NHC AL071944 · Atlantic basin
Unnamed Hurricane of 1944 — the Great Atlantic Hurricane
September 9, 1944 – September 16, 1944
Data: NOAA NHC HURDAT2 and NOAA SPC tornado and hail reports, through 2025 · Updated
Hurricane Unnamed 1944 storm peaked at Category 5 with 161 mph sustained winds and passed within 75 miles of 1,140 US cities, 918 of them while still at hurricane strength.
The Great Atlantic Hurricane in the record
HURDAT2 tracks the Great Atlantic Hurricane of 1944 for 7 days, from September 9, 1944 to September 16, 1944. Its first position, at 20.8°N 58.5°W, records it as a tropical storm; its last, at 52.0°N 47.0°W, as an extratropical cyclone. Its peak was 161 mph (140 knots), Category 5, on September 13, and its lowest central pressure was 918 millibars on September 13. It spent about 5 days at hurricane strength. HURDAT2 marks 2 landfalls within 50 miles of a US city on this site; they were on September 15 at 104 mph (Category 2), 7 miles from East Hampton, NY; on September 15 at 98 mph (Category 2), 4 miles from Charlestown, RI. Its centre passed within 75 miles of 1,140 US cities, in 11 states, most in Massachusetts (311) and New York (217), between September 14 and September 15. The strongest pass was 121 mph (Category 3) 73 miles from Beaufort, NC; the centre came closest to Warren, RI, less than a mile away. 918 of the cities had it at hurricane strength at the closest point, 36 at major-hurricane strength. It reached more US cities than 90% of the 737 storms on this site, and more than any other storm of 1944 on this site.
HURDAT2 lists this storm as AL071944 without a name; "Great Atlantic Hurricane of 1944" is the name the National Hurricane Center uses on its Hurricanes in History page.
- Peak strength
- Category 5
- Cities within 75 mi
- 1,140
- At hurricane strength
- 918
- States
- 11
161 mph
when closest
Cities Unnamed 1944 storm passed near, strongest first
North Carolina (11)
- BeaufortCategory 3 · 73 mi
- ColumbiaCategory 3 · 65 mi
- Nags HeadCategory 3 · 33 mi
- ManteoCategory 3 · 36 mi
- Kill Devil HillsCategory 3 · 37 mi
- Kitty HawkCategory 3 · 42 mi
- GrandyCategory 3 · 51 mi
- CurrituckCategory 3 · 60 mi
- CamdenCategory 3 · 69 mi
- MoyockCategory 3 · 69 mi
- Elizabeth CityCategory 3 · 72 mi
Virginia (11)
- Virginia BeachCategory 3 · 72 mi
- PainterCategory 3 · 69 mi
- ExmoreCategory 3 · 70 mi
- Cape CharlesCategory 3 · 71 mi
- AccomacCategory 3 · 65 mi
- BloxomCategory 3 · 66 mi
- ParksleyCategory 3 · 66 mi
- MelfaCategory 3 · 67 mi
- OnancockCategory 3 · 70 mi
- ChincoteagueCategory 3 · 56 mi
- New ChurchCategory 3 · 65 mi
Maryland (7)
- Pocomoke CityCategory 3 · 68 mi
- BerlinCategory 3 · 58 mi
- Snow HillCategory 3 · 65 mi
