The 1938 Great New England hurricane arrived 75 years ago today, unannounced, with forward speed of 100 km/hr, so that the storm surge arrived at that speed. 9 people were killed at the town beach, which is an isthmus that connects 2 parts of Conanicut Island; 7 were school children on a trapped school bus. See link

There are family stories of this storm: my 91 year-old uncle was wandering around outdoors at St George's school in Newport and was caught by the wind and tumbled/flown in to the woods, where he broke his glasses. My grandmother was driving through Connecticut, pre-highways.

for more science-based info, see:
http://www.weather.gov/box/1938hurricane

storm tide is above lowest low water, storm surge is above predicted astronomical tide. So storm tide in Providence might be 20 feet but surge was 12-14 feet.

Hey, no reaction to my Messinian post.

Chris

• 1938 hurricane on Conaninicut Island