 · 31 mi
- WantaghCategory 3 · 32 mi
- LevittownCategory 3 · 32 mi
- BellmoreCategory 3 · 33 mi
- East MeadowCategory 3 · 34 mi
- MerrickCategory 3 · 34 mi
- WestburyCategory 3 · 35 mi
- RooseveltCategory 3 · 36 mi
- FreeportCategory 3 · 36 mi
- UniondaleCategory 3 · 36 mi
- BaldwinCategory 3 · 37 mi
- Carle PlaceCategory 3 · 37 mi
- HempsteadCategory 3 · 38 mi
- Rockville CentreCategory 3 · 39 mi
- MineolaCategory 3 · 39 mi
- OceansideCategory 3 · 39 mi
- Garden CityCategory 3 · 39 mi
- Williston ParkCategory 3 · 39 mi
- West HempsteadCategory 3 · 39 mi
- Island ParkCategory 3 · 40 mi
- Long BeachCategory 3 · 40 mi
- East RockawayCategory 3 · 40 mi
- MalverneCategory 3 · 41 mi
- LynbrookCategory 3 · 41 mi
- Franklin SquareCategory 3 · 41 mi
- New Hyde ParkCategory 3 · 41 mi
- HewlettCategory 3 · 42 mi
- ElmontCategory 3 · 42 mi
- Floral ParkCategory 3 · 42 mi
- Valley StreamCategory 3 · 42 mi
- Glen OaksCategory 3 · 42 mi
- WoodmereCategory 3 · 43 mi
- BelleroseCategory 3 · 43 mi
- CedarhurstCategory 3 · 43 mi
- Little NeckCategory 3 · 44 mi
- LawrenceCategory 3 · 44 mi
- Cambria HeightsCategory 3 · 44 mi
- RosedaleCategory 3 · 44 mi
- Queens VillageCategory 3 · 44 mi
and 380 more
New Jersey (194)
- Monmouth BeachCategory 3 · 57 mi
- HighlandsCategory 3 · 57 mi
- Long BranchCategory 3 · 57 mi
- RumsonCategory 3 · 58 mi
- Ocean GroveCategory 3 · 58 mi
- OceanportCategory 3 · 59 mi
- Bradley BeachCategory 3 · 59 mi
- West Long BranchCategory 3 · 59 mi
- OakhurstCategory 3 · 59 mi
- HobokenCategory 3 · 59 mi
- OceanCategory 3 · 60 mi
- Atlantic HighlandsCategory 3 · 60 mi
- Fair HavenCategory 3 · 60 mi
- Spring LakeCategory 3 · 60 mi
- Little SilverCategory 3 · 60 mi
- Sea GirtCategory 3 · 60 mi
- Wall TownshipCategory 3 · 61 mi
- NeptuneCategory 3 · 61 mi
- Jersey CityCategory 3 · 61 mi
- LeonardoCategory 3 · 61 mi
- ManasquanCategory 3 · 61 mi
- ShrewsburyCategory 3 · 61 mi
- Point Pleasant BoroCategory 3 · 61 mi
- BrielleCategory 3 · 61 mi
- EatontownCategory 3 · 62 mi
- LavalletteCategory 3 · 62 mi
- Red BankCategory 3 · 62 mi
- Seaside HeightsCategory 3 · 62 mi
- BelfordCategory 3 · 62 mi
- Seaside ParkCategory 3 · 62 mi
- Port MonmouthCategory 3 · 63 mi
- BayonneCategory 3 · 64 mi
- MiddletownCategory 3 · 64 mi
- LincroftCategory 3 · 64 mi
- BrickCategory 3 · 64 mi
- KeansburgCategory 3 · 65 mi
- HarrisonCategory 3 · 66 mi
- FarmingdaleCategory 3 · 66 mi
- BayvilleCategory 3 · 67 mi
- HolmdelCategory 3 · 67 mi
- Lanoka HarborCategory 3 · 67 mi
- Pine BeachCategory 3 · 67 mi
- HazletCategory 3 · 67 mi
- NewarkCategory 3 · 67 mi
- Colts NeckCategory 3 · 68 mi
- KeyportCategory 3 · 68 mi
- ElizabethCategory 3 · 69 mi
- BeachwoodCategory 3 · 69 mi
- Toms RiverCategory 3 · 69 mi
- HowellCategory 3 · 69 mi
- LakewoodCategory 3 · 69 mi
- Ship BottomCategory 3 · 69 mi
- HillsideCategory 3 · 70 mi