- PittsvilleCategory 3 · 69 mi
- ParsonsburgCategory 3 · 71 mi
- Ocean CityCategory 3 · 53 mi
- BishopvilleCategory 3 · 60 mi
Delaware (10)
- Bethany BeachCategory 3 · 56 mi
- Ocean ViewCategory 3 · 59 mi
- MillvilleCategory 3 · 59 mi
- SelbyvilleCategory 3 · 59 mi
- FrankfordCategory 3 · 62 mi
- DagsboroCategory 3 · 65 mi
- MillsboroCategory 3 · 67 mi
- Rehoboth BeachCategory 2 · 63 mi
- LewesCategory 2 · 67 mi
- MiltonCategory 2 · 74 mi
New Jersey (143)
- Cape MayCategory 2 · 61 mi
- Sea Isle CityCategory 2 · 54 mi
- Ocean ViewCategory 2 · 56 mi
- WildwoodCategory 2 · 56 mi
- Cape May Court HouseCategory 2 · 59 mi
- Rio GrandeCategory 2 · 60 mi
- VillasCategory 2 · 63 mi
- LeesburgCategory 2 · 71 mi
- BrigantineCategory 2 · 45 mi
- Atlantic CityCategory 2 · 47 mi
- Ventnor CityCategory 2 · 49 mi
- Margate CityCategory 2 · 49 mi
- PleasantvilleCategory 2 · 52 mi
- Ocean CityCategory 2 · 52 mi
- NorthfieldCategory 2 · 53 mi
- AbseconCategory 2 · 53 mi
- GallowayCategory 2 · 53 mi
- LinwoodCategory 2 · 53 mi
- Somers PointCategory 2 · 54 mi
- MarmoraCategory 2 · 55 mi
- Egg Harbor TownshipCategory 2 · 56 mi
- PomonaCategory 2 · 56 mi
- WoodbineCategory 2 · 62 mi
- Mays LandingCategory 2 · 66 mi
- Ship BottomCategory 2 · 42 mi
- ManahawkinCategory 2 · 47 mi
- West CreekCategory 2 · 47 mi
- Little Egg Harbor TwpCategory 2 · 49 mi
- Egg Harbor CityCategory 2 · 61 mi
- HammontonCategory 2 · 70 mi
- SouthamptonCategory 2 · 73 mi
- Seaside ParkCategory 2 · 44 mi
- Seaside HeightsCategory 2 · 44 mi
- LavalletteCategory 2 · 45 mi
- Lanoka HarborCategory 2 · 46 mi
- BayvilleCategory 2 · 47 mi
- WaretownCategory 2 · 47 mi
- Forked RiverCategory 2 · 48 mi
- Pine BeachCategory 2 · 48 mi
- BarnegatCategory 2 · 49 mi
- BeachwoodCategory 2 · 50 mi
- Toms RiverCategory 2 · 51 mi
- LakehurstCategory 2 · 57 mi
- WhitingCategory 2 · 58 mi
- New EgyptCategory 2 · 67 mi
- Browns MillsCategory 2 · 68 mi
- Cream RidgeCategory 2 · 69 mi
- Jb MdlCategory 2 · 72 mi
- Fort DixCategory 2 · 72 mi
- WrightstownCategory 2 · 72 mi
- PembertonCategory 2 · 73 mi
- AllentownCategory 2 · 74 mi
- Point Pleasant BoroCategory 2 · 47 mi
- Sea GirtCategory 2 · 47 mi
- Spring LakeCategory 2 · 47 mi
- ManasquanCategory 2 · 48 mi
- BrielleCategory 2 · 48 mi
- Bradley BeachCategory 2 · 48 mi
- Ocean GroveCategory 2 · 48 mi
- Wall TownshipCategory 2 · 49 mi
and 83 more
New York (217)
- Water MillCategory 2 · 7 mi
- Sag HarborCategory 2 · 9 mi
- SouthamptonCategory 2 · 9 mi
- Hampton BaysCategory 2 · 12 mi
- Shelter IslandCategory 2 · 13 mi
- East QuogueCategory 2 · 14 mi
- Westhampton BeachCategory 2 · 15 mi
- SoutholdCategory 2 · 16 mi
- GreenportCategory 2 · 16 mi
- CutchogueCategory 2 · 16 mi
- WesthamptonCategory 2 · 17 mi
