Critical Fire Weather Conditions Continue Across the Plains
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LOADING...
Historical Weather Facts for the Philadelphia/Mt.Holly,NJ Forecast Area
Click on the date for more information
...1987...
A winter storm moving up the Atlantic coast brought heavy snow and high winds to
the NE U.S. Wind gusts reached 82 mph at TTN and Southwest Harbor in ME.
Snowfall totals ranged up to 2' at Salem, NH, and Waterboro, ME. (NWS) (SD)
...1777...
An overnight freeze enabled George Washington and his troops to flank the British
at TTN, cross their lines at Princeton, NJ, and seek security in the hills of Nrn NJ. (L)
...1913...
The barometric pressure at PHL fell to 28.67", the lowest pressure ever recorded in
Jan. (PHL)
...1988...
The 1.5" of snow that fell in PHL established a daily snowfall record. This daily
snowfall record is the lowest for any Jan day. (PHL)
...1887...
Only 5 Jan daily snowfall records for PHL remain from the 1800s. They are: 4.6" on
the 5th, 1887; 9.2" on the 6th, 1893; 4.5" on the 10th, 1898; 5.0" on the 12th, 1893; and
5.0" on the 15th, 1892. (PHL)
...1893...
Only 5 Jan daily snowfall records for PHL remain from the 1800s. They are: 4.6" on
the 5th, 1887; 9.2" on the 6th, 1893; 4.5" on the 10th, 1898; 5.0" on the 12th, 1893; and
5.0" on the 15th, 1892. (PHL)
...1874...
2.49" of precipitation fell at PHL, setting a maximum daily record. This is also the
most precipitation received for any calendar day in Jan. (PHL)
...1976...
Temperatures remained at freezing or slightly below over some sections of the S'rn
portion of E'rn PA as rain and drizzle fell. This caused a coating of ice on roadways
which resulted in hundreds of injuries and 3 deaths in auto accidents. The suburban
sections around PHL were especially hard hit and along with the many traffic
accidents, hundreds of pedestrians were injured in falls on the ice. PHL received over
3/4" of rain but remained above freezing. (SD)(PHL)
...1994...
A great ice storm commenced on the 7th and extended into the 8th. Low pressure
formed east of Wyoming on the 5th, moved to the Central MS Valley on the 6th,
reached Ern KY the morning of the 7th and redeveloped along the Ern VA coast on
the morning of the 8th. A strong high pressure system remained nearly stationary over
Ontario Province, Canada and continued to pump in a fresh supply of cold air near
the ground. This kept temperatures below freezing throughout this event resulting in
one of the worst ice storms on record for SE PA. The freezing rain started lightly the
morning of the 7th, but in spite of this, all roadways were glazed by the start. As rain
increased in intensity the night of the 7th, the accumulation of ice started to down tree
limbs and power lines. Ice accumulations were 1/4" to 1/2" across most of SE PA, but
amounts reached up to 1" in the NW PHL suburbs. While there were 5,000 customers
without power in the Lehigh valley, the hardest hit area was around PHL.
Approximately 590,000 Philadelphia Electric Company (PECO) customers lost
power. This represents about 40% of their customers and was the worst power outage
in PECO's history, surpassing the 400,000 customers who lost power during the
heavy wet snowstorm on Mar 20, 1958. Approximately 150,000 (of 232,000)
customers lost power in Delaware Co, 134,000 in Bucks Co, 112,000 in Chester Co,
105,000 in Montgomery Co and 89,000 in Philadelphia Co. As of Sunday morning
the 9th, 123,000 customers still did not have power. Full power was not restored until
Tuesday morning the 11th. There were literally thousands of ice-related vehicular
accidents and described as "countless" number of personal injuries resulting from
slipping on the ice. Miraculously no one was directly killed as a result of this ice
storm. In addition to damage to electrical lines, the ice accumulation on fruit trees
brought a significant amount of damage. (SD)
...1996...
The greatest snow storm for PHL began on the 7th and ended on the 8th. When it was
over, 30.7" of snow buried the city, of which 27.6" fell on the 7th. The 27.6"
maximum snow depth on the 8th beat out the previous record holder of 26.0" on Feb
13, 1899.
There have been only 3 storms that gave PHL more than 20" of snow. The storm of
Jan 7th to 8th, 1996, saw a total of 30.7", with 27.6" falling on the 7th; the storm of Feb
11th to 12th, 1983, saw a total of 21.3", with 21.1" falling on the 11th; and the storm
of Dec 25th to 26th, 1909, saw a total of 21.0", with 15.5" falling on the 26th.
(LS6211)(PHL)
...1841...
The flood on the Delaware River at TTN was reported at the time to be the greatest
since the flood of Feb 27, 1692. (USGS)
...1866...
The temperature at the PA hospital, PHL, bottomed out at -9 degree , the lowest
January reading in hospital record from 1837 to 1875. (PHR)
...1988...
A winter storm spread heavy snow across the NE U.S., with up to 10" reported in Srn
NJ. (NWS) (SD)
...1898...
Only 5 Jan daily snowfall records for PHL remain from the 1800s. They are: 4.6" on
the 5th, 1887; 9.2" on the 6th, 1893; 4.5" on the 10th, 1898; 5.0" on the 12th, 1893; and
5.0" on the 15th, 1892. (PHL)
...1978...
At the ACY tide gage located on the oceanfront at the Trump Pier, Atlantic Co, NJ,
the tide fell to a record minus 4.1' below mean lower low water. At the Lewes tide
gage located on the bay side of Cape Henlopen in Breakwater Harbor, Sussex Co,
DE, the tide fell to a record minus 3.9' below MLLW. Blowout tide begins at minus
1.8' MLLW at both gages. (NOS)
...1893...
Only 5 Jan daily snowfall records for PHL remain from the 1800s. They are: 4.6" on
the 5th, 1887; 9.2" on the 6th, 1893; 4.5" on the 10th, 1898; 5.0" on the 12th, 1893; and
5.0" on the 15th, 1892. (PHL)
...2000...
At the Tolchester Beach tide gage located in Wrn Kent Co, MD, the tide fell to a
record minus 2.3' below mean lower low water. Blowout tide begins at minus 1.8'
MLLW. (NOS)
...1892...
Only 5 Jan daily snowfall records for PHL remain from the 1800s. They are: 4.6" on
the 5th, 1887; 9.2" on the 6th, 1893; 4.5" on the 10th, 1898; 5.0" on the 12th, 1893; and
5.0" on the 15th, 1892. (PHL)
...1961...
A nor'easter battered the Mid Atlantic region. PHL received 0.52" of precipitation,
of which 2.2" of snow fell, and winds were from the NE, with a fastest mile of 34
mph recorded. 78 miles E of Barnegat, NJ, waves exceeding 35' and winds of 85 mph
destroyed the Air Force radar Texas Tower 4, killing all of the 14 airmen and 14
civilian workers. The 3-legged tower was nicknamed Texas tower because it
resembled the oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. Tower 4 had previously been damaged
by hurricanes Donna in 1960 and Daisy in 1958. (PHL)(BCT: Wed, Nov 12, 2003)
...1857...
January 17-19 Carolina to New England. Most violent and severe storm known in
many years. (LS 6107)
...1893...
The mercury dipped to -17 degrees at Millsboro, DE, to establish a state record.
(TWC)
...1982...
The temperature at PHL bottomed out at -7 degrees, the lowest Jan reading since
official records began in 1870. This reading was reached again 2 years later on Jan
22. At the Cambridge tide gage located along the Choptank River in Dorchester Co,
MD, the tide fell to a record minus 2.6' below mean lower low water. Blowout tide
begins at minus 1.8' below MLLW. (PHL)(NOS)
...2000...
At the PHL tide gage located on the Delaware river near the east end of Washington
Ave, the tide fell to a record minus 2.9' below mean lower low water. Blowout tide
begins at minus 1.8' below MLLW. (NOS)
...1852...
A snowstorm left snow to a depth of 7 or 8" on the level at PHL. (PHR)
...1961...
(Jan 19-20) NC-VA-DC-MD-DE-PA-NJ. Major snowstorm, snowfall in MD 2 to 16";
11" in DE; 4 to 19" in PA; and 10 to 30" in NJ. Communities and cities paralyzed in
Srn and Ern PA. Cost of snow removal in millions of dollars. 37 dead, 5 in MD, 4 in
PA, 3 in NJ and 1 in DE, mostly due to overexertion and accidents. (LS6211)
...1852...
Extremely cold. The Delaware River was frozen over and people crossed on the ice
for a week or more. (PHR)
...1984...
The temperature at PHL bottomed out at -7 degrees, tying the lowest Jan reading set
2 years earlier on January 17.(PHL)
...1987...
A winter storm spread snow from central MS through Nrn GA to New England. Up
to 15" of snow fell across the heavily populated areas of VA, MD and DE. Traffic
tie-ups nearly paralyzed the DC area. Winds gusted to 76 mph at Chatham, MA, and
in PA, snowfall totals ranged up to 21" at Dushore. Williamsport, PA, received 5" of
snow in just 1 hour. (NWS) (SD)
...1940...
(Jan 23-24) MS-AL-GA-Carolinas-TN-VA-DC-MD-NJ. Snowfall in NJ 13" at Cape
May, 10" Belleplain; 9" ACY; and 8" Bridgeton. 17+ dead. (LS6211)
...1907...
A distinct earthquake shock was felt at 10 am Thursday morning and startled many
residents of Vincentown, BURLCO. Windows rattled and dishes were moved, but no
damage resulted. (NJM - Wed Jan 30, 1907)
...1979...
Thunderstorms and heavy rain falling on saturated soil on the 24th to the 26th caused
widespread flooding of streams and rivers. The flooding reached levels at least as
high as any occurrence since the 1972 floods of tropical storm Agnes. The Rockaway
River at Boonton, below the reservoir, Morris Co, NJ, rose to a record 8.3'. Flood
stage is 5.0'. PHL measured 1.18" of rain on the 24th, raising the monthy total to
8.48". (SD)(PHL)(USGS)
...1987...
The second major storm in 3 days hit the Ern Seaboard producing up to 15" of snow
in VA, MD and DE. Up to 30" of snow covered the ground in VA following the 2
storms. (NWS) (SD)
...1950...
The temperature at PHL reached 74 degrees , the highest Jan reading since official
records began in 1870. (PHL)
...1987...
A winter storm spread heavy snow across the Middle and Nrn Atlantic Coast States,
with 18" reported at Vineland NJ, and wind gusts to 65 mph at Chatham MA. Snow
cover in VA ranged up to 30" following this 2nd major storm in just 1 week. (NWS)
(SD)
...1922...
(Jan 27-29) Atlantic Coastal States. Great snowstorm from SC to SErn MA. Snowfall
18" in ILG. 28" in DC with 25" in 24 hours a record for a single storm, causing
collapse of theater (Knickerbocker), killing 98 and injuring 130. (LS6211)
...1927...
The barometric pressure at PHL rose to 31.02" , the highest pressure ever recorded
in Jan. (PHL)
...1967...
An F2 tornado destroyed or damaged homes and service stations at Felton, Kent Co,
DE. (G)
...1971...
At the Cape May Ferry Terminal tide gage located along the Cape May Canal near
the outlet to Delaware Bay, Cape May Co, NJ, the tide fell to a record minus 2.7'
below mean lower low water. Blowout tide begins at minus 1.8' MLLW. (NOS)
...1977...
A strong cold front moved across the region during late afternoon and early evening
accompanied by strong winds, snow squalls and plunging temperatures.. Wind gusts
reached over 60 mph and, combined with snow squalls, brought near blizzard
conditions. ABE gusted to 67 mph, PHL and Pottstown to 60 mph, and Reading hit
58 mph, where 3 airplanes were flipped over. Temperatures near 40 degrees ahead of
the front dropped as much as 15 to 20 degrees in 1 hour, 25 to 30 degrees in 2 hours,
and up to 40 degrees in 5 hours. (SD)
...1994...
The S Branch of the Raritan River at High Bridge, Hunterdon Co, NJ, rose to a record
14.3'. Flood stage is 10.0'. (USGS)
...1975...
High winds occurred in back of a cold frontal passage after 3pm, causing damage
across SE PA. Winds gusts to 59 mph at ABE and 53 mph at PHL. (SD)
...1918...
The month ended with measurable snow falling on 11 days at PHL. This tied the
monthly record set in 1893. (PHL)
...1955...
The month ended with 0.45" of precipitation, the DRIEST Jan in PHL Records.
(PHL)
...1978...
The month ended with 8.86" of precipitation, the WETTEST Jan in PHL
records.(PHL)
...1995...
The month ended with no measurable snow being recorded at PHL, only the 5th time
this has happened. The other years were 1973, 1934, 1933 and 1913. (PHL)
...2002...
Up to now, no Jan PA state records for max/min temperature, max/min precipitation,
and max snowfall have been set in the Mt Holly area of responsibility. (PASC)
...2003...
The month ended with a trace or more of snow falling on 17 days at PHL, setting a
new monthly record. The old record was 16 days in 1948. (PHL)
...1973...
An F2 tornado touched down during the late afternoon in Hunterdon Co, NJ. Two F1
tornadoes also hit the county. No deaths or injuries were reported from the storms.
(SD)
...1976...
At the Sandy Hook tide gage located on the bay side of Sandy Hook, Monmouth Co,
NJ, the tide receded to a record minus 4.5' below mean lower low water. Blowout tide
begins at minus 1.8' MLLW. (NOS)
...1886...
Only 4 Feb daily snowfall records for PHL remain from the 1800s. They are: 8.0" on
the 3rd, 1886; 7.7" on the 12th, 1899; 10.0" on the 13th, 1899; and 6.4" on the 25th,
1885. (PHL)
...1961...
(Feb 3-5) NC-VA-DC-PA-NJ-NY-New England. Snowstorm, of blizzard intensity
with severe cold and gale force winds. Snowfall 10 to 24" in PA, and 12 to 27" in NJ.
Transportation facilities paralyzed, many roofs collapsed. State of emergency
declared in some communities. 73 dead, 15 in PA and 2 in NJ. Damage in millions
of dollars. (LS6211)
...1952...
A tropical storm formed off the Yucatan peninsula Feb 2nd and moved NE, crossing
extreme S Fl. It became an extra-tropical storm S of Cape Hatteras and continued
moving NE to Cape Cod and Ern ME. PHL received 0.18" of rain on the 3rd, and
1.10" fell on the 4th. (NHC)(PHL)
...2001...