- Forked RiverCategory 3 · 70 mi
- IrvingtonCategory 3 · 70 mi
- CarteretCategory 3 · 70 mi
- WaretownCategory 3 · 70 mi
- CliffwoodCategory 3 · 70 mi
- MatawanCategory 3 · 70 mi
- Port ReadingCategory 3 · 71 mi
and 134 more
Connecticut (186)
- NorwalkCategory 3 · 27 mi
- DarienCategory 3 · 30 mi
- StamfordCategory 3 · 33 mi
- Old GreenwichCategory 3 · 35 mi
- RiversideCategory 3 · 36 mi
- Cos CobCategory 3 · 36 mi
- GreenwichCategory 3 · 39 mi
- MilfordCategory 3 · 8 mi
- StratfordCategory 3 · 12 mi
- BridgeportCategory 3 · 16 mi
- FairfieldCategory 3 · 19 mi
- SouthportCategory 3 · 20 mi
- WestportCategory 3 · 24 mi
- WestonCategory 3 · 25 mi
- WiltonCategory 3 · 28 mi
- New CanaanCategory 3 · 31 mi
- New HavenCategory 3 · 1 mi
- East HavenCategory 3 · 1 mi
- West HavenCategory 3 · 3 mi
- BranfordCategory 3 · 5 mi
- OrangeCategory 3 · 7 mi
- North BranfordCategory 3 · 7 mi
- GuilfordCategory 3 · 11 mi
- SheltonCategory 3 · 12 mi
- MadisonCategory 3 · 15 mi
- TrumbullCategory 3 · 16 mi
- ClintonCategory 3 · 19 mi
- EastonCategory 3 · 20 mi
- WestbrookCategory 3 · 23 mi
- IvorytonCategory 3 · 24 mi
- EssexCategory 3 · 26 mi
- Old SaybrookCategory 3 · 27 mi
- Old LymeCategory 3 · 31 mi
- NianticCategory 3 · 36 mi
- WaterfordCategory 3 · 39 mi
- New LondonCategory 3 · 41 mi
- GrotonCategory 3 · 44 mi
- MysticCategory 3 · 48 mi
- StoningtonCategory 3 · 51 mi
- PawcatuckCategory 3 · 55 mi
- HamdenCategory 3 · overhead
- North HavenCategory 3 · 3 mi
- WoodbridgeCategory 3 · 6 mi
- AnsoniaCategory 3 · 9 mi
- DerbyCategory 3 · 9 mi
- MonroeCategory 3 · 17 mi
- KillingworthCategory 3 · 17 mi
- Deep RiverCategory 3 · 24 mi
- ReddingCategory 3 · 26 mi
- RidgefieldCategory 3 · 31 mi
- East LymeCategory 3 · 35 mi
- Quaker HillCategory 3 · 41 mi
- BethanyCategory 3 · 5 mi
- NorthfordCategory 3 · 7 mi
- SeymourCategory 3 · 9 mi
- Sandy HookCategory 3 · 18 mi
- NewtownCategory 3 · 21 mi
- HaddamCategory 3 · 21 mi
- ChesterCategory 3 · 23 mi
- BethelCategory 3 · 26 mi
and 126 more
Rhode Island (25)
- WesterlyCategory 3 · 57 mi
- CharlestownCategory 3 · 64 mi
- AshawayCategory 3 · 58 mi
- BradfordCategory 3 · 60 mi
- WakefieldCategory 3 · 72 mi
- NarragansettCategory 3 · 75 mi
- West KingstonCategory 3 · 69 mi
- KingstonCategory 3 · 72 mi
- Hope ValleyCategory 3 · 62 mi
- ExeterCategory 3 · 68 mi
- West GreenwichCategory 2 · 65 mi
- GreeneCategory 2 · 61 mi
- CoventryCategory 2 · 70 mi
- West WarwickCategory 2 · 73 mi
- HopeCategory 2 · 70 mi
- FosterCategory 2 · 63 mi
- North ScituateCategory 2 · 68 mi
- GreenvilleCategory 2 · 72 mi
- JohnstonCategory 2 · 75 mi
- ChepachetCategory 2 · 64 mi
- SmithfieldCategory 2 · 74 mi
- PascoagCategory 2 · 64 mi
- HarrisvilleCategory 2 · 67 mi
- North SmithfieldCategory 2 · 72 mi
- WoonsocketCategory 2 · 75 mi
Massachusetts (126)
- BlackstoneCategory 2 · 74 mi
- DudleyCategory 2 · 54 mi