- MattituckCategory 2 · 18 mi
- EastportCategory 2 · 19 mi
- IslandiaCategory 2 · 19 mi
- East MorichesCategory 2 · 19 mi
- RiverheadCategory 2 · 20 mi
- Center MorichesCategory 2 · 21 mi
- Mastic BeachCategory 2 · 21 mi
- MorichesCategory 2 · 22 mi
- MasticCategory 2 · 23 mi
- ManorvilleCategory 2 · 23 mi
- ShirleyCategory 2 · 24 mi
- CalvertonCategory 2 · 24 mi
- BrookhavenCategory 2 · 25 mi
- BellportCategory 2 · 26 mi
- YaphankCategory 2 · 27 mi
- PatchogueCategory 2 · 28 mi
- RidgeCategory 2 · 28 mi
- Blue PointCategory 2 · 29 mi
- Wading RiverCategory 2 · 29 mi
- BayportCategory 2 · 29 mi
- MedfordCategory 2 · 29 mi
- SayvilleCategory 2 · 30 mi
- West SayvilleCategory 2 · 31 mi
- Middle IslandCategory 2 · 31 mi
- ShorehamCategory 2 · 31 mi
- HoltsvilleCategory 2 · 31 mi
- OakdaleCategory 2 · 32 mi
- FarmingvilleCategory 2 · 32 mi
- HolbrookCategory 2 · 32 mi
- Rocky PointCategory 2 · 33 mi
- BohemiaCategory 2 · 33 mi
- CoramCategory 2 · 33 mi
- SeldenCategory 2 · 34 mi
- East IslipCategory 2 · 34 mi
- Sound BeachCategory 2 · 35 mi
- Miller PlaceCategory 2 · 35 mi
- Islip TerraceCategory 2 · 35 mi
- RonkonkomaCategory 2 · 35 mi
- Mount SinaiCategory 2 · 35 mi
- CentereachCategory 2 · 35 mi
- IslipCategory 2 · 35 mi
- Port Jefferson StationCategory 2 · 36 mi
- Lake GroveCategory 2 · 36 mi
- Central IslipCategory 2 · 37 mi
- Bay ShoreCategory 2 · 37 mi
- NesconsetCategory 2 · 37 mi
- BrightwatersCategory 2 · 37 mi
- Port JeffersonCategory 2 · 38 mi
- West IslipCategory 2 · 38 mi
and 157 more
Connecticut (173)
- GuilfordCategory 2 · 38 mi
- BranfordCategory 2 · 41 mi
- North BranfordCategory 2 · 42 mi
- East HavenCategory 2 · 44 mi
- New HavenCategory 2 · 47 mi
- West HavenCategory 2 · 47 mi
- North HavenCategory 2 · 47 mi
- MilfordCategory 2 · 49 mi
- HamdenCategory 2 · 50 mi
- OrangeCategory 2 · 50 mi
- StratfordCategory 2 · 51 mi
- WoodbridgeCategory 2 · 52 mi
- BridgeportCategory 2 · 54 mi
- DerbyCategory 2 · 54 mi
- AnsoniaCategory 2 · 55 mi
- BethanyCategory 2 · 55 mi
- FairfieldCategory 2 · 55 mi
- SouthportCategory 2 · 55 mi
- SheltonCategory 2 · 55 mi
- SeymourCategory 2 · 57 mi
- TrumbullCategory 2 · 57 mi
- ProspectCategory 2 · 58 mi
- WestportCategory 2 · 58 mi
- Beacon FallsCategory 2 · 58 mi
- NorwalkCategory 2 · 60 mi
- EastonCategory 2 · 60 mi
- NaugatuckCategory 2 · 60 mi
- OxfordCategory 2 · 60 mi
- MonroeCategory 2 · 60 mi
- DarienCategory 2 · 61 mi
- WestonCategory 2 · 62 mi
- Old GreenwichCategory 2 · 62 mi
- StamfordCategory 2 · 63 mi
- RiversideCategory 2 · 63 mi
- WiltonCategory 2 · 64 mi
- New CanaanCategory 2 · 64 mi
- Cos CobCategory 2 · 64 mi
- MiddleburyCategory 2 · 64 mi
- Sandy HookCategory 2 · 65 mi
- GreenwichCategory 2 · 66 mi
- SouthburyCategory 2 · 66 mi