Snowfall from a winter storm ranged from 3" or less E to S of PHL, to over 18" in
NW NJ. (For more detailed information, click on Event Archive, under Climate on
our homepage menu.)
...1896...
3.86" of precipitation fell at PHL setting a maximum daily record. This is also the
most precipitation received for any calendar day in Feb and also remains the
maximum 24 hour precipitation record for the month. Also, the barometric pressure
fell to 28.65", the lowest pressure ever recorded in Feb. A great flood occurred in the
NJ Raritan River basin, the largest flood since at least 1800, with a flood stage
estimated to be around the stage produced by tropical storm Diane of Aug 19, 1955.
(PHL)(USGS)(AR)
...1978...
A massive Nor'easter buried the cities of the NE US. Storm totals included 30" at
Tobyhanna, Monroe Co, PA, 18" at NYC, 16" at PHL, and 14" at BAL. The snow
was accompanied by near blizzard conditions with winds gusting to 40 to 50 mph,
reducing visibility to near zero and causing drifts as high as 15-20'. The BOS area
received 25-30" in "The Great New England Blizzard", and the mayor outlawed travel
in the city for an entire week. (L)(SD)
...1857...
An ice jam flood on the Delaware River at TTN might have had a stage equal to or
higher than the ice jam flood of Mar 8, 1904, the highest known stage at TTN.
(USGS)
...1934...
The temperature at PHL bottomed out at -11 degrees , the lowest Feb, and lowest
ever, reading since official records began in 1870. (PHL)
...1899...
February 11-14 Middle and N Atlantic States. Great Ern blizzard. Near ACY and
PHL, snowfall 44"; DC 25 to 30"; NYC 24". Intense cold, -17 degrees at River Vale,
NJ and -15 degrees at DC, lowest ever recorded. Wind speeds 60 mph at Sandy Hook,
NJ, and 48 mph at ACY and Cape May, NJ. (LS 6107)
...1981...
Heavy rains combined with temperatures in the 50s to low 60s loosened some of the
thick ice on streams and rivers throughout the region. Huge chunks of ice carried
downstream damaged trees, utility poles, buildings and bridges. Two dams failed. A
massive ice jam formed on the Delaware River and flooded the Matamoras area. Port
Jervis received major flooding when the river rose to a record height of 27' on the
12th. Flood stage is 16'. Flood waters rose very rapidly, with one woman swept away
and drowned. High winds between 6 9 am caused considerable damage. PHL
reported a S wind sustained at 37 mph, and the Franklin Institute in PHL reported a
gust to 67 mph. (SD)(PHL)(USGS)
...1983...
The Mid Atlantic Coast States and Srn New England were in the midst of a major
blizzard. Winds gusted to over 40 mph, visibility was near zero miles , and
temperatures were mostly in the teens. In PA, the storm produced 21" at PHL, 24" at
Harrisburg, and 25" at ABE, establishing record 24 hour totals and single storm totals
for those locations. NYC received 22" of snow, and 35" was reported at Glen Gary,
located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of WV. Windsor Locks CT received a record
19" of snow in 12 hours. The storm resulted in 46 deaths, 33 of which occurred when
a freighter capsized and sank off the MD/VA coast. Heavy snow was reported from
NErn GA to Ern ME. (10th-12th)
There have been only 3 storms that gave PHL more than 20" of snow. The storm of
Jan 7th to 8th, 1996, saw a total of 30.7", with 27.6" falling on the 7th; the storm of Feb
11th to 12th, 1983, saw a total of 21.3", the most for a storm in Feb, with 21.1" falling
on the 11th, the most for a Feb calendar day; and the storm of Dec 25th to 26th, 1909,
saw a total of 21.0", with 15.5" falling on the 26th. (LS6211)(PHL) (SD) (TWC)
...1865...
About 10" of snow fell with temperatures from 14 to 19 degrees and a heavy NE gale.
(PHR)
...1899...
Only 4 Feb daily snowfall records for PHL remain from the 1800s. They are: 8.0" on
the 3rd, 1886; 7.7" on the 12th, 1899; 10.0" on the 13th, 1899; and 6.4" on the 25th,
1885. (PHL)
...1960...
(Feb 12-15) LA-MS-AL-GA-TN-NC-VA-DC-MD-WV-OH-PA-NY-NJ-New
England. Snowfall quite generally 6" to over 1'. Buildings collapsed from weight of
snow and considerable damage to utility lines. 43 dead from accidents, overexertion
and exposure, 7 in NJ and 2 in PA. (LS6211)
...1981...
Ice jams in the Delaware River caused major flooding at Port Jervis when the river
rose to a record height of 27'. Flood stage is 16". (SD)(USGS) See previous day.
...1899...
Only 4 Feb daily snowfall records for PHL remain from the 1800s. They are: 8.0" on
the 3rd, 1886; 7.7" on the 12th, 1899; 10.0" on the 13th, 1899; and 6.4" on the 25th,
1885.
26.0" of snow on the ground is the greatest depth of snow at PHL in Feb, and also
held the most ever on the ground for almost 100 years, replaced by the 27.6" of snow
on the ground Jan 8th, 1996. (PHL)
...1958...
(Feb 13-19) NC-VA-MD-DC-DE-PA-NJ. Very heavy snow paralyzed transportation.
12 to 19" in NJ and 8 to 45" in PA. 43 dead, 24 in PA. Damage estimated at $500
million in MD, DE and DC. (LS6211)
...1981...
The barometric pressure at PHL rose to 31.10", the highest pressure ever recorded at
PHL, and the highest in Feb. (PHL)
...1899...
A great blizzard struck the Ern US. DC received 20.5" of snow to bring their total
snow depth to nearly 3'. The storm produced 36" of snow at Cape May NJ. (L)
...1958...
The greatest snowstorm of the mid 20th century struck the NE U.S. The storm
produced 30" of snow in interior New England, including more than 19" in 24 hours
at the BOS Airport. The same storm produced up to 3' of snow in the Mid Atlantic
Coast Region, with 14" at DC, and 15.5" at BAL. The storm resulted in 43 deaths
and $500 million damage over the Mid Atlantic Coast States. (L)
...2003...
The President's Day snow storm blanketed the entire region, with some areas
receiving more than 20". (For more detailed information, click on Event Archive,
under Climate on our homepage menu.)
...1960...
(Feb 18-20) MD-WV-PA-NJ-NY-New England. Heavy snowfall. 26 dead, 4 in Pa
and 2 in NJ, mostly from accidents. (LS6211)
...1979...
An intense storm with near blizzard conditions ended early afternoon. This
Presidents' Day Storm dumped 12-20" of snow, with winds creating 3-5' drifts. Many
roads were closed and many vehicles were stranded. Businesses, industries and
activities of all kind had to be cancelled. A number of people died of heart attacks
while shoveling snow. The storm caused similar or worse conditions on the East
Coast from VA to New England. PHL measured 13.9" of snow, with a liquid
equivalent of 1.03" With previous snow, there was 20" of snow on the ground early
morning on the 20th (SD)(PHL)
...1900...
The mercury at Mt Holly, NJ, fell from 49 degrees during the evening to 5 degrees
the next morning, a fall of 44 degrees in 12 hours, and the most of it in the last 6
hours. (NJM - Mar 7, 1900, Meteorology of the Winter)
...1987...
A winter storm buried the Mid Atlantic Coast Region under heavy snow. Totals
ranged up to 24" at Lancaster, PA, with 23" at Coatesville, PA. During the height of
the storm PHL received 5" of snow in just 1 hour. The DC area was blanketed with
up to 15" of snow. (NWS) (SD)
...1989...
A total of 33 cities in the Ern U.S. reported new record low temperatures for the date,
and an Atlantic coast storm spread heavy snow from GA to Srn New England.
Snowfall totals in NJ ranged up to 24" in Cape May Co, with 19" reported at ACY.
Totals in NC ranged up to 18" in Gates County, and winds along the coast of NC
gusted to 70 mph at Duck Pier. Strong winds gusting to 52 mph created blizzard
conditions at Chatham, MA. (NWS) (SD)
...1885...
Only 4 Feb daily snowfall records for PHL remain from the 1800s. They are: 8.0" on
the 3rd, 1886; 7.7" on the 12th, 1899; 10.0" on the 13th, 1899; and 6.4" on the 25th,
1885. (PHL)
...1930...
The temperature at PHL reached 79 degrees , the highest Feb reading since official
records began in 1870. (PHL)
...1975...
A huge storm system over the Great Lakes brought high winds into the region,
damaging signs, windows and buildings. PHL reported a gust to 52 mph. (SD)
...1918...
Tug USS Cherokee foundered off Fenwick Island Lightship in a heavy gale. 30 died.
(N)
...1979...
After the Presidents' Day Storm of the 19th, rain from the 23rd through the 26th was
accompanied by mild temperatures which melted a deep snow cover. Some flooding
followed the heavy rain on the 24th then became widespread after additional heavy
rain on the 25th. Ice jams on some streams also added to the flood problems.
Widespread roadway and stream flooding resulted, with houses and buildings of all
types flooded. Some people were forced to evacuate their homes. Flood levels were
almost as high as those experienced 1 month earlier. During this period, PHL received
3.80" of rain. (SD)(PHL)
...1692...
This great flood on the Delaware River at TTN, reported 12' above usual high-water
mark, may have been as great or greater than the flood of Aug, 1955. (USGS)
...1902...
The Lehigh River at Lehighton, Carbon Co, PA, rose to a record 20.8'. Flood stage
is 10.0'. (USGS)
...1967...
The month ended with measurable snow being recorded on 11 days, tying the
previous monthly record set in 1885. This also ties the record for most days of
measurable snow being received in a month, with Jan 1893 and Jan 1918 sharing the
top spot with these 2 Feb months. (PHL)
...1969...
The month ended with a trace or more of snow falling on 18 days, setting a new
monthly record. The old record was 16 days in 1967. This also set a record for any
month of the year, but was soon tied with 18 days of snow the following Dec.(PHL)
...1979...
The Winter season received 20.79" of precipitation, the WETTEST WINTER in PHL
records. (PHL)
...1981...
The Winter season received 4.21" of rain, the DRIEST WINTER in PHL records.
(PHL)
...1991...
The month ended with 0.75" of precipitation, the DRIEST FEB in PHL Records. In
unofficial records, only 0.56" fell in 1864. (PHL)
...1884...
The temperature at PHL dipped to 10 degrees, making this the coldest Leap Year day.
(PHL)
...1896...
1.03" of rain fell, making this the wettest Leap Year day, and the only one to have
received over one inch of rain, in PHL records.
The month ended with 6.87" of precipitation, the WETTEST FEB in PHL records.
(PHL)
...1968...
Rain during the day mixed with snow during the evening. By midnight, 1.0" was
measured, making this the snowiest Leap Year day in PHL records. The 0.66" of
liquid precipitation received makes this the 2nd wettest Leap Year day, and also the
last Leap Year day when measurable precipitation has fallen. (PHL)
...1972...
The temperature at PHL rose to 69 degrees, making this the warmest Leap Year day.
(PHL)
...2002...
Up to now, no Feb PA state records for max/min temperature, max/min precipitation,
and max snowfall have been set in the Mt Holly area of responsibility. (PASC)
...1914...
High winds and heavy snow crippled NJ and NY State. 2' of snow were reported at
Asbury Park, NJ, and at NYC the barometric pressure dropped to a record 28.38". The
storm caused complete disruption of electric power in NJ. (L)
...1960...
(Mar 2-5) IL-IN-OH-KY-WV-VA-PA-MD-NJ-New England. Heavy snowfall, up to
1' in PA and Md, 4 to 22" in NJ. Damage in millions of dollars. 81 dead, 12 in MD,
9 in NJ and 6 in PA, mostly from overexertion and accidents. (LS6211)
...1872...
The temperature at PHL bottomed out at 5 degrees , the lowest Mar reading since
official records began in 1870. In unofficial records at the PA hospital from 1837 to
1875, the temperature also dipped to 5 degrees on March 4, 1837 and 1868, as well
as March 14, 1856. (PHL)(PHR)
...1962...
A tremendous storm raged along the Atlantic coast. The great Atlantic storm caused
more than 200 million dollars property damage from FL to New England. Winds
along the Mid Atlantic Coast reached 70 mph raising 40' waves, and as much as 33"
of snow blanketed the mountains of VA. The VA shoreline was rearranged by historic
tidal flooding caused by the combination of the long stretch of strong onshore winds
and the "Spring Tides". (L)
...1962...
At the Lewes tide gage located on the bay side of Cape Henlopen in Breakwater
Harbor, Sussex Co, DE, the tide rose to a record 9.5' above mean lower low water.
Severe tidal flooding begins at 8.7' MLLW. (NOS)
...1904...
The Delaware River at TTN rose to a record 30.3', the result of an ice jam. Flood
stage is 20.0'. (USGS)
...1980...
Damaging thunderstorms moved across the region during the evening accompanied
by high wind gusts and hail. Winds gusted to 85 mph at RDG, where 5 airplanes were
flipped over. Hail accumulated 1-2" deep in spots. (SD)
...1943...
The barometric pressure at PHL rose to 30.96", the highest pressure ever recorded in
Mar. (PHL)
...1888...
(March 11-14) Ern Seaboard. Most remarkable blizzard in E. Disastrous from
Chesapeake Bay area to ME. Cities paralyzed included DC, PHL, NYC and BOS.
Wind averaged 20 to 25 mph throughout area for 4 days, at times reaching 50 to over
70 mph. Snowfall averaged 40" or more over NJ, SE NY and Srn New England. In
NYC alone, 200 deaths, uncounted injuries, and damage near $20 million. Total
deaths from blizzard over 400. Maritime losses over $1/2 million and loss by
railroads and business several million dollars. (LS 6107)
...1888...
Only 5 Mar daily snowfall records for PHL remain from the 1800s. They are: 10.5"
on the 12th, 1888; 3.5" on the 17th, 1892; 2.8" on the 23rd, 1896; 1.0" on the 27th, 1891;
and 2.5" on the 31st, 1890. The storm of 1888 was accompanied by a sustained 1-
minute wind speed of 60 mph from the NW, the strongest measurement for the month
of Mar at PHL. (PHL)
...1993...
During a Nor'easter, 12.0" of snow fell at PHL, beginning on the 13th and ending on
the 14th, for the most snow received in Mar in a 24-hr period. 11.7" fell on the 13th,
for the most on a calendar day. The 12.0" on the ground on the 14th remains the
maximum Mar snow depth record. The barometric pressure fell to 28.43" , the lowest
pressure ever recorded in Mar, and the lowest pressure ever recorded at PHL. (PHL)
...1912...