- WebsterCategory 2 · 57 mi
- DouglasCategory 2 · 64 mi
- UxbridgeCategory 2 · 69 mi
- MillvilleCategory 2 · 71 mi
- SouthwickCategory 2 · 10 mi
- Feeding HillsCategory 2 · 15 mi
- AgawamCategory 2 · 18 mi
- LongmeadowCategory 2 · 21 mi
- East LongmeadowCategory 2 · 24 mi
- HampdenCategory 2 · 28 mi
- MonsonCategory 2 · 34 mi
- HollandCategory 2 · 41 mi
- SturbridgeCategory 2 · 46 mi
- SouthbridgeCategory 2 · 48 mi
- OxfordCategory 2 · 57 mi
- WhitinsvilleCategory 2 · 67 mi
- MendonCategory 2 · 73 mi
- HopedaleCategory 2 · 74 mi
- GranvilleCategory 2 · 2 mi
- West SpringfieldCategory 2 · 17 mi
- SpringfieldCategory 2 · 22 mi
- WilbrahamCategory 2 · 28 mi
- BrimfieldCategory 2 · 40 mi
- FiskdaleCategory 2 · 44 mi
- CharltonCategory 2 · 52 mi
- SuttonCategory 2 · 63 mi
- South GraftonCategory 2 · 66 mi
- NorthbridgeCategory 2 · 68 mi
- UptonCategory 2 · 70 mi
- MilfordCategory 2 · 75 mi
- WestfieldCategory 2 · 12 mi
- SheffieldCategory 2 · 20 mi
- ChicopeeCategory 2 · 20 mi
- LudlowCategory 2 · 26 mi
- Three RiversCategory 2 · 32 mi
- PalmerCategory 2 · 34 mi
- WarrenCategory 2 · 40 mi
- BrookfieldCategory 2 · 45 mi
- East BrookfieldCategory 2 · 48 mi
- RochdaleCategory 2 · 55 mi
- AuburnCategory 2 · 59 mi
- MillburyCategory 2 · 62 mi
- North GraftonCategory 2 · 65 mi
- GraftonCategory 2 · 66 mi
- HopkintonCategory 2 · 74 mi
- SouthamptonCategory 2 · 13 mi
- HolyokeCategory 2 · 18 mi
- Great BarringtonCategory 2 · 19 mi
- South HadleyCategory 2 · 21 mi
- West BrookfieldCategory 2 · 42 mi
- SpencerCategory 2 · 51 mi
- LeicesterCategory 2 · 55 mi
- Cherry ValleyCategory 2 · 57 mi
- WorcesterCategory 2 · 61 mi
- WestboroughCategory 2 · 70 mi
- EasthamptonCategory 1 · 16 mi
- GranbyCategory 1 · 24 mi
- BelchertownCategory 1 · 30 mi
and 66 more
New Hampshire (48)
- MasonCategory 1 · 64 mi
- BrooklineCategory 1 · 69 mi
- HollisCategory 1 · 74 mi
- WinchesterCategory 1 · 35 mi
- FitzwilliamCategory 1 · 45 mi
- RindgeCategory 1 · 52 mi
- New IpswichCategory 1 · 59 mi
- HinsdaleCategory 1 · 28 mi
- TroyCategory 1 · 44 mi
- JaffreyCategory 1 · 51 mi
- WiltonCategory 1 · 64 mi
- MilfordCategory 1 · 70 mi
- AmherstCategory 1 · 73 mi
- SwanzeyCategory 1 · 38 mi
- PeterboroughCategory 1 · 56 mi
- Mont VernonCategory 1 · 69 mi
- MarlboroughCategory 1 · 45 mi
- WestmorelandCategory 1 · 32 mi
- KeeneCategory 1 · 39 mi
- New BostonCategory 1 · 69 mi
- AntrimCategory 1 · 56 mi
- WalpoleCategory 1 · 33 mi
- WeareCategory 1 · 68 mi
- DunbartonCategory 1 · 74 mi
- LangdonCategory 1 · 38 mi
- HillsboroCategory 1 · 58 mi
- HennikerCategory 1 · 63 mi
- HopkintonCategory 1 · 69 mi
- CharlestownCategory 1 · 35 mi
- BradfordCategory 1 · 57 mi
- BoscawenCategory 1 · 73 mi
- WarnerTropical storm · 63 mi
- NewportTropical storm · 46 mi
- ClaremontTropical storm · 38 mi
- SunapeeTropical storm · 50 mi
- New LondonTropical storm · 55 mi