- ReddingCategory 2 · 66 mi
- NewtownCategory 2 · 67 mi
- WoodburyCategory 2 · 69 mi
- BethelCategory 2 · 70 mi
- RidgefieldCategory 2 · 70 mi
- BethlehemCategory 2 · 73 mi
- DanburyCategory 2 · 73 mi
- RoxburyCategory 2 · 73 mi
- BrookfieldCategory 2 · 73 mi
- Old SaybrookCategory 2 · 25 mi
- WestbrookCategory 2 · 28 mi
- ClintonCategory 2 · 31 mi
- MadisonCategory 2 · 34 mi
- KillingworthCategory 2 · 37 mi
- DurhamCategory 2 · 45 mi
- NorthfordCategory 2 · 45 mi
- MiddlefieldCategory 2 · 48 mi
- WallingfordCategory 2 · 50 mi
- MeridenCategory 2 · 52 mi
and 113 more
Massachusetts (311)
- SouthwickCategory 2 · 75 mi
- LongmeadowCategory 2 · 67 mi
- AgawamCategory 2 · 70 mi
- Feeding HillsCategory 2 · 72 mi
- West SpringfieldCategory 1 · 72 mi
- East LongmeadowCategory 1 · 65 mi
- SpringfieldCategory 1 · 68 mi
- HampdenCategory 1 · 61 mi
- ChicopeeCategory 1 · 72 mi
- MonsonCategory 1 · 58 mi
- WilbrahamCategory 1 · 64 mi
- LudlowCategory 1 · 68 mi
- South HadleyCategory 1 · 75 mi
- HollandCategory 1 · 50 mi
- BrimfieldCategory 1 · 55 mi
- PalmerCategory 1 · 62 mi
- Three RiversCategory 1 · 64 mi
- GranbyCategory 1 · 73 mi
- ChilmarkCategory 1 · 37 mi
- SouthbridgeCategory 1 · 46 mi
- SturbridgeCategory 1 · 49 mi
- FiskdaleCategory 1 · 51 mi
- BelchertownCategory 1 · 69 mi
- WestportCategory 1 · 13 mi
- DudleyCategory 1 · 40 mi
- WarrenCategory 1 · 58 mi
- WebsterCategory 1 · 37 mi
- West TisburyCategory 1 · 40 mi
- CharltonCategory 1 · 45 mi
- BrookfieldCategory 1 · 53 mi
- West BrookfieldCategory 1 · 58 mi
- WareCategory 1 · 63 mi
- SwanseaCategory 1 · 2 mi
- Fall RiverCategory 1 · 6 mi
- DartmouthCategory 1 · 15 mi
- South DartmouthCategory 1 · 19 mi
- OxfordCategory 1 · 40 mi
- EdgartownCategory 1 · 45 mi
- East BrookfieldCategory 1 · 52 mi
- SomersetCategory 1 · 4 mi
- RehobothCategory 1 · 4 mi
- SeekonkCategory 1 · 7 mi
- New BedfordCategory 1 · 17 mi
- DouglasCategory 1 · 33 mi
- Vineyard HavenCategory 1 · 39 mi
- RochdaleCategory 1 · 45 mi
- North BrookfieldCategory 1 · 55 mi
- DightonCategory 1 · 2 mi
- FairhavenCategory 1 · 20 mi
- BlackstoneCategory 1 · 23 mi
- MillvilleCategory 1 · 25 mi
- UxbridgeCategory 1 · 29 mi
- SuttonCategory 1 · 36 mi
- AuburnCategory 1 · 43 mi
- LeicesterCategory 1 · 48 mi
- SpencerCategory 1 · 51 mi
- North DightonCategory 1 · overhead
- BerkleyCategory 1 · 4 mi
- AssonetCategory 1 · 6 mi
- AttleboroCategory 1 · 10 mi
and 251 more
Rhode Island (49)
- WesterlyCategory 2 · 6 mi
- BradfordCategory 2 · 6 mi
- AshawayCategory 2 · 8 mi
- CharlestownCategory 2 · 2 mi
- WakefieldCategory 2 · 2 mi
- Hope ValleyCategory 2 · 10 mi
- West KingstonCategory 2 · 4 mi
- NarragansettCategory 2 · 4 mi
- KingstonCategory 1 · overhead
- ExeterCategory 1 · 7 mi