2.64" of precipitation fell at PHL, setting a maximum daily record. This is also the
most precipitation received for any calendar day in Mar, and also remains as the
maximum 24 hour precipitation record for the month. (PHL)
...1892...
Only 5 Mar daily snowfall records for PHL remain from the 1800s. They are: 10.5"
on the 12th, 1888; 3.5" on the 17th, 1892; 2.8" on the 23rd, 1896; 1.0" on the 27th, 1891;
and 2.5" on the 31st, 1890. (PHL)
...1958...
(Mar 19-22) VA-MD-PA-NJ-NY-New England. Unusually late, heavy snowstorm.
Called worse storm in 40 years in SE PA. Snowfall 17.7" at TTN, greatest since
February 1899, and a state average of 13". Heaviest NJ fall 25.2" in Sussex Co. 3" to
over 4' in PA. Damage of $10 million in MD and PA and over $3 1/2 million in NJ.
49 dead, 27 in PA and 8 in MD. Many persons injured. (LS6211)
...1976...
A line of storms moved across the mid Atlantic states mid-day to early afternoon
causing unusually widespread wind damage and tornadoes. Over 20 people were
injured and 2 were killed. A man was killed near Unionville, Chester Co, when a
portion of the roof blown off his barn landed on top of him. A boy died in the hospital
in PHL after being hit in the neck by a drainpipe blown off a building. An F2 tornado
moved NE 1 mile S of Crumpton, Queen Anne's Co, MD, destroying a 368' long
chicken house and causing damage to the farm house. An F3 tornado struck
Stroudsburg, Monroe Co, PA, causing $1/2 million in damage to a factory, and also
damaging 7 homes. PHL gusted to 67 mph. (SD)(G)
...1955...
A probable tornado, F2 or F3, moving from W Chester to Paoli, Chester Co, PA,
killed a man when a tree fell on his truck. (G)
...1896...
Only five Mar daily snowfall records for PHL remain from the 1800s. They are: 10.5"
on the 12th, 1888; 3.5" on the 17th, 1892; 2.8" on the 23rd, 1896; 1.0" on the 27th, 1891;
and 2.5" on the 31st, 1890. (PHL)
...1885...
Unseasonable cold spread from the Great Lakes to FL from the 20th to the 24th. The
Delaware River at Easton, PA, froze, and all the PA canals froze. (2004 weather
calendar, Accord Publishing Ltd)
...1990...
The storm system which produced heavy snow in the Lower Missouri Valley the
previous day, spread heavy snow across parts of the Upper Ohio Valley and the Mid
Atlantic Coast Region. Snowfall totals of 2.2" at PHL and 2.4" at ACY were records
for the date. Up to 6" of snow blanketed southern OH. In the Mid Atlantic Coast
region, snow coated the blossoms of cherry trees which had bloomed in 80 degree
weather the previous week. (SD) (NWS)
...1891...
Only 5 Mar daily snowfall records for PHL remain from the 1800s. They are: 10.5"
on the 12th, 1888; 3.5" on the 17th, 1892; 2.8" on the 23rd, 1896; 1.0" on the 27th, 1891;
and 2.5" on the 31st, 1890. (PHL)
...1911...
An F2 tornado moved from the N of PHL to Burlington, NJ, becoming an F1. A man
was killed in the Tacony, PA, railroad station.(G)
...1945...
The temperature at PHL reached 87 degrees , the highest Mar reading since official
records began in 1870. (PHL)
...1823...
A great Northeast storm with hurricane force winds raged from PA to ME. The storm
was most severe over NJ with high tides, uprooted trees, and heavy snow inland. (L)
...1890...
Only 5 Mar daily snowfall records for PHL remain from the 1800s. They are: 10.5"
on the 12th, 1888; 3.5" on the 17th, 1892; 2.8" on the 23rd, 1896; 1.0" on the 27th, 1891;
and 2.5" on the 31st, 1890. (PHL)
...1910...
The month ended with 0.38" of precipitation, the DRIEST MAR in PHL Records.
(PHL)
...1912...
The month ended with 9.10" of precipitation, the WETTEST MAR in PHL records.
In unofficial records, 9.62" fell in 1826. (PHL)
...1989...
Afternoon thunderstorms produced severe weather from NC to PA. Thunderstorm
winds gusted to 76 mph at Cape Henry, VA. While squalls blanketed NW PA with
up to 9" of snow, thunderstorms in Ern PA produced golf ball size hail /1 3/4"/ at
Avondale, Chester Co. (SD) (NWS)
...2002...
Up to now, no Mar PA state records for max/min temperature, max/min precipitation,
and max snowfall have been set in the Mt Holly area of responsibility. (PASC)
...1923...
The temperature at PHL bottomed out at 14 degrees, the lowest Apr reading since
official records began in 1870. Also, the barometric pressure rose to 30.71", the
highest pressure ever recorded in Apr. This pressure record was tied on Apr 30,
1934. (PHL)
...1929...
After moving in from 1 mile SW of Portland, Northampton Co, PA and destroying
a bridge over the Delaware River, an F2 tornado destroyed a barn and killed a man
3 miles N of Polkville, NJ, W of Blairstown, Warren Co. (Grazulis) 3 killed in PA
and 1 in NJ. (L)
...1960...
Tiros I, the first weather satellite, was launched, forever changing the look of
meteorology. It's lifetime was 2 � months, and it produced 19,389 meteorologically
useable pictures.
...1912...
An F2 tornado destroyed a home at Dagsboro, near Georgetown, Sussex Co, DE,
killing a person. (G)
...1970...
The barometric pressure at PHL fell to 28.91", the lowest pressure ever recorded in
Apr. (PHL)
...1915...
19.4" of snow fell at PHL beginning on the 3rd and ending on the 4th, for the most Apr
snow received in 24 hours. 19.0" fell on the 3rd, for the snowiest Apr calender day.
The maximum depth attained during this storm was 15.0" on the 3rd, for the deepest
Apr snow depth. (PHL)
...1975...
One of the worst wind storms to hit the region began on the 3rd and lasted into the 5th.
The storm is noteworthy not only for the strength of the wind, but the length of
occurrence. The strongest winds and most of the damage occurred on the 3rd. Many
trees were uprooted or broken off, and houses and buildings were damaged, some
with their roofs being blown off. Winds gusted to over 50 mph throughout the region,
with PHL reporting a gust to 65 mph. An F2 tornado touched down in Chester Co,
PA, at Whitford, then again at Opperman's Corner, causing tree damage. A trace of
snow fell later in the day. (PHL)(SD)
...1886...
The month of April has the most daily snowfall records at PHL extending from the
1800s, a total of 7. They are: 1.0" on the 4th, 1886; 3.0' on the 5th, 1898; 0.7" on the
10th, 1894; 0.5" on the 11th, 1894; 0.3" on the 15th, 1892; 0.5" on the 16th, 1888; and
a trace on the 28th, 1898. (PHL)
...1933...
Rigid airship USS Akron (ZRS-4) crashed in a storm off NJ. 73 killed, 3 injured.
Blimp J-3 crashed while searching for survivors of the Akron, fatally injuring LCDR
David Ervin Cummins and Aviation Chief Metalsmith Pasquale Bettio. (N)
...1984...
The Rockaway River at Boonton, above the reservoir, Morris Co, NJ, rose to a record
7.2'. Flood stage is 5.0'. (USGS)
...1852...
A great storm. Snow fell to a depth of 8", but melted a good deal as it fell. In the
evening there was vivid lightning and heavy thunder. After 8 pm, the gale increased
and rain was incessant with slowly rising temperature. (PHR)
...1898...
The month of April has the most daily snowfall records at PHL extending from the
1800s, a total of 7. They are: 1.0" on the 4th, 1886; 3.0" on the 5th, 1898; 0.7" on the
10th, 1894; 0.5" on the 11th, 1894; 0.3" on the 15th, 1892; 0.5" on the 16th, 1888; and
a trace on the 28th, 1898. (PHL)
...1984...
The Wanaque River at Wanaque, Passaic Co, NJ, rose to a record 10.5'. Flood stage
is 5.0'. The Ramapo River at Pompton Lakes, Passaic Co, rose to a record 15.2'. Flood
stage is 11.7'. (USGS)
...1982...
A late season storm produced snowfall accumulations ranging from 3-6" across Srn
PA into central NJ, and 6-12" from ABE and the Poconos, and into the metropolitan
NE NJ region. Strong winds developed during the afternoon and lasted into the
following day. By the morning of the 7th, temperatures had fallen into the teens. PHL
measured 1.25" of liquid precipitation, and a snowfall accumulation of 3.5", a daily
snowfall record. (PHL)(SD)
...1984...
The Pompton River at Pompton Plains, Morris Co, NJ, rose to a record 24.5'. Flood
stage is 16.0'. (USGS)
...1982...
At the Reedy Point tide gage located in New Castle Co, DE, at the E end of the
Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, the tide fell to a record minus 3.7' below mean low
lower water. Blowout tides begin at minus 1.8' below MLLW. (NOS)
...1860...
Snow began between 5 and 6 pm and ended between 6 and 7 am on the 10th, at which
time there was 1' of moist snow on the ground with a water equivalent of 2.02".
(PHR)
...1894...
(April 10-12) Md-DC-DE-PA-NJ-NY. Whirling snowstorm and gale winds,
remarkable so late in Spring. Most severe for many years in MD, DE and DC with
snow 20 to 24" deep; 12 to 31" in PA; 5 to 21" in NJ; and 6 to 30" in NY. Roads
blocked. (LS6211)
The month of April has the most daily snowfall records at PHL extending from the
1800s, a total of 7. They are: 1.0" on the 4th, 1886; 3.0" on the 5th, 1898; 0.7" on the
10th, 1894; 0.5" on the 11th, 1894; 0.3" on the 15th, 1892; 0.5" on the 16th, 1888; and
a trace on the 28th, 1898. (PHL)
...1960...
During the morning, US Weather Bureau scientists at Fort Monmouth, NJ, discovered
a previously unreported fully developed typhoon 800 miles E of Brisbane, Australia,
when analyzing photos taken on the 125th orbit of the experimental television weather
satellite Tiros I.
...1894...
The month of April has the most daily snowfall records at PHL extending from the
1800s, a total of 7. They are: 1.0" on the 4th, 1886; 3.0" on the 5th, 1898; 0.7" on the
10th, 1894; 0.5" on the 11th, 1894; 0.3" on the 15th, 1892; 0.5" on the 16th, 1888; and
a trace on the 28th, 1898. (PHL)
...1856...
The records of the PA Hospital say that a tornado unroofed or destroyed more than
150 houses, chiefly in the Nrn part of PHL. (PHR)
...1974...
An F2 tornado damaged homes in Lebanon Township, 30 miles S of Flemington,
Hunterdon Co, NJ. No deaths or injuries were reported from the storm. (SD)(G)
...1892...
The month of April has the most daily snowfall records at PHL extending from the
1800s, a total of 7. They are: 1.0" on the 4th, 1886; 3.0" on the 5th, 1898; 0.7" on the
10th, 1894; 0.5" on the 11th, 1894; 0.3" on the 15th, 1892; 0.5" on the 16th, 1888; and
a trace on the 28th, 1898. (PHL)
...1888...
The month of Apr at PHL has the most daily snowfall records extending from the
1800s, a total of 7. They are: 1.0" on the 4th, 1886; 3.0" on the 5th, 1898; 0.7" on the
10th, 1894; 0.5" on the 11th, 1894; 0.3" on the 15th, 1892; 0.5" on the 16th, 1888; and
a trace on the 28th, 1898. (PHL)
...2002...
The temperature at PHL reached 95 degrees , the highest Apr reading since official
records began in 1870. (PHL)
...1983...
A record late snowstorm for the area began on the 19th and extended into the 20th. 1-3"
of snow fell in Srn portions, with up to 8-20" falling in the north. PHL received 1.3"
on the 19th and 0.6" on the 20th, both daily snowfall records. (PHL)(SD)
...1865...
The body of President Lincoln was brought to Independence Hall, PHL, and funeral
held there. (PHR)
...1986...
An unusual late snowfall blanketed the PA Poconos with 30" of snow, and NW NJ
received up to 20". Phl received a daily record snowfall amount of a trace.
(PHL)(2004 weather calendar, Accord Publishing Ltd.)
...1842...
A tornado touched down in Sussex Co, NJ. (G)
...1907...
Charles Barnitz, of Delanco Rd, below Perkins Lane, Beverly, NJ, killed by lightning
during an evening thunderstorm as he was trying to make it to shore while shad
fishing. (NJM - Wed May 1, 1907)
...1990...
29 cities from the Carolinas to the Great Lakes Region and Wrn New England
reported record high temperatures for the date as readings soared into the 80s and
lower 90s. Record highs included 95 degrees at BAL, and 92 degrees at ABE. The
record of 89 degrees at Alpena, MI was the 3rd out of 6 straight record highs for that
location, and smashed their previous record for the date by 10 degrees. (NWS)
...1898...
The month of Apr has the most daily snowfall records at PHL extending from the
1800s, a total of 7. They are: 1.0" on the 4th, 1886; 3.0" on the 5th, 1898; 0.7" on the
10th, 1894; 0.5" on the 11th, 1894; 0.3" on the 15th, 1892; 0.5" on the 16th, 1888; and
a trace on the 28th, 1898. (PHL)
...1900...
A slight shock of earthquake was felt at night in various towns throughout Gloucester
and Camden Co, NJ. (NJM - Wed, May 2)
...1961...
An F2 tornado damaged 6 homes and a warehouse at New Castle, DE. (G)
...1874...
The month ended with a total of 9.76" of precipitation, the WETTEST APR in PHL
records. (PHL)
...1934...
The barometric pressure at PHL rose to 30.71", tying the HIGHEST PRESSURE ever
recorded in APR, previously set on the 1st in 1923. (PHL)
...1947...
3.29" of precipitation fell at PHL, setting a maximum daily record. This is also the
most precipitation received for any calendar day in Apr. The 24 hour total beginning
Apr 30th and ending May 1st of 4.02" remains the precipitation record for 24 hours
which includes part of an Apr day. (PHL)
...1985...
The month ended with 0.52" of precipitation, the DRIEST APR in PHL Records.
(PHL)
...2002...
Up to now, no Apr PA state records for max/min temperature, max/min precipitation,
and max snowfall have been set in the Mt Holly area of responsibility. (PASC)
...1953...
