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The wider storyWhy did the U.S. Weather Bureau miss the 1938 hurricane for seven days?The 1938 New England Hurricane struck Long Island as a Category 3 storm, killing 682 people. The U.S. Weather Bureau remained unaware of the cyclone's existence until September 16, when ships reported strong winds 350…Read the full history | Event | The Great Hurricane of 1938 makes landfall on Long Island in New York |
|---|---|
| Date | September 21, 1938 |
| Location | Long Island, United States |
| Key Figure | Ivan Ray Tannehill |
| Source Detail | U.S. Weather Bureau first learned of the cyclone on September 16 |
| Confirmed Outcome | Estimated death toll 500–700 people |
Timeline: the road to New York and its aftermath
- September 9, 1938 The storm formed as a tropical depression off the coast of West Africa
- September 15, 1938 The system reached hurricane strength
- September 16, 1938 The United States Weather Bureau first learned of the cyclone after ships reported strong winds northeast of San Juan
- September 21, 1938 The Great Hurricane of 1938 made landfall on Long Island as a Category 3 hurricane
- September 23, 1938 The storm transitioned into an extratropical cyclone and dissipated over Ontario
- 1951 Damaged trees and buildings were still visible in the affected areas
The Questions the Disaster Left Behind
The United States Weather Bureau only learned of the cyclone on September sixteen after ships reported strong winds northeast of San Juan, and the agency’s subsequent reports documented the hurricane’s rapid progression toward the coast.
Contemporary estimates placed the death toll between five hundred and seven hundred people, while some later counts cite six hundred eighty-two fatalities.
On Wednesday, September 21, 1938 the storm struck Long Island as a Category 3 hurricane, remaining the most powerful and deadliest hurricane to ever strike New York State, perhaps eclipsed in landfall intensity only by the Great Colonial Hurricane of 1635.
The lasting importance of Long Island lies in what changed after September 21, 1938.
Its extreme winds, widespread devastation, and the delayed awareness by the Weather Bureau underscore the storm’s singular impact on the region.
Analysis: 1938 New England hurricane
What the evidence supports and leaves unresolved
What the record supports
- Precise Wind Metrics: The record documents specific sustained winds of 115 to 120 mph and a peak gust of 186 mph at the Blue Hill Observatory.
- Quantified Property Loss: Damage assessments value the destruction at $306 million in 1938 dollars, equivalent to $4.7 billion in 2024.
Limits and unresolved questions
- Delayed Detection: The U.S. Weather Bureau remained unaware of the cyclone until September 16, when ships reported strong winds northeast of San Juan.
- Variable Fatality Counts: Estimates of the death toll range from 500 to 700 people, with some sources citing 682 fatalities.
Evidence Map: How We Checked the Central Claim
What the sources verify and how they were used
This comparison separates the event page selected for the account from the independently verified page used to corroborate it.
Central claim checked: The Great Hurricane of 1938 makes landfall on Long Island in New York. The death toll is estimated at 500–700 people.
| Direct source | Verification role | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| 1938 New England hurricane · Wikipedia Accessed 2026-09-21 | Selected event record | Supports the central claim shown above. |
| NWS Boston · weather.gov Accessed 2026-09-21 | Independent corroboration | Supports the central claim shown above. |
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Questions readers ask about 1938 New England hurricane
The recorded event date is September 21, 1938.
Key figures included Ivan Ray Tannehill.
The record documents specific sustained winds of 115 to 120 mph and a peak gust of 186 mph at the Blue Hill Observatory.