- FranklinTropical storm · 72 mi
- West LebanonTropical storm · 43 mi
- LebanonTropical storm · 46 mi
- GranthamTropical storm · 49 mi
- EnfieldTropical storm · 51 mi
- CanaanTropical storm · 57 mi
- AndoverTropical storm · 66 mi
- BristolTropical storm · 69 mi
- New HamptonTropical storm · 74 mi
- HanoverTropical storm · 47 mi
- RumneyTropical storm · 67 mi
- WoodsvilleTropical storm · 69 mi
Vermont (75)
- VernonCategory 1 · 26 mi
- PownalCategory 1 · 9 mi
- BrattleboroCategory 1 · 21 mi
- BenningtonCategory 1 · 7 mi
- WilmingtonCategory 1 · 9 mi
- North BenningtonCategory 1 · 10 mi
- PutneyCategory 1 · 28 mi
- ArlingtonCategory 1 · 5 mi
- Bellows FallsCategory 1 · 30 mi
- Manchester CenterCategory 1 · 1 mi
- ChesterTropical storm · 24 mi
- SpringfieldTropical storm · 31 mi
- WallingfordTropical storm · 6 mi
- LudlowTropical storm · 20 mi
- WindsorTropical storm · 34 mi
- HartlandTropical storm · 37 mi
- CastletonTropical storm · 2 mi
- PoultneyTropical storm · 3 mi
- West RutlandTropical storm · 7 mi
- North ClarendonTropical storm · 10 mi
- RutlandTropical storm · 11 mi
- WoodstockTropical storm · 32 mi
- White River JunctionTropical storm · 40 mi
- NorwichTropical storm · 46 mi
- Fair HavenTropical storm · 3 mi
- BrandonTropical storm · 9 mi
- PittsfordTropical storm · 12 mi
- BethelTropical storm · 30 mi
- South RoyaltonTropical storm · 36 mi
- BradfordTropical storm · 57 mi
- RandolphTropical storm · 32 mi
- WilliamstownTropical storm · 41 mi
- VergennesTropical storm · 7 mi
- MiddleburyTropical storm · 10 mi
- BristolTropical storm · 18 mi
- WaitsfieldTropical storm · 29 mi
- NorthfieldTropical storm · 36 mi
- MontpelierTropical storm · 42 mi
- BarreTropical storm · 45 mi
- PlainfieldTropical storm · 51 mi
- St JohnsburyTropical storm · 73 mi
- CharlotteTropical storm · 13 mi
- HinesburgTropical storm · 20 mi
- WaterburyTropical storm · 36 mi
- Waterbury CenterTropical storm · 39 mi
- HardwickTropical storm · 58 mi
- DanvilleTropical storm · 67 mi
- LyndonvilleTropical storm · 74 mi
- ShelburneTropical storm · 15 mi
- BurlingtonTropical storm · 17 mi
- South BurlingtonTropical storm · 19 mi
- WillistonTropical storm · 22 mi
- Essex JunctionTropical storm · 24 mi
- RichmondTropical storm · 28 mi
- JerichoTropical storm · 29 mi
- UnderhillTropical storm · 32 mi
- StoweTropical storm · 41 mi
- MorrisvilleTropical storm · 48 mi
- Hyde ParkTropical storm · 49 mi
- WolcottTropical storm · 54 mi
and 15 more
Other storms of the 1938 season
- Unnamed (AL021938)Tropical storm · 76 cities
- Unnamed (AL031938)Category 2 · 86 cities
- Unnamed (AL071938)Tropical storm · 75 cities
About this record
The track is the National Hurricane Center's best-track record, revised after the season with every observation available. Strength at a city is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, not the wind that city measured.