A trace of snow has fallen at PHL only 5 times in May, on the 1st in 1953, of which
a dusting of snow on the ground holds the record for maximum snow depth, then
again in 1963; on the 6th in 1891; on the 8th in 1898, and again in 1947, the latest day
that snow has occurred at PHL. (PHL)
...1963...
A trace of snow has fallen at PHL only 5 times in May, on the 1st in 1953, of which
a dusting of snow on the ground holds the record for maximum snow depth, then
again in 1963; on the 6th in 1891; on the 8th in 1898, and again in 1947, the latest day
that snow has occurred at PHL. (PHL)
...2002...
An F2 tornado touched down near Rising Sun, Cecil Co, MD at 538 pm EDT. It was
the first F2 tornado in Cecil Co since May 15, 1981. There were no injuries, but 21
structures suffered moderate to extensive damage, with the worst damage occurring
at the Tailwind Estates Development. Damage cost was estimated near $330
thousand. (For a look at the storm track, click on Event Archive, under Climate on
our home page menu.)(SD)
...1900...
John Cavin, 15, son of Simon, a well known resident of Clifford, was struck and
killed by lightning during the thunderstorm at night. The boy was about to seat
himself at the supper table, when the bolt struck him, killing him instantly. (NJM -
State Notes)
...1929...
The barometric pressure at PHL fell to 29.00", the lowest pressure ever recorded in
May. (PHL)
...1812...
A storm produced snow from PHL to ME. 1' of snow fell near Keene, NH, and in
MA, 9" fell at Waltham, located near BOS. (L)
...1828...
A most destructive hail storm passed over several districts of Bucks Co, PA, during
the evening, accompanied with vivid flashes of lightning and very heavy thunder. In
Tinicum township, a large stone barn was entirely reduced to a heap of ruins, killing
3 cows and 7 sheep. Another house was unroofed and the barn blown down. Many
trees and fences were prostrated. The hail stones, some very large, fell in great
quantities and destroyed a number of fields of grain. (NJM-Wed May 24, from a May
12 Doylestown report.)
...1891...
A trace of snow has fallen at PHL only 5 times in May, on the 1st in 1953, of which
a dusting of snow on the ground holds the record for maximum snow depth, then
again in 1963; on the 6th in 1891; and on the 8th in 1898, and again in 1947, the latest
day that snow has occurred at PHL. (PHL)
...1956...
An F2 tornado touched down in Cape May Co not long after midnight. No deaths or
injuries were reported. (SD)
...1803...
A freak spring storm produced heavy snow from S IN to New England. The storm
made sleighing possible in MA, but also ruined shade trees in PHL. (L)
...1898...
A trace of snow has fallen at PHL only 5 times in May, on the 1st in 1953, of which
a dusting of snow on the ground holds the record for maximum snow depth, then
again in 1963; on the 6th in 1891; and on the 8th in 1898, and again in 1947, the latest
day that snow has occurred at PHL. (PHL)
...1947...
A trace of snow has fallen at PHL only 5 times in May, on the 1st in 1953, of which
a dusting of snow on the ground holds the record for maximum snow depth, then
again in 1963; on the 6th in 1891; and on the 8th in 1898, and again in 1947, the latest
day that snow has occurred at PHL. (PHL)
...1889...
USA E coast, destructive storm. (N)
...1931...
Very damaging hailstorm in Burlington Co, NJ, with hailstones the size of golf balls
/1 3/4"/ ; auto tops and windshields broken; $300,000 damage. (L)
...1990...
An F2 tornado hit Vineland, Cumberland Co, NJ, blowing out a concrete wall at a
school. People were injured by flying glass at an auto dealership. An F0 tornado also
touched down in Carmel, Cumberland Co, with wind gusts measured at 76 mph.
Hundreds of trees were either uprooted or broken off and utility poles were downed.
Thunderstorms produced wind gusts of 61 mph in Somers Point and Hammonton,
Atlantic Co, NJ, and golf ball sized hail /1 3/4"/ in South Toms River, Ocean co.
(SD)(G)
...1865...
A tornado touched down in Philadelphia around 6 pm, killing 1 person and injuring
15 others. Walter Houselock, aged 15, was passing by a house at the corner of
Cumberland and Sepviva streets, when part of the house hit him as the house was
being blown down. There was great destruction to property, with 23 houses blown
down, damage to the Reading Railroad depot, with the water tank carried 150 yards.
Fairmont Park was damaged to the amount of $20,000. (G)(L)
...1966...
The temperature at PHL bottomed out at 28 degrees, the lowest May reading since
official records began in 1870. In unofficial records at PA hospital from 1837 to
1875, the temperature fell to 26 degrees on May 1, 1847. (PHL)
...1867...
A tornado touched down toward midnight in Burlington Co, NJ. (G)
...1975...
Heavy hailstorm over Nrn NJ; hailstones the size of golf balls /1 3/4"/ accumulated
to a depth of 12". (L)
...1834...
An old newspaper gave a report of the weather conditions at Mt Holly. "Very cold;
freezing in the shade with a clear sun. Icicles hanging 12" long." (NJM - Wed Jun 12,
1907)
...1889...
During a thunderstorm that occurred between 5 and 6 pm at White Oak Run, near
Tannersville, Monroe Co, PA, lightning struck a large rock in front of Edward
Turner's barn, burning the barn as well as killing Mrs Turner and the cow she was
milking. The lightning also killed a dog lying about 70 feet away from the rock. (PR,
Sun, May 11, 2003)
...1948...
Hailstorm in Bound Brook, Somerset Co, to the South Plainfield, Middlesex Co, area;
$50,000 loss; damage to airplanes at Hadley Field. (L)
..1987...
Thunderstorms in KS, developing along a cold front, spawned tornadoes at Emporia
and Toledo, produced wind gusts to 65 mph at Fort Scott, and produced golf ball size
hail /1 3/4"/ in the Kansas City area. Unseasonably hot weather prevailed ahead of the
cold front. Pomona, NJ, reported a record high of 93 degrees, and Altus, OK, hit 100
degrees. (NWS) (SD)
...1995...
An F2 tornado touched down on the Ern shore of the Chesapeake Bay, 1 mile S of
Cordova in the Kittys Corner area, destroying 2 homes. The tornado proceeded
through an unpopulated area of Talbot and SW Caroline Co, crossing into Caroline
about 4 miles S of Hillsboro, along Tuckahoe Creek. The tornado lifted in Martinak
State Park, just S of Denton, 3 miles NE of Williston. (G)
...1780...
The infamous "dark day" in New England tradition. At noon it was nearly as dark as
night. Chickens went to roost, and many persons were fearful of divine wrath. The
phenomena was caused by forest fires to the W of New England. (L)
...1915...
A solar halo of remarkable brilliancy occurred from 10 am to 1230 pm, and caused
much alarm among the superstitious. From 10 am until nearly 3 pm, there was a
waiting list at each phone. Many wanted to know if it presaged the end of the world.
(PHL)
...1947...
An F1 tornado killed a small boy and injured his brother near Mohrsville, Berks Co,
PA. (G)
...1804...
Earliest (known) tornado fatality in NJ state history. A small tornado passed through
Flemington, Huntingdon Co, NJ, and 1 person was killed by a falling tree. The
tornado touched down again in Somerset Co and Middlesex Co. (L) (G-has death
from a separate event)
...1936...
The barometric pressure at PHL rose to 30.64", the highest pressure ever recorded in
May. (PHL)
...1942...
The Lehigh River at Walnutport, Northampton Co, PA, rose to a record 20.6', with
a flood stage of 8.0', and to a record 25.9' at Bethlehem, Northampton Co, with flood
stage 16.0'. (USGS)
...1758...
Hailstorm in Burlington, NJ, left hail in drifts to 6", and remained on the ground until
night. (L)
...1828...
(Actual date not given). Violent hail storm. A letter from Potter's Landing, Caroline
Co, Eastern Shore, MD, mentions a destructive hail storm by which houses, fences,
orchards and timber were prostrated. Upwards of 50 buildings are said to have been
blown down, and birds of various kind killed. The crops of rye and wheat have
suffered severely. (NJM-Wed, May 24)
...1962...
An F2 tornado moved E from Bucks Co, PA, crossing the Delaware River at
Washington Crossing State Park. The tornado then skipped S of Pennington, along
the Nrn edge of Lawrenceville, and just N of Port Mercer, Mercer Co, NJ. One person
was injured in NJ. (SD)(G)
...1826...
Tremendous hail storm Eastern MD shore during the evening. Laid waste and blasted
beautiful prospects of wheat and vegetables. From Hillsborough, Caroline Co, to
Easton, Talbot Co. Mr. Gerred H Snowden, Elkridge, killed by hail or lightning.
Between the Severn and Patapsco rivers, hail the size of hens eggs /2"/ with one 5 �"
in circumference. Across the bay in Calvert Co, a black man was killed by hail. (F-
Wed, May 28, 1826.
...1907...
Hail to the depth of 3" fell around Riverside, Rancocas and Moorestown, NJ, during
the afternoon and much damage was done to the vegetation. Everything on the farms
where the hail fell the thickest was ruined and replanting will have to be done. Sacks
of hailstones were exhibited in the 3 towns nearest the storm. There was also much
damage from Hartford to Bridgeborough. (NJM - Wed May 29, 1907)
...1918...
3.16" of precipitation fell at PHL, setting a maximum daily record. This is also the
most precipitation received for any calendar day in May. (PHL)
...1941...
The temperature at Marcus Hook, Delaware Co, rose to 102 degrees, tying the PA
May state maximum temperature record set on a day in 1895 at Lock Haven, Clinton
Co. (PASC)
...2001...
An F2 tornado moved through Manalapan, in NW Monmouth Co, NJ. (For more
detailed information, click on Event Archive, under Climate on our homepage menu.)
...1896...
F3 tornadoes skipped through Montgomery and Bucks Cos, PA, then across Mercer
and Monmouth Cos, NJ, from S of Ambler, to "Jarrrettstown," S of Hatboro, near
Langhorne, then crossed the Delaware River, 4 miles S of TTN. Damage was done
to businesses at White Horse and Allentown, NJ. Losses totaled over $200,000. At
least 16 barns were destroyed and all of the 4 deaths may have been in barns or
stables, 2 in each PA Co. 15 other people were injured. (G)
...1973...
Two F3 tornadoes touched down during the afternoon in Morris Co, NJ, with an F1
being reported in Berks Co, PA. One of the NJ tornadoes injured 12 people. (SD)
...1929...
Hailstorm at Mullica Hill, Gloucester Co, NJ; hen-egg-size hailstones /2"/ remained
on ground for 3 days; storm reached Ocean Co. (L)
...1789...
A tornado touched down in Sussex Co, DE. (G)
...1991...
The temperature at PHL reached 97 degrees , the highest May reading since official
records began in 1870. (PHL)
...1894...
The month ended with 9.46" of precipitation at PHL, the WETTEST MAY in PHL
records. Quakertown, Bucks Co, received 15.02", establishing a May PA state
maximum precipitation record. (PHL)(PASC)
...1964...
The month ended with 0.47" of precipitation at PHL, the DRIEST MAY in PHL
records. In unofficial records, only 0.19" fell in 1826. Only 0.06" fell at Bethlehem,
Northampton Co for a May PA minimum precipitation record. (PHL)(PHR)(PASC)
...1983...
The Spring season received 21.85" of precipitation, the WETTEST SPRING in PHL
records. (PHL)
...1887...
The Spring season received 5.21" of rain, the DRIEST SPRING in PHL records.
(PHL)
...1991...
The temperature at PHL reached 97 degrees for the second day in a row, the highest
May readings since official records began in 1870. (PHL)
...1998...
An F3 tornado moved through the Nrn section of Lyons, Berks Co, PA, causing much
damage, but only a few injuries and no fatalities. (SD)
...1945...
The temperature at PHL bottomed out at 44 degrees, the lowest Jun reading since
official records began in 1870. Since then, this reading has been tied 6 times in the
official records. In unofficial PA hospital records from 1837 to 1875, the temperature
fell to 40 degrees on June 2, 1843. (PHL)
The greatest damage reported from the effects of the nighttime hail storm at Mt Holly
was to Edward Logan's wheat crop to the amount of $1,000 on his farm on the S
Pemberton road. Although quite severe at Mt Holly, reports from adjoining towns
would indicate that the county seat escaped the worst of it. In some places hail stones
were found to a depth of 6'. Damage to Samuel A Dobbin's strawberry crop amounted
to $500. (NJM-Wed Jun 5, 1901)
...1980...
Damaging thunderstorms marched across the region during the afternoon
accompanied by high wind. RDG reported a wind gust to 70 mph and ABE gusted to
69 mph. Hundreds, if not thousands, of trees were felled. One man was killed when
a tree fell on his pick-up truck in PHL. Many roads were completely blocked by fallen
trees. (SD)
...1825...
A hurricane struck Long Island NY leveling trees and causing damage to ships. The
early season hurricane, which originated around Cuba, caused major damage along
the Atlantic coast from Charleston, SC, to NYC. The wind rush at PHL tore up trees
by the roots in front of the State House. Many people were lost at sea. The schooner
Hornet foundered near New York with loss of her entire crew. (NHC)(EAH)
...1988...
A dozen cities in the Ern U.S. reported record low temperatures for the date,
including ACY, with a reading of 40 degrees. (NWS)
...1925...
The temperature at PHL reached 100 degrees , the earliest 100+ reading since official
records began in 1870. (PHL)
...1742...
Heavy hail at Amwell, Somerset Co, NJ, killed a boy and damaged roofs. (L)
...2002...
The parking lot of a closed service station at Somers Point, Atlantic Co, NJ, was hit
by lightning. It traveled to the underground storage tank. The resulting explosion left
a crater 50' in diameter and 8-10' deep. (2004 weather calender, Accord Publishing
Ltd)
...1989...
An F2 tornado destroyed 6 well-built houses and a school gym at Hockessin, New
Castle Co, DE. 52 other homes were damaged. (G)
...1956...
A thunderstorm with accompanying hail, wind and lightning caused an estimated
$250,000 damage in Hunterdon and Warren Co, NJ. Hailstones varying in size from
moth balls to golf balls /1 3/4"/ piled up 4 to 5" high in some places. (L)
...1879...
Lightning struck and burned the Atlantic Refining Company's plant at Point Breeze,
and 5 vessels that lay nearby in the harbor. (PHL)
...1920...
Patrol vessel USS Eagle, while making passage up the Delaware River, was struck
by a squall and capsized. 9 killed. (N)
...1968...