- SaunderstownCategory 1 · 1 mi
- West GreenwichCategory 1 · 12 mi
- JamestownCategory 1 · 5 mi
- NewportCategory 1 · 8 mi
- GreeneCategory 1 · 18 mi
- North KingstownCategory 1 · 2 mi
- MiddletownCategory 1 · 8 mi
- East GreenwichCategory 1 · 5 mi
- West WarwickCategory 1 · 9 mi
- CoventryCategory 1 · 11 mi
- FosterCategory 1 · 21 mi
- PortsmouthCategory 1 · 6 mi
- HopeCategory 1 · 13 mi
- Little ComptonCategory 1 · 13 mi
- WarwickCategory 1 · 6 mi
- North ScituateCategory 1 · 19 mi
- ChepachetCategory 1 · 25 mi
- BristolCategory 1 · 2 mi
- TivertonCategory 1 · 8 mi
- CranstonCategory 1 · 10 mi
- JohnstonCategory 1 · 13 mi
- WarrenCategory 1 · overhead
- BarringtonCategory 1 · 3 mi
- RiversideCategory 1 · 5 mi
- ProvidenceCategory 1 · 10 mi
- North ProvidenceCategory 1 · 14 mi
- GreenvilleCategory 1 · 18 mi
- PascoagCategory 1 · 28 mi
- East ProvidenceCategory 1 · 8 mi
- RumfordCategory 1 · 8 mi
- SmithfieldCategory 1 · 17 mi
- HarrisvilleCategory 1 · 26 mi
- PawtucketCategory 1 · 10 mi
- Central FallsCategory 1 · 12 mi
- LincolnCategory 1 · 14 mi
- North SmithfieldCategory 1 · 22 mi
- CumberlandCategory 1 · 15 mi
- ManvilleCategory 1 · 18 mi
- WoonsocketCategory 1 · 21 mi
New Hampshire (75)
- RindgeCategory 1 · 73 mi
- PelhamCategory 1 · 45 mi
- HudsonCategory 1 · 50 mi
- NashuaCategory 1 · 52 mi
- HollisCategory 1 · 55 mi
- MerrimackCategory 1 · 58 mi
- BrooklineCategory 1 · 59 mi
- AmherstCategory 1 · 61 mi
- MilfordCategory 1 · 63 mi
- MasonCategory 1 · 63 mi
- Mont VernonCategory 1 · 66 mi
- New IpswichCategory 1 · 67 mi
- WiltonCategory 1 · 67 mi
- New BostonCategory 1 · 70 mi
- South HamptonTropical storm · 40 mi
- NewtonTropical storm · 40 mi
- PlaistowTropical storm · 41 mi
- KingstonTropical storm · 43 mi
- SalemTropical storm · 43 mi
- AtkinsonTropical storm · 43 mi
- East HampsteadTropical storm · 44 mi
- DanvilleTropical storm · 46 mi
- HampsteadTropical storm · 46 mi
- WindhamTropical storm · 47 mi
- SandownTropical storm · 48 mi
- FremontTropical storm · 48 mi
- DerryTropical storm · 51 mi
- ChesterTropical storm · 52 mi
- RaymondTropical storm · 53 mi
- LondonderryTropical storm · 54 mi
- LitchfieldTropical storm · 55 mi
- AuburnTropical storm · 58 mi
- CandiaTropical storm · 58 mi
- ManchesterTropical storm · 61 mi
- BedfordTropical storm · 62 mi
- HooksettTropical storm · 64 mi
- PembrokeTropical storm · 68 mi
- GoffstownTropical storm · 68 mi
- BowTropical storm · 71 mi
- DunbartonTropical storm · 72 mi
- ConcordTropical storm · 74 mi
- SeabrookTropical storm · 33 mi
- HamptonTropical storm · 35 mi
- RyeTropical storm · 35 mi
- Hampton FallsTropical storm · 36 mi
- North HamptonTropical storm · 37 mi
- PortsmouthTropical storm · 39 mi
