A CENTENNIAL REVIEW OF MAJOR LAND FALLING TROPICAL CYCLONES IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND

Hurricanes and tropical storms are no strangers to southern New England. Forty such storms have affected the region since 1900, either making landfall along the coast or passing close enough over the offshore waters to spread tropical storm or hurricane force conditions into the area. Of these forty systems, twelve made landfall along the shore of southern New England, each displaying remarkably similar characteristics with regard to their acceleration, and placement of high winds, rains and coastal flooding with respect to the storm track. This paper will review the climatology of Southern New England Tropical Cyclones since 1900, focusing on the similarities of the twelve land falling systems with regard to their forward motion and distribution of wind, flooding rainfall and devastating storm surge.