The first day of June saw Tropical Storm "Abby" form in the western Caribbean Sea.
The storm moved NE and crossed central FL, briefly reaching hurricane status in the
Gulf of Mexico. The tropical storm then moved along the coast of FL and into GA,
then made a loop as a tropical depression through the Carolinas, moving S to the
NC/SC coast. The depression turned NE and moved along the coast of NC then
dissipated on the 12th SE of the Delmarva. PHL received 3.05" of rain on the 12th, a
daily record. In PHR for the 12th, 4.40" of rain fell in 1858. (PHL)(PHR)
...1900...
A thunderstorm moved through Stroudsburg, PA, this Wed. It rained on one side of
Main St and not the other. (PR - Sun Jun 8, 2003.)
...1958...
F2 tornadoes touched down during late afternoon in the counties of Burlington and
Mercer in NJ. An F1 hit Ocean Co, NJ. No deaths or injuries were reported. (SD)
...1987...
Thunderstorms in the NE U.S. produced golf ball size hail /1 3/4"/ around Hamilton
Square, NJ, along with high winds which tore the roof off a hospital causing a $1
million damage. Averill Park, NY was deluged with 1.64" of rain in 15 minutes.
(SD)(NWS)
...2001...
Tropical storm Allison formed off the coast of Texas and moved inland on the 6th.
The storm remained well organized and brought torrential rain and flooding from
Texas, through the Srn states and into the Mid Atlantic region on its 10 day journey
to the Atlantic ocean. Allison regained tropical storm strength again E of ACY.
Rainfall amounts of more than 10" were measured in the NW suburbs of Philadelphia.
(For more detailed information, click on Event Archive, under Climate on our
homepage menu.)
...1944...
Hail did considerable damage to crops in Burlington Co, NJ, with the tomato crop
hard hit. (L)
..1835...
A tornado first reported in Amwell Township, Somerset County, NJ, tore through the
center of New Brunswick, NJ, killing 5 persons, injuring 40 others, and scattering
debris as far as Manhattan. The tornado provided the first opportunity for scientists
to study first hand the track of such a storm. (L) (G)
...1934...
A hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico came ashore in LA, then moved NE, passing over
Nrn DE, PHL and central NJ as an extratropical storm, with sustained winds of 45
mph. PHL received 1.70" of rainfall on the 18th and 19th, and NYC had 1.93" on the
19th, a daily record. As the storm passed over PHL, the pressure dropped to 29.40",
the 3rd lowest reading ever for Jun. (PHL) (NCC)
...1919...
Hail streak near Montague, Sussex Co, NJ, was 5 miles long with stones as large as
walnuts. (L)
...1826...
Great hailstorm near New Vernon, Morris Co, NJ. Much damage. 2 days later, hail
remained in such profusion, as to be collected in shovels full. (F-Wed, Jul 5, 1826)
...1972...
Hurricane Agnes deluged PA and NY State with torrential rains resulting in the most
costly flood and one of the greatest natural disasters in U.S. history. Agnes moved
onshore near Cape San Blas, FL on Jun 19 with wind gusts to 80 mph, and exited ME
on the 26th. There were 117 deaths mainly due to flooding from NC to NY State,
making it onto the Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492 to Present, list. (At
least 25 deaths needed to make this list). Total damage was estimated at more than $3
billion. In the middle Susquehanna Valley of PA, 24 hour rainfall amounts were
generally 8 to 12", with up to 19" in extreme SW Schuylkill Co. At Wilkes-Barre, PA
the dike was breached destroying much of the town. Agnes caused more damage than
all other tropical cyclones in the previous 6 years combined (which included Celia
and Camille). The Little Lehigh Creek at ABE, Little Lehigh Park, Lehigh Co, PA,
rose to a record 11.8'. Flood stage is 5.0'. The Schuylkill River rose to a record 19.9',
with a flood stage of 12.0', at Berne, Berks Co, PA; to a record 31.3', with flood stage
13.0', at Reading, Berks Co; to a record 30.0', with flood stage 13.0', at Pottstown,
Montgomery Co, PA; and to a record 25.1', with flood stage 17.0', at Norristown,
Montgomery Co. The barometric pressure at PHL fell to 29.07", the lowest pressure
ever recorded in Jun. PHL received 0.92" of rain on the 21st, 2.35" on the 22nd, and
0.19" on the 23rd, for a total of 3.46". (PHL) (L) (TWC)(USGS)
...1987...
Thunderstorms in NY State produced 5.01" of rain in 24 hours at Buffalo, an all-time
record for that location, and produced 1" of rain at Bath, PA. (NWS) (SD)
...1886...
A hurricane that moved into the FL panhandle on the 21st crossed DE and extreme Srn
NJ the morning of the 23rd as a tropical storm. PHL received 0.39" of rain on the 22nd
and 0.34" on the 23rd, for a total of 0.73". (PHL)
...1906...
Widespread wind and hail damage from Mercer and Burlington Co, NJ, and E to the
Atlantic Ocean; hailstones averaged 11/2 to 21/2" in diameter; waterspouts with large
hail crossed Sandy Hook, Monmouth Co, NJ. The Bordentown, BURLCO, NJ, region
reported considerable crop damage during the afternoon storm from hail as large as
walnuts / 11/2" /. PHL received 0.14" of precipitation. (L)(PHL)(NJM)
...1910...
Civil War veteran George W. Williams died early today, the 4th day of a torrid heat
wave, in PHL. The temperature at 10 am was 85 degrees and the humidity was far
more oppressive. The death toll is currently 26. (EDJ - Thu June 23)
...1944...
An F3 tornado, probably a family of tornadoes, moved ESE from Dorchester Co, MD,
into Sussex Co, DE. However, the tornado in DE was only F1. (G)
...1972...
The Jordan Creek at ABE, Lehigh Co, PA, rose to a record 11.6'. Flood stage is 8.0'.
The Brandywine Creek at ILG rose to a record 15.5'. Flood stage is 11.0'. (USGS)
...1926...
Hailstorm in Burlco caused a train N of Berlin to stop because of poor visibility. (L)
...1960...
An F2 tornado hit Gwynedd Heights, near Norristown, Montco, tearing apart several
houses and barns, and also hit the Barto-Perkiomen area, damaging homes and
destroying barns. (G - Berks Co, PA, also listed)
...1981...
Late afternoon violent thunderstorms moved across the region. ABE recorded a gust
to 77 mph, with quite a few roofs blown off, chimneys toppled, windows blown in,
several barns blown over, and innumerable trees felled. Power was interrupted to
almost 100,000 customers, some without power for several days. Heavyrain caused
flooding and mudslides. PHL measured 1.91 inches of rain. (SD)(PHL)
...1989...
Tropical depression Allison, the remnants of what was earlier Cosme (a hurricane
over the Pacific Ocean which dissipated as it crossed Nrn Mexico), began to spread
heavy rain into SE TX and SW LA. (NWS)(See July 5th )
...1921...
Severe hailstorm at TTN, with stones 3/4" in diameter; much damage. (L)
...1965...
The barometric pressure at PHL rose to 30.56", the highest pressure ever recorded in
Jun. (PHL)
...1788...
The Battle of Monmouth in central NJ was fought in sweltering heat. The temperature
was 96 degrees in the shade, and there were more casualties from the heat than from
bullets. (L)
...1979...
Thunderstorms produced hail up to golf-ball size /1 3/4"/ which caused considerable
crop damage in Berks Co, PA. Hailstones covered the ground in some areas, washed
into drifts 4-6" deep, with some piles of hail still not melted the next morning. (SD)
...1907...
A tropical storm moved from the Gulf of Mexico to coastal NC, where it is recorded
as dissipating. The remnants moved N and combined with a cold front moving in
from the Ohio valley, producing 2 days of widespread severe weather on the 28th to
29th. PHL received 1.52", with an extra 0.11" falling on the 30th. In some areas,
rainfall amounts ranged from 3 to 6.73", producing flooding that exceeded the
flooding of tropical storm Agnes in 1972. Thunderstorms also produced high winds,
hail and tornadoes, including F2 tornadoes at Edgemont, Delaware Co, where debris
from a destroyed garage was carried 3/4 miles away, and in Bucks Co, near Solebury,
where most of the damage was in the Honey Hollow Watershed, a national historic
conservation landmark. 8 people were killed, 6 by drowning in swollen streams or
rivers. (SD)(PHL)
...1934...
The temperature at PHL reached 102 degrees , the highest Jun reading since official
records began in 1870. (PHL)
...1973...
An F2 tornado at Edgemont, Delaware Co, PA, completely destroyed a garage, with
the debris carried for over a mile. Also listed in Bucks Co, PA. 4.62" of rain fell at
PHL, setting a daily record. This is also the most precipitation received on any
calendar day in Jun, and also remains the maximum precipitation record in a 24 hour
period for the month of Jun. (SD)(G) (PHL)
...1982...
A late afternoon F2 tornado moved ENE from Silver Ridge Park in Berkeley
Township, Ocean Co, NJ. The tornado struck 2 retirement villages, damaging homes
and vehicles. An F1 tornado was reported in Bucks Co, PA. No deaths or injuries
were reported with these tornadoes. (SD)(G)
...1892...
An F1 tornado moved along the Delaware River shoreline at Camden, NJ, killing 2
people. (L)
...1918...
A trace of snow fell in Jun at Mount Pocono, Monroe Co, the first ever in Jun in the
Mt Holly area of responsibility, tying the Jun PA state maximum snowfall record set
in 1907 and 1902.
...1938...
The month ended with 10.06" of precipitation, the WETTEST JUN in PHL records.
In unofficial records, 11.02" fell in 1867. (PHL)
...1949...
The month ended with 0.11" of precipitation, the DRIEST JUN in PHL records.
(PHL)
...1972...
The entire state of PA was declared a disaster area as a result of the catastrophic
flooding caused by Hurricane Agnes (Jun 22), which claimed 48 lives, and caused
$2.1 billion of damage. (TWC)
...1792...
A tremendous storm (a tornado or hurricane) hit PHL and NYC. About 40 young
people were drowned while out boating on that Sun. (L)
...1877...
2 persons were killed and 25 others injured when a rare F4 tornado touched down
during the afternoon in Chester Co, PA, after hitting Lancaster Co. (G)
...1981...
Tropical storm Bret formed well off the NC coast, but moved toward the W then NW
across the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and into VA. PHL received 0.49" of rain.
(PHL)(NHC)
...1988...
26 cities in the N central and NE US reported record low temperatures for the date.
Lows of 48 degrees at Providence, RI, 48 degrees at Roanoke, VA, 49 degrees at
Stratford, CT, and 48 degrees at ILG, were records for the month of Jul. BOS equaled
their record for Jul with a low of 50 degrees. 5" of snow whitened MT Washington,
NH. (NWS)
...1886...
Similar to the Jun 23rd storm, a hurricane moved into the FL panhandle on Jul 1st then
into the lower Delmarva on the 2nd, where it dissipated. PHL received only 0.04" of
rain. (PHL)
...1932...
The barometric pressure at PHL fell to 29.37", the lowest pressure ever recorded in
Jul. (PHL)
...1901...
One of the most severe and disastrous thunderstorms struck Mt Holly during the
evening. Alice, 12 year old daughter of Job Shinn, was killed instantly by lightning
when she stepped outside her home to get a little kitten from the threatening
downpour. This was the first lightning death in Mt Holly that had been recorded for
a long time. Many residences and businesses were struck, and other people struck
recovered. Trees were splintered to pieces or uprooted. The storm sank a sailboat in
the Delaware river off Beverly, drowning 1 of the 2 men. (NJM-Wed Jul 10, 1901)
..1936...
The temperature at PHL reached 104 degrees , the highest Jul reading since official
records began in 1870. (PHL)
...1966...
The NE US was in the midst of a sweltering heat wave. The temperature at PHL
reached 104 degrees. Afternoon highs of 102 degrees at Hartford, CT, 105 degrees
at ABE, and 107 degrees at LaGuardia Airport in NYC established all-time records
for those locations. The 104 degrees at PHL tied the monthly record high last set on
Jul 10, 1936, and are the highest Jul readings since official records began in 1870.
(L)(PHL)(TWC)
...1975...
Afternoon thunderstorms over eastern PA produced lightning, hail, wind and heavy
rain. ABE reported a wind gust to 66 mph, with Morrisville, Bucks Co, gusting to
over 60 mph. Both ABE and Morrisville were hit with 3/4" hail. (SD)
...1987...
Showers and thunderstorms produced heavy rain in NJ, with 5.2" reported at Trenton
State College. (NWS)
...1776...
The weather at PHL, from the Journal of Israel (or Phineas) Pemberton, taken 2 miles
W of PHL:
7 am: 65.5 degrees, fair skies, a N wind, and a pressure of 30.5".
3 pm: 74 degrees with cloudy skies, a SW wind, and a pressure of 30.25".
(The American Philosophical Society library)
...1850...
A tornado touched down in Somerset Co, NJ. (G)
...1937...
The White Clay Creek at Newark, New Castle Co, DE, rose to a record 23.0'. Flood
stage is 13.0'. (USGS)
...1950...
An F2 tornado skipped NE from N of New Smithville to the Lehigh River, N of
Fullerton, which is N of ABE, damaging a house and hotel and destroying a barn. (G)
...1974...
Strong winds associated with thunderstorms downs trees damaging automobiles and
pulling down power lines in Delaware and Philadelphia counties between 2 and 5 pm
EDT. Winds gusted to 55 mph at PHL. (SD)
...1984...
A tornado-downburst outbreak extended from Pricetown, Berks Co, PA to Macungie,
Lehigh Co, PA. The first tornado, F3, moved ENE from Pricetown and passed less
than a mile N of New Jerusalem. The second tornado, F2, moved from Midway,
between Lyons and New Jerusalem. The third tornado, F2, moved from 2 miles S of
Topton, passing 1 mile S of Alburtis to near Macungie. The fourth tornado, F2,
moved from 3 miles SSW to 1 mile SE of Macungie. Numerous houses were
destroyed or severely damaged. This type of tornado-downburst is common in Ern PA
and many Nrn states. (SD) (G)
..1989...