- GreenlandTropical storm · 40 mi
- StrathamTropical storm · 41 mi
- ExeterTropical storm · 42 mi
- NewfieldsTropical storm · 44 mi
- NewmarketTropical storm · 45 mi
- DoverTropical storm · 48 mi
- DurhamTropical storm · 48 mi
- MadburyTropical storm · 49 mi
- EppingTropical storm · 49 mi
- LeeTropical storm · 49 mi
- NottinghamTropical storm · 54 mi
- BarringtonTropical storm · 55 mi
- DeerfieldTropical storm · 60 mi
and 15 more
Maine (133)
- KitteryTropical storm · 38 mi
- EliotTropical storm · 42 mi
- YorkTropical storm · 38 mi
- Cape NeddickTropical storm · 39 mi
- WellsTropical storm · 43 mi
- KennebunkTropical storm · 43 mi
- South BerwickTropical storm · 46 mi
- North BerwickTropical storm · 49 mi
- BerwickTropical storm · 51 mi
- SanfordTropical storm · 53 mi
- SpringvaleTropical storm · 57 mi
- LebanonTropical storm · 58 mi
- ShapleighTropical storm · 62 mi
- ActonTropical storm · 65 mi
- ArundelTropical storm · 41 mi
- Old Orchard BeachTropical storm · 43 mi
- BiddefordTropical storm · 44 mi
- ScarboroughTropical storm · 44 mi
- SacoTropical storm · 46 mi
- AlfredTropical storm · 53 mi
- GorhamTropical storm · 54 mi
- BuxtonTropical storm · 56 mi
- Hollis CenterTropical storm · 57 mi
- East WaterboroTropical storm · 57 mi
- WaterboroTropical storm · 59 mi
- StandishTropical storm · 60 mi
- North WaterboroTropical storm · 62 mi
- Steep FallsTropical storm · 64 mi
- LimingtonTropical storm · 65 mi
- LimerickTropical storm · 65 mi
- Cape ElizabethTropical storm · 41 mi
- South PortlandTropical storm · 44 mi
- PortlandTropical storm · 46 mi
- FreeportTropical storm · 46 mi
- YarmouthTropical storm · 47 mi
- FalmouthTropical storm · 48 mi
- WestbrookTropical storm · 49 mi
- CumberlandTropical storm · 50 mi
- North YarmouthTropical storm · 51 mi
- WindhamTropical storm · 57 mi
- GrayTropical storm · 57 mi
- New GloucesterTropical storm · 58 mi
- RaymondTropical storm · 64 mi
- CascoTropical storm · 67 mi
- SebagoTropical storm · 70 mi
- NaplesTropical storm · 70 mi
- WiscassetTropical storm · 36 mi
- BathTropical storm · 38 mi
- HarpswellTropical storm · 38 mi
- WoolwichTropical storm · 38 mi
- BrunswickTropical storm · 43 mi
- TopshamTropical storm · 45 mi
- BowdoinhamTropical storm · 45 mi
- BowdoinTropical storm · 50 mi
- Lisbon FallsTropical storm · 52 mi
- DurhamTropical storm · 52 mi
- LisbonTropical storm · 54 mi
- SabattusTropical storm · 57 mi
- LewistonTropical storm · 60 mi
- AuburnTropical storm · 62 mi
and 73 more
Other storms of the 1944 season
- Unnamed (AL031944)Category 1 · 1,031 cities
- Unnamed (AL051944)Tropical storm · 15 cities
- Unnamed (AL061944)Tropical storm · 116 cities
- Unnamed (AL131944)Category 4 · 1,129 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.