Moisture from what once was Tropical Storm Allison triggered thunderstorms over
the Mid Atlantic Coast region, which deluged ILG with a record 6.83" of rain in 24
hours, including 6.37" in just 6 hours. Up to 10" of rain was reported at Claymont, NE
of ILG. July 1989 was thus the wettest month in 70 years for ILG, with a total of
12.63" of rain. 4.38" of precipitation fell at PHL, setting a daily record. This is also
the most precipitation received on any calender day in Jul. The rainfall total of 4.49"
that fell at PHL on the 4th and 5th remains a 24 hour precipitation record. (PHL)
(NWS)(SD)
Remnants of a tropical system brought 4 to 8" of rain to the PHL area between 7am
and 11 am. Reports of around 8" of rain were received from Salem County, NJ, 6.11"
of rain from Verga in Gloucester County and just under 4.5" of rain from PHL
International Airport. Numerous streams and road flooding were common. The
heaviest rain was limited to within 10 to 20 miles E and W of the Delaware River.
(Mt Holly Staff)
...1892...
The barometric pressure at PHL rose to 30.51", the highest pressure ever recorded in
Jul. (PHL)
...1935...
The Perkiomen Creek at Graterford, Montgomery Co, PA, rose to a record 18.3'.
Flood stage is 11.0'. (USGS)
...1975...
Afternoon thunderstorms over Ern PA caused considerable lightning strikes and
locally heavy rain. Lightning struck and killed a 14 year old boy in Drexel Hill,
Delaware Co, and injured 4 of his companions. (SD)
...1936...
The temperature at Phoenixville, Chester Co, rose to 111 degrees, establishing a Jul
and an all time PA state maximum temperature record. (PASC)
..1926...
A lightning bolt struck an ammunition magazine in Lake Denmark, Nrn NJ, and a big
red ball of fire leaped into the air triggering a series of explosions. All buildings
within 1/2 mile radius were destroyed, and debris fell as far as 22 miles away. 16
persons were killed, and property damage was $70 million. (L)
...1936...
Afternoon highs of 112 degrees at Martinsburg WV, 109 degrees at Cumberland, MD
and Frederick, MD, 110 degrees at Runyon, NJ, and 111 degrees, for the 2nd day in
a row at Phoenixville, PA, established all-time record highs for those 4 states. It was
the hottest day of record for the Mid Atlantic Coast region. The temperature at PHL
reached 104 degrees, the highest Jul reading since official records began in 1870.
(and reached again on Jul 3, 1966). (PHL)(TWC)(PASC)
...1928...
Mexican aviator Captain Emilio Carranza, the 22 year old "Lindbergh of Mexico,"
was killed when his plane crashed deep in the S Jersey Pinelands during a violent
thunderstorm. The famous pilot had just flown a solo goodwill flight from Mexico to
DC, and had lunched with President Calvin Coolidge. Captain Carranza was
embarking on a nonstop flight from Roosevelt Field on LI to Mexico City. A
memorial site, the 4th largest Latino historical site in the USA, stands in a remote
wooded spot in Wharton State Forest. (BCT - Fri Jul 11, 2003)
...1975...
A nearly stationary front N to S over PA caused rain and thunderstorms over the
region for 3 days beginning the 12th. Amounts of 2" or more in 24 hours and 4" or
more for the 3 days were common. In PA, Perkasie, Bucks Co, reported 7"; Lansdale,
Montgomery Co, had 5.11"; West Chester, Chester Co, had 6.94" on the 12th and
13th; and Schwenksville, Montgomery Co, reported 6" in 30 hours. (See Jul 13th)(SD)
...1987...
A little after noon, lightning struck and killed a girl near Bridgeton, Cumberland Co,
as she was heading for cover when the thunderstorm interrupted the harvesting on a
farm. (SD)
...1783...
A tornado touched down during the late afternoon in Morris Co, NJ. (G)
...1840...
A tornado visited PHL this Monday afternoon. The United States Gazette states fine
stores in the "Burnt District" were damaged as well as the Ridgeway House on the N
side of Market St. Ships anchored at Chesnut St were damaged. Only a few injuries
occurred in the city, but lightning struck a house near Camden, NJ, killing a lady and
injuring others in the house. Little or nothing was felt at any great distance from the
Market St wharf. (NJM-Thu Jul 16)
One of the most terrific thunder gusts to occur in many years. The wind blew a
complete hurricane for about 15 minutes, during which some injury was done to
shipping, and also to several houses. PHL received 1.06" of rain. (P)(PHR)
...1975...
An F2 tornado hit Seabrook, Cumberland Co, NJ, unroofing the school and a frozen
food packaging plant. F1 tornadoes touched down in Bucks Co, PA, and Cecil Co,
MD. Dover, DE, was deluged with 8.50" of rain to establish a 24 hour record for the
state. (SD)(G) (TWC)
...1996...
A weakening tropical storm Bertha moved NNE from Wilmington, NC, passing 45
miles S of Dover and through extreme Nern Sussex Co, DE, then by ACY and up to
LI Sound. In NJ, wind gusts reached 63 mph in Harvey Cedars, 60 mph in Seaside
Park, 55 mph in Cumberland Co, and 43 mph at ACY. Some minor back bay tidal
flooding occurred in Cape May Co, and only Monmouth Beach suffered severe beach
erosion, with 60' of the 120' wide beach at the S of the borough disappearing. PHL
received a 4-day total rainfall of 4.31", with 1.87" falling on the 13th and 2.15" on the
14th. 6.59" fell in Estelle Manor, 4.56" in Folsom, 4.14" in Belleplain, 4.00" in Cape
May Courthouse, 3.78" in Hammonton and 2.07" in Margate, all NJ. No serious
property or vehicular damage was reported, but a surfer drowned at Ocean Beach, NJ,
on the 12th. (PHL)(NCC)(NHC)
...1960...
An F2 tornado around noon moved through Salem and Gloucester Co, NJ, from near
Carney's Point, Jefferson, and Sewell. Homes were damaged and a large barn
destroyed. 6 people were injured in Gloucester Co. (SD)(G)
...1853...
Terrific hailstorm near Newton, Sussex Co, NJ, passed in two veins, ruining crops;
vividly described by the editor of the Sussex Register. (L)
...1980...
Severe thunderstorms moved rapidly across the region during the late afternoon
causing widespread damage. Bensalem Township in Bucks Co, PA, gusted to 102
mph. PHL measured a sustained wind speed of 47 mph from the NW, with a gust to
70 mph. Thousands of trees were uprooted or broken apart, falling on automobiles,
houses and other buildings. Up to 24 people were injured, mostly the result of flying
debris, such as glass from blown out windows, portions of buildings or roofs, and
falling or blowing limbs or trees. Hail up to the size of golf balls /1 3/4"/ fell, and
heavy downpours caused up to 3" of rain in spots. (SD)(PHL)
...1865...
A great flood occurred in the NJ Raritan basin, but said not to be equal to the flood
of Feb 6, 1896. (USGS)(AR)
...1957...
On a warm and sunny day at ILG, with a high of 86 degrees, a dust devil suddenly
appeared. It tore most of the roof off 1 house, and stripped shingles from a
neighboring house. A TV aerial was toppled, and clothes were blown off clothes
lines. (TWC)
...1988...
A dozen cities in the Ern US, and 6 others in CA, reported record high temperatures
for the date. PHL reported a record 5 straight days of 100 degree heat, and BAL
reported a record 8 days of 100 degree weather for the year. Afternoon and evening
thunderstorms produced severe weather along the Mid Atlantic Coast, and over Srn
New England. (NWS)
...1992...
An F2 tornado moved ENE from 2 miles W of Unionville to 1 mile NE of Unionville,
Chester Co, PA, blowing out the side of a restaurant. (G - F1)
...1936...
Hail damage in Mercer and Burlington Co, NJ, as a cold front ended 10 days of
extreme heat. (L)
...1970...
(18th-22nd) A tropical depression formed E of the Yucatan peninsula. As the system
developed into tropical storm Becky, it provided National Hurricane Center
forecasters their first opportunity to study the evolution of a tropical cyclone with the
aid of time-lapse movies of ATS (Applications Technology Satellite) photographs in
real time, or, The Movie Loop. Becky moved into the FL panhandle as a tropical
storm.
...1984...
An F2 tornado moved NE into Greenwood, Sussex Co, DE, damaging an elementary
school. (G)
...1997...
Severe thunderstorms raked parts of Ern PA, NJ, and adjacent NY, with 100s of
1,000s losing power. Many roads in Morris Co, NJ, were blocked by fallen trees and
power lines. Wind gusts to 65 mph blew a 13" bass out of Budd Lake. (2004 weather
calender, Accord Publishing Ltd)
...1850...
The night of the 18th to 19th, a flood of unusual height for summer. The Schuylkill
canal was much damaged, and the Lehigh canal required 3 weeks to repair. The
Lehigh River rose 13' at Bethlehem. 3.82" of rain was recorded at PHL. (PHR) 20
dead on the Schuylkill River: river boats capsized and sunk. The Delaware River
broke through its embankments at Burlington, NJ, to flood the lowlands along the
river. Barometer at the PA Hospital 29.33" at 8 am, with over 4" of rain reported. The
first of what is known as the Triple Tropical Storms of 1850, the second being on
Aug 25th and the third on Sep 8th. This storm passed to the W of PHL.
(EAH)(L)(PHR)
...1987...
Afternoon and evening thunderstorms produced severe weather in NY State and NJ.
High winds and hail 2" in diameter injured 2 persons and caused considerable damage
to crops in the Pine Island area of central NY. (NWS) (SD)
...1930...
The temperature at DC soared to an all-time record of 106 degrees. The next day
Millsboro reached 110 degrees to set a record for the state of DE. Jul 1930 was one
of the hottest and driest summers in the U.S. (L)
...1981...
A late afternoon F2 tornado touched down in Mount Bethel, Northampton Co, PA.
It skipped along the ground for the first 2 3/4 to 3 miles, then remained on the ground
the last 3/4 to 1 mile. Many residents observed two distinct funnels side by side 50'
apart. Damage was light in the unpopulated region. (SD)
...1989...
Showers and thunderstorms in the Mid Atlantic Coast region soaked ILG with 2.28"
of rain, pushing their total for the period May through Jul past the previous record of
22.43". Heavy rain over that 3 month period virtually wiped out a 16.82" deficit
which had been building since drought conditions began in 1985. (NWS) (SD)
...1900...
A bolt of lightning from a morning thunderstorm struck very near Joshua Wilkins,
painter of Palmyra, NJ, while he was working on a house in Riverside. He died that
afternoon. 4 members of Co G, 3rd Reg, NJNG, were injured when lightning struck
their tent in Sea Girt as they were breaking camp. (NJM-Wed, Jul 25, 1900)
...1966...
The temperature at PHL bottomed out at 51 degrees, the lowest Jul reading since
official records began in 1870. (PHL)
...1975...
6" of rain fell across Mercer Co, NJ in just 10 hours, causing the worst flooding in 20
years. Traffic was brought to a standstill, and railway service between NYC and DC
was cut off for 2 days. Flooding left 1000 persons homeless, and caused an estimated
$25 million damage (L). The Assunpink Creek at Trenton, NJ, rose to a record 14.6'.
Flood stage is 7.0'.
...1979...
Parts of Lancaster Co and into the west central Chester Co, PA, region was hit with
torrential rain during the morning, with most of the rain falling in about 5 hours. In
Chester Co, Newlinville received 8.11" and Valley Township 7.56". The Lukens Steel
Co in Coatesville, Chester Co, sustained considerable damage from the flood waters,
which reached 56" in the Lukens Steel offices. (SD)
...1983...
An F2 tornado destroyed 2 trailer homes near Hartly, Kent Co, DE, during the early
evening, killing 2 people and injuring 9 others. An F3 tornado hit Stafford's
Manahawkin section, in Long Beach Township, Ocean Co, NJ. It crossed Barnegat
Bay and destroyed a bayside home, and damaged others. (SD)(G)
...1987...
A late afternoon F2 tornado in Linwood, Atlantic Co, NJ, skipped along a 1/2 mile
track uprooting and snapping off trees and ripping out a brick wall. Hail was also
reported. 3 people were injured. (SD)(G)
...1980...
Severe thunderstorms caused damage throughout the region during the early evening,
with falling trees damaging houses and automobiles. PHL reported a sustained wind
of 49 mph from the SW. (SD)(PHL)
...1803...
A tornado touched down during the evening in Salem Co, NJ, injuring 5 people. (G)
...1975...
Evening thunderstorms produced flooding across eastern PA. Lehighton in Carbon
Co received 3.7" of rain. (SD)
...1981...
An evening F3 tornado moved across NW Northampton Co, PA, affecting
Berlinsville, Danielsville and Lehigh Township. 3 homes were destroyed and others
damaged, trees were toppled, and a barn was destroyed, with the 2nd floor found
intact 1,000' to the E. Tree, roof,and mobile home damage also occurred in Bushkill
and Washington Townships. (SD)
...1987...
A wind gust of 90 mph was recorded at Blairstown, NJ, before the anemometer broke.
The high winds were associated with a small tornado.(NWS) (SD)
...1994...
An intense F3 tornado touched down in Limerick, Montgomery Co, PA, passing
through a development called "The Hamlet,"leveling 4 homes, damaging 16 others,
and killing 3 people, all of one family. An F3 tornado moved NE from Avondale to
2 miles SE of town, destroying 6 homes in London Britain Township's Hunter's Run
development. An F2 tornado touched down twice on the Srn end of Kent Island,
Queen Anne's Co, MD, damaging 40 homes. (Officially F0) A tornado struck near
Worton, Kent Co, MD, hurling trees into valuable homes. (Officially F2). (SD) (G)
...1875...
An F1 tornado touched down during the afternoon in Ocean Co, NJ. (G)
...1894...
Hailstorm at Newton, Sussex Co, NJ, streak 3 miles long. (L)
...1906...
Severe squalls swept over the Cape May peninsula during Sunday afternoon. At
Hereford Inlet, Anglesea, within sight of Five Mile Island, the sloop yacht Nora, Capt
Herbert of PHL, and the Alvin, Capt Samuel Bunch, owned by lawyer E L Holman,
Pottsville, PA, were wrecked. 8 lives were lost and 36 people were rescued by Capt
Henry S Ludlum of the Hereford Inlet life-saving station, the crew of the yacht Violet,
and the steamers Ocean City and Isrella. PHL recorded 0.68" of precipitation.
(PHL)(NJM)
...1925...
Hail in Burlington Co, NJ, remained on the ground for 3 days. (L)
...1973...
The W Branch Brandywine Creek at Modena, Chester Co, PA, rose to a record 12.5'.
Flood stage is 9.0'. (USGS)
...1980...
Early morning thunderstorms dropped 3.53" of rain at PHL, with most between 3 am
and 6 am, setting a daily record and resulting in considerable roadway flooding.
(SD)(PHL)
...1960...
Tropical storm "Brenda" formed in the NE Gulf of Mexico , moved up the coast just
inland, passed over the eastern counties of NJ then over NYC. PHL received 0.02"
of rain on the 29th, with 2.23" falling on the 30th. As the center passed near PHL, the
pressure fell to 29.43", the 2nd lowest Jul reading. (PHL)(NHC)
...1979...
Torrential downpours between midnight and 4 am caused considerable flooding in
Fort Washington, Montco, and Southampton, Bucks Co, PA, with Southampton
Township receiving 6.3" of rain. (SD)
...1957...
The month ended with 0.64" of precipitation, the DRIEST JUL in PHL records.
(PHL)
...1992...
An F2 tornado moved from 2 miles W to 2 miles NE of Frederica, Kent Co, DE,
destroying 2 mobile homes and a cinder block building. (G)
...1994...
The month ended with 10.42" of precipitation, the WETTEST JUL in PHL records.
In unofficial records, 11.62" fell in 1842, and 11.20" in 1872. (PHL)
...2002...
At the Delaware Bay buoy 26 mi SE of Cape May, NJ, an ocean water temperature
of 83.1 deg was measured, the warmest sea surface temperature recorded at the buoy
since observations began in 1984. (2004 weather calendar, Accord Publishing Ltd)
...1833...
A hail storm at Clomwell, Gloucester Co, NJ, this Friday caused great damage to the
corn and buckwheat crops, and most wholly destroyed several kinds of truck. Stones
were as large as hickory nuts, and were sent with great violence by an unusual high
wind. (NJM-Thu Sep 5, from a Herald report, Woodbury, Aug 9)
...1944...
A hurricane formed in the Bahamas and came ashore at the NC/SC border. It moved
N as a tropical storm, then curved to the NE, passing across the lower Delaware Bay
on its way out to sea. PHL received 2.39" of rain on the 2nd and 0.22" on the 3rd. This
was the 1st of 3 tropical systems to affect the Mid Atlantic states in 1944.
(NHC)(PHL)
...1973...
The Passaic River at Chatham, Morris Co, NJ, rose to a record 9.4'. Flood stage is
6.0'. (USGS)
...2002...
Lightning and wind knocked out power to almost 200,000 customers in the Greater
Philadelphia metro area. About 7,500 cloud to ground lightning strikes were noted
in the region in 6 hrs, an average of 20+ strokes/minute. (2004 weather calendar,
Accord Publishing Ltd)
...1885...
An F3 tornado hit PHL killing 6 people. It crossed the Delaware River near the Walt
Whitman bridge into Camden, NJ, then moved back to PHL in the Port Richmond
area. Other F2 tornadoes touched down in Cecil Co, MD; New Castle Co, DE; and
Bucks and Chester Co, PA. (G) (L)
...1898...
5.63" of precipitation fell at PHL, setting a daily record. This is also the most
precipitation received for any calendar day in Aug. However, 5.43 of the 5.63" fell
in 1 hour and 45 minutes during a thunderstorm !! The 5.89" beginning on the 3rd and
ending on the 4th remains the record for most precipitation received in a 24 hour
period for the month of Aug. (PHL)
...1884...
The Baldwin Locomotive Works was struck by lightning and partly burned. The loss
was estimated at $200,000. (PHL)
...1915...
A tropical storm formed in the Bahamas and moved inland near the GA/FL border,
then recurved to the NE, moving across SE PA and Nrn NJ. PHL received a daily
record rainfall of 2.74", with an additional 0.50" on the 5th. NYC received a daily
record rainfall of 3.25". (PHL)(NYC)(NHC)
...1975...
Late afternoon to evening thunderstorms produced considerable lightning, along with
hail and street flooding in eastern PA. Hail the size of golf balls /1 3/4"/ or ice cubes
was reported about 445 pm EDT in Lansdale, Montgomery County.
...1843...
A spectacular cloudburst near PHL turned the small creeks and streams entering the
Delaware River into raging torrents. As much as 16" of rain fell in just 3 hours.
Flooding destroyed 32 county bridges, and caused 19 deaths. It is believed that
several small tornadoes accompanied the torrential rains in SE PA and N DE, one of
which upset and sank more than 30 barges on the Schuylkill River. (L)(G)
...1918...
PHL established an all-time, and Aug, record high with a reading of 106 degrees,
since official records began in 1870. (PHL) NYC experienced its warmest day and
night with a low of 82 degrees and a high of 102 degrees. Afternoon highs of 108
degrees at Flemington, NJ, and Somerville, NJ, established state records for the
month of Aug. (TWC) (Sandra and TI Richard Sanders - 1987)
...1916...
A tropical storm formed in the Bahamas and moved into NC where it dissipated on
the 6th. The remnants might have contributed to the heavy rain that fell at PHL, which
received 1.44". (PHL)(NHC)
...1981...
Heavy rain caused considerable roadway, street, and commercial and residential
flooding, especially in Delaware and Philadelphia Co, PA. PHL measured 4.40" of
rain, setting a daily precipitation record, as well as exceeding the monthly normal of
3.80". (SD)(PHL)
...1976...
Hurricane Belle formed just to the NW of the Bahamas on the 6th, rapidly intensified
to a Cat 3 SE of NC, then began to weaken, moving into Wrn LI as a minimum
hurricane during the evening of the 9th. Belle brought gales and severe tidal flooding
along coastal regions. NYC measured a gust to 56 mph from the NE, the strongest
wind measured for the year. PHL reported 0.51" of rain on the 8th, with an additional
1.17" on the 9th. The tide reached 8.8' above mean lower low water at ACY, tying the
level reached during the great coastal storm of Mar 6, 1962, and again reached during
the "Perfect Storm" of Oct 31, 1991. Severe coastal flooding begins at 8.7'.
(PHL)(NHC)
...1884...
An earthquake, centered near NYC and registering 5.2 on the Richter scale, hit the
region a little after 2 pm. The quake produced tsunami from the Hudson River to the
Delaware River.
(For detailed information on this tsunami, from the Mt Holly home page, go to
Office Information, then Research/Reports, then Tsunami Information.)
...1902...
A cloudburst at Mt Holly this Sun afternoon poured 4-5" of rain in a comparatively
short period of time, causing much damage. (NJM - Wed Aug 13, 1902.)
...2001...
Lightning hit the Hog Island Association (Mummers Parade) building in PHL and set
it on fire. More than 60% of the 100 costumes for the Mummers Parade were
damaged or destroyed. (2004 weather calendar, Accord Publishing Ltd)
...1988...
NJ reported a record 14 straight days of 90 degree heat. (NWS)
...1856...
The records of the PA hospital say that a tornado unroofed or destroyed more than
150 houses, chiefly in the Nrn part of PHL. (PHR)
...1901...
3" of rain fell in 40 minutes during the morning at Rancocas, NW Burlington Co, NJ.
A similar event occurred in the same region 99 years later. (NJM - Wed Aug 14,
1901)
...1928...
A hurricane moved into central FL then recurved to the NE as a tropical storm over
GA. It passed just to the S of DE as an extratropical depression. PHL measured a gust
to 54 mph from the NE, the strongest wind recorded in 1928. Heavy rain
accompanied the storm, with PHL receiving 1.37". (PHL)(NCC)(NHC)
...1955...
Hurricane "Connie" moved N across the NC outer banks, then curved NW as a
tropical storm up the Chesapeake Bay and into the Great Lakes. The storm brought
torrential rains, with PHL receiving 3.29", a daily record, on the 12th and 2.15" on the
13th, ending the summer drought. NYC received daily records of 3.62" on the 12th and
2.70" on the 13th. Up to 12" fell in the Poconos, saturating the ground, filling the
streams, and setting the stage for disaster within the week when "Diane" moved in.
Cape Henry, VA, measured a gust to 74 mph from the E on the 12th, and on the 13th
ACY gusted to 70 mph/S. PHL had sustained winds on the 13th of 67 mph/E, the
highest for August, along with a gust to 73 mph/E. All gusts were the strongest wind
measured at those places in 1955. The pressure at PHL dropped to 29.41", the 2nd
lowest Aug reading. (PHL)(NCC)(NHC)
...2000...
3.08" of rain fell in 45 minutes between 135 pm and 220 pm at Willingboro, NW
Burlington Co, NJ. A similar event occurred in the same region 99 years before. (Mt
Holly staff measurement)(SD)
...2001...
Overnight rains to 8.4" in Sussex Co, DE, led to failure of a dam on Hearns Pond
early AM. Historic Hearns and Rawlings Mills were heavily damaged, along with
roads and buildings, with damage at $1.1 million. (2004 weather calendar, Accord
Publishing Ltd)
...1905...
A Sunday thunderstorm caused thousands of dollars in damage in the Mt Holly
region. At Milltown, between Moorestown and Bridgeboro', hailstones as big as bird
eggs (hen eggs=2") fell in great quantities. Windows were broken, apples and other
fruit were cut, and whole fields of tomatoes were laid waste. PHL recorded 1.00" of
precipitation. (PHL)(NJM)
...1919...
High winds and heavy rain struck the Mid Atlantic Coast region. In NJ, winds gusted
to 60 mph at ACY, and 9" of rain fell at Tuckerton. The wind and rain leveled crops
and stripped trees of fruit causing several million dollars damage. (L)
...1956...
An F2 tornado moved SE from E of Lansdale to Montgomeryville, damaging homes
and destroying trailers. (G)
...1953...
Hurricane "Barbara" formed in the Bahamas and moved N, recurved over coastal NC
then moved NE into the Maritime provinces. Cape Henry, VA, measured a gust to 79
mph from the NW and Norfolk, VA, gusted to 68 mph from the NE, both gusts the
highest wind measured at those places in 1953. PHL picked up 0.64" of rain. 1953
was the first year that names were used for hurricanes, and Barbara was the 1st
hurricane with an official name to hit the US. (NHC)(NCC)(PHL)
...1940...
A hurricane came ashore at the GA/SC border and moved as a tropical storm NW to
TN, where it recurved back to NC then dissipated on the 15th. However, remnants of
the storm might have affected this region, as PHL received a total of 1.89" of rain
from the 16th to the 19th. (PHL) (NHC)
...1928...
A tropical storm moved into the FL panhandle then recurved to the NE, moving into
the Pittsburgh, PA, region and dissipating as a tropical depression. The remnants
might have been responsible for heavy rain that fell in the Mid Atlantic region, with
PHL receiving a daily record 2.76". (PHL)(NHC)
...1986...
Hurricane Charley formed off the NC coast then recurved SE of the Delmarva
peninsula. The storm weakened to a tropical then extratropical storm, but retained its
strength as it moved along the S coast of Ireland then into SW England. PHL received
1.67" of rain, with an additional 0.17" falling on the 18th. (PHL)(NHC)
...1988...
55 cities from the Mid Mississippi Valley to the Mid Atlantic Coast Region reported
record high temperatures for the date. Thunderstorms produced severe weather from
WI to NJ. Thunderstorms in NJ produced high winds which gusted to 92 mph at
Wrightstown, and blew down a circus tent at Lavallette injuring 14 persons. An F2
tornado hit Ewing Township, from near Mercer Co airport to TTN, damaging homes
and vehicles, and an F2 touched down in Salem Co, NJ. An F0 tornado touched down
in Lakewood, Ocean Co, NJ, uprooting trees, with 14 people receiving injuries in the
Co. (NWS)(SD)(G)
...1994...
Tropical storm Beryl moved into the FL panhandle then moved along the
Appalachian mountain chain as a tropilcal depressions, crossing eastern PA then
turning E into New England. Beryl brought 1.02" of rain to PHL. (PHL)(NHC)
...1879...
"A hurricane swept the Atlantic seaboard and exceptionally high wind velocities were
recorded. At nearly every point in its line of progress, wind recording apparatus failed
before the height of the storm was reached." (H) Cape Henry, VA, measured wind
gusts to 114 mph from the NW, and Barnegat Inlet, NJ, gusted to 80 mph from the
N, with both speeds the highest wind recorded at those places in 1879. A 3-day
rainfall record total of 10.66" was set at ACY, Aug 16-18. PHL received 1.36" of rain
on the 16th, 2.16" on the 17th, and 2.32" on the 18th, for a storm total of 5.84".
(NCC)(CD)(PHL)
...1900...
One of the most destructive hail storms that has ever visited the Medford, Burlington
Co, NJ, region, occurred S of our town, and a tremendous amount of damage was
done to growing crops. Corn was knocked down and ruined to such an extent that it
is not fit for anything. At Henry P Thorne's cranberry bog there isn't enough of the
berries left to make a pie, and the total amount destroyed was about 20,000 bushels.
The house on the bog was nearly stripped of its shingles and the window glass was
all broken out of another house. Several trees were blown down and in cases where
the entire tree was not uprooted, large branches were broken off and considerable
damage was done to adjacent property. It is reported that the hail was 6" deep in some
places and some of the stones were 8" in circumference. PHL received 0.51" of rain.
(NJM - Wed, Aug 22, 1900)(PHL)
...1955...
Hurricane "Diane" moved into the NC coast then recurved to the NE, passing very
near PHL then to the Srn coast of New England. Diane's heavy rains, up to 13" in the
Poconos, added to those of Connie 5 days earlier, brought massive flooding to the
Mid Atlantic and NE states during the next few days. The storm killed between 184
to 200 people, making it onto the Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492 to
Present, list. (At least 25 deaths needed to make this list).PHL received 0.16" on the
16th, 0.44" on the 17th, 2.32" on the 18th and 0.06" on the 19th, for a total of 2.98".
(PHL)(NMC)
...1788...
A small but powerful hurricane inflicted great havoc upon forests along a narrow
track from NJ to ME. A similar storm track today would cause extreme disaster in the
now populated area. At PHL "on the 18th a tremendous downpour of tropical
proportions deluged the city as a preliminary to a severe wind storm which swept over
NJ, NY and New England during the daylight hours of the 19th." There were no
reports of the storm until the DE bay. President Ezra Stiles of Yale called this
hurricane the Ordering of Providence, sent to prevent a battle between the French and
English off RI. (NWS) (EAH)
...1904...
Lightning struck an oil tank at Point Breeze and the whole works was burned. 5
persons were killed and 175 were injured during the fire. Property loss was about
$500,000. (PHL)
...1939...
A tropical storm that formed NE of Puerto Rico on the 7th took almost a week before
it moved into the Wrn FL panhandle. The storm then took a 5-day recurve to the NE
over AL, moved to the upper Chesapeake Bay, then took a day to move through Ern
PA before dissipating in Srn NY on the 20th. Rain began falling at PHL on the 16th,
with a 4-day rainfall totaling 4.08", of which 3.73" fell on the 19th. NYC received
2.31", both daily records. (PHL)(NHC)
...1955...
Tropical Storm Diane brought torrential rain and flooding across the region. The S
Branch of the Raritan River at Stanton, Hunterdon Co, NJ, rose to a record 15.2'.
Flood stage is 8.0'. The Bush Kill river at Shoemakers, Monroe Co, PA, rose to a
record 14.0'. Flood stage is 6.0'. The Brodhead Creek at Minisink Hills, Monroe Co,
PA, rose to a record 27.0', causing one of the worst disasters to hit the Poconos,
killing more than 75 people. Some bodies remained missing for years. Flood stage is
10.0'. The Delaware River rose to a record 37.4', with flood stage 21.0', at Tocks
Island, Warren Co, NJ; a record 43.7', with flood stage 22.0', at Phillipsburg, Warren
Co, NJ; a record 38.9', with flood stage 22.0', at Riegelsville, Warren Co, NJ; a record
27.8', with flood stage 16.0', at Frenchtown, Hunterdon Co, NJ; a record 28.4', with
flood stage 18.0', at Stockton, Hunterdon Co; and a record 26.0', with flood stage
13.0', at New Hope, Bucks Co, NJ. The Neshaminy Creek at Langhorne, Bucks Co,
PA, rose to a record 22.8'. Flood stage is 9.0'. (PHL)(USGS)
...1989...
Early morning thunderstorms deluged SE DE with 6-10" of rain in 4-6 hours, with
local reports of 13-20". 26 major roads were closed or damaged, and 14 bridges were
washed out. Flooding caused nearly $4 million in sdamage to local businesses. PHL
measured 0.49" of rain. (PHL)(SD) (NWS)
...1991...
Hurricane Bob, a Cat 3 SE of the Delmarva, moved by NJ and into SE MA during the
day as a Cat 2 storm. PHL received 0.03" of rain on the 18th, and 0.98" on the 19th.
0.32" fell on the 20th as now tropical storm Bob was moving through the Canadian
Maritimes. (PHL)(NHC)
...1955...
The Delaware River at Washington Crossing, Mercer Co, NJ, rose to a record 27.8'.
Flood stage is 20.0'. (USGS)
...1888...
An F2 tornado swarm occurred in MD and DE. 11 people were killed near Still Pond,
Kent Co, MD, and a man was killed at "Hare's Corner," New Castle Co, DE. Many
waterspouts were seen over Chesapeake Bay (Sandra and TI Richard Sanders - 1987).
This was in association with a tropical storm that moved NE from LA, after hitting
that state as a CAT 2 hurricane, and passed across Nrn NJ during the evening. PHL
received 1.77" of rain, a daily record, with another 0.31" falling on the 22nd, for a total
of 2.08". NYC received a daily record rainfall of 4.19". (PHL)(NYC)(G)
...1939...
The Rancocas Creek at Pemberton, Burlington Co, NJ, rose to a record 4.2'. Flood
stage is 2.7'. This record was tied when tropical storm Doria moved through in
August, 1971. (USGS)
...1993...
An F2 tornado touched down NW of Hammonton Lake, Atlantic Co, NJ, and moved
ESE across the lake. It lifted at the E edge of the lake, then touched down again
further E. (G)
...1843...
A tornado touched down in Gloucester Co, NJ. (G)
...1957...
The barometric pressure at PHL rose to 30.46", tying the highest pressure ever
recorded in Aug, last set on the 24th in 1925. (PHL)
...1806...
A hurricane of great size and destructive power raged along the Atlantic coast from
the 21st to the 24th. As the slow moving storm gained forward speed, shipping suffered
severely. The coastal ship "Rose in Bloom" upset during the morning in the NE gales
off Barnegat Inlet, NJ, with the loss of 21 of the 49 persons aboard. This disaster
received wide national publicity. (EAH)
...1860...
Only 0.05" of rain fell at the PA Hospital, but a rainfall at Manayunk, said to have
been 10 3/4", did great damage. (PHR)
...1873...
A hurricane that formed near Africa rounded the Bermuda high, recurved to the W
of Bermuda then moved NE and crossed extreme SE Newfoundland. When the storm
was at its closest to the US, the Signal Corp of the US Army issued cautionary signals
from Cape May NJ to New London, CT, or, the first ever Hurricane Warning. (NHC)
...1933...
A major hurricane made landfall at the NC/VA border, recurved through VA and
central PA during the late afternoon into the overnight as a tropical storm, then
moved NE up the St Lawrence River valley. DC measured a wind gust to 49 mph on
the 22nd. On the 23rd, although the system was now only a tropical storm, BAL
recorded a wind gust to 74 mph from the NE, Delaware Breakwater gusted to 78 mph
from the NE, and ACY measured a gust to 100 mph from the E, all gusts the strongest
wind measured in 1933 at those places. There was great damage to resorts on the MD,
DE and NJ coasts. The approach and passage of the tropical system brought heavy
rainfall. PHL recorded 1.07" of rain on the 21st, 0.83" on the 22nd, 3.74" on the 23rd,
a current daily record, and 0.02" on the 24th, for a total of 5.66". On the 24th, the
pressure fell to the lowest ever recorded in Aug. (PHL) (NCC) (H)
...1966...
A bolt of lightning struck and killed a surfer who had just come out of the water while
surfing at Surf City, Ocean Co, NJ. The surfer was standing at the ocean's edge when
lightning struck. (2004 weather calendar, Accord Publishing Ltd)
...1893...
A hurricane moved NE of Puerto Rico, then moved N close to the NJ shore and into
Wrn LI during the pre-dawn hours. Cape Henry, VA, measured a gust to 128 mph
from the N. PHL had a maximum 1-minute wind velocity of 55 mph from the NE, and
1.32" of rain added to 0.05" that fell the day before. NYC recorded a daily rainfall
record of 3.61". Hog Island was a big resort for NYC people in the mid to upper
1800s. It was located near Coney Island in NY harbor. This hurricane, still a CAT 2
off NJ, not only washed away the resort, but washed away the island as well! This
storm retained its hurricane strength throughout its passage across New England,
decreasing to tropical storm status over the mouth of the St Lawrence River. (PHL)
(NCC)(NHC)(Discovery Channel)
...1925...
The barometric pressure at PHL rose to 30.46", the highest pressure ever recorded in
Aug. This reading was tied on the 22nd, 1957, and again on the 25th, 1991. (PHL)
...1933...
The barometric pressure at PHL fell to 29.40", the lowest pressure ever recorded in
Aug. (PHL)
...1975...
Heavy rains fell during the evening over much of Montgomery Co, PA, with most of
the damage in the Lansdale area. Streets and basements were flooded, cars trapped
and basement walls collapsed. Lansdale received over 5" in 2 hours. (SD)
..1988...
Thunderstorms in the Delaware Valley of Ern PA produced wind gusts to 95 mph
around PHL, and gusts to 100 mph at Warminster.(SD) (NWS)
...1635...
The Great Colonial Hurricane roared northward from the tropics, passed about 75
miles E of ACY, then moved into New England. Maximum winds in the storm were
estimated to be over 130 mph. Officially, 35 deaths are attributed to this storm,
putting this hurricane on The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492 to Present,
list. (More than 25 deaths needed to make the list) (NHC)(EAH)
...1850...
The night of the 24th to 25th, PHL received 2.91" of rain from this second storm of
what is known as the Triple Tropical Storms of 1850. The storm curved from eastern
NC to inside the DE Capes thence across NJ. The first was on Jul 19th and the third
was on Sep 8th. (PHR)(EAH)(L)
...1885...
A hurricane recurved along the FL/GA/Carolina coastline then moved NE out to sea.
PHL received 1.58" of rain as the storm was traversing the coast of the Carolinas.
(PHL)(NHC)
...1940...
NJ experienced its coldest Aug morning of record, with lows of 32 degrees at Layton
and Charlotteburg. (TWC)
...1941...
One person died when an F2 tornado at Swedesboro, Gloucester Co, NJ, blew down
a chimney and crushed his truck. Another man was electrocuted after the storm
passed. This tornado caused damage and injuries from N of Lewisville, Chester Co,
PA, through ILG, and into Salem and Gloucester Co, NJ. (G)(L)
...1991...
The barometric pressure at PHL rose to 30.46", tying the highest pressure ever
recorded in Aug, previously set on the 22nd in 1957, and the 24th in 1925. (PHL)
...1924...
A major hurricane moved NE off the Mid Atlantic states, brushing the region with
heavy rain. PHL received 1.75" on the 25th, and an additional 0.61" on the 26th.
(PHL)(NHC)
...1975...
Hurricane Eloise moved into the FL panhandle as a Cat 3 on the 23rd then dissipated
in WV on the 24th. The remnants moved through New England on the 27th. The broad
flow of tropical air with and ahead of the storm brought heavy rains to the region.
PHL received 2.75" of rain on the 23rd, 1.57" on the 24th, 0.28" on the 25th, and 1.19"
on the 26th, for a 4 day total of 5.79". (PHL)(NHC)
...1971...
An F2 tornado moved N in the Nrn part of Cape May City, Cape May Co, NJ, and
moved into Atlantic Co. The funnel re-formed as an F1 at Woodbine and ACY. This
tornado was associated with tropical storm Doria. Doria was a tropical depression
moving NW through the Bahamas, and became a tropical storm E of Nrn FL. The
storm recurved along the coast from NC to NJ then moved into New England. On the
27th, PHL received 4.77" of rain and NYC 4.16", both daily records. On the 28th, PHL
received an additional 1.78", and NYC a daily record of 1.80". Norfolk, VA,
measured a gust to 56 mph from the NE on the 27th, and Cape May, NJ, gusted to 46
mph from the NE on the 28th, both gusts the strongest wind measured during 1971.
The heavy rains of Doria caused record flooding the next day. (PHL)(NHC)(SD)(G)
...1852...
A heavy storm with rainfall of 2.84". This storm was noted at New Orleans on the
25th. (PHR)
...1962...
Hurricane "Alma" moved from Cape Hatteras to Cape Cod. PHL received 0.61" of
rain on the 27th and an additional 1.56" on the 28th. (PHL)(NHC)
...1971...
Heavy rains from tropical storm Doria caused devastating floods in central and NE
NJ resulting in 138 million dollars damage. In SE PA, high winds downed trees and
power lines, and in NYC, heavy rains flooded streets and subways (L). Record flood
stages were set at Morristown, Morris Co, NJ, on the Whippany River, with a stage
of 8.6' (flood stage 6.0'); at Haddenfield, Camden Co, NJ, on the Cooper River, with
a stage of 5.5' (fs 2.8'); and tied the record flood of Aug 21, 1939, at Pemberton,
Burlington Co, NJ, on the Rancocas Creek, with a stage of 4.2' (fs 2.7'). Somerset Co,
NJ, records were also set, and stood until hurricane Floyd in 1999. The main stem of
the Raritan River rose to 23.8' (fs 14.0) at Manville, and to 37.5' (fs 28.0') at Bound
Brook. At Blackwells Mills, the Millstone River crested at 18.7' (fs 9.0). (USGS)
...1992...
An F2 tornado moved NNE through Atglen, Chester Co, PA, and then into the nearby
hills. 1 mobile home was blown apart, and several homes were damaged. (G)
...1893...
A very destructive hurricane devastated the GA/SC coast on the 27th. A tremendous
wave submerged the offshore islands near Charleston and Savannah, killing between
1,000 and 2,500 people. The storm recurved to the NE, passing through Ern PA, still
retaining hurricane strength. PHL received 0.55" of rain. Norfolk, VA, and NYC both
measured a gust to 60 mph, the highest recorded wind gust for those places in 1893.
The storm decreased to tropical storm status in ME. (PHL)(H)(NCC)
..1986...
The temperature at PHL bottomed out at 44 degrees, the lowest Aug reading since
official records began in 1870. (PHL)
...1988...
Tropical storm Chris moved into SC, then recurved through SE PA and NJ as a
depression. However, the remnants of Chris drenched Ern PA with up to 5 1/2" of
rain, and produced high winds which gusted to 90 mph, severely damaging 100 boats
in Anne Arundel County, MD. ABE received 0.73" of rain, with PHL receiving only
0.19". (PHL)(ABE)(NWS)(NHC)(SD)
...1839...
A vigorous hurricane moved slowly up the E coast on the 28th to 30th, affecting the
NJ/DE region on the 30th. Exposed places on the Delaware Bay such as Lewes and
Cape May reported ships ashore. At Sandy Hook, NJ, the floating light or lightship
was set adrift. No damage was reported in PHL nor in NYC. (L)
...1896...
The month ended with 0.46" of precipitation, the DRIEST AUG in PHL records.
(PHL)
...1906...
The Summer season received 22.93" of precipitation, the WETTEST SUMMER in
PHL records. (PHL)
...1911...
The month ended with 12.10" of precipitation, the WETTEST AUG in PHL records.
In unofficial records, 15.82" fell in 1867 and 12.27" in 1873. (PHL)
...1954...
Hurricane "Carol" meandered in the Bahamas for almost a week, then raced up the
coast and slammed into New England. It passed the Mid Atlantic states overnight on
the 30th to 31st. The pressure at PHL fell to 29.43" on the 31st, the 4th lowest Aug
reading. PHL received 0.09" of rain on the 30th and 1.32" on the 31st. (NHC)(PHL)
...1955...
Mt Pocono, Monroe Co, received 23.66" of rain in Aug, establishing a PA state
maximum monthly precipitation record. (PASC)
...1966...
The Summer season received 4.39" of rain, the DRIEST SUMMER in PHL records.
(PHL)
...1995...
Only 0.01" of rain fell during Aug at Strausstown, Berks Co, establishing a PA state
minimum monthly precipitation record. (PASC)
...1940...
The Great Labor Day Flood deluged SW NJ with an estimated 15" of rain in 8 hours
centered over Ewan, Gloucester Co, doing considerable damage. Although this is the
3rd greatest flood recorded at Pemberton on the N Branch of the Rancocas Creek, it
is considered to be the greatest flood of record for the overall watershed, because it
produced record high flows and flood stages along most of the creek. The peak
duscharge on Mantua Creek at Pitman, NJ, was 38 times as great as the mean annual
flood and over 12 timnes as great as the 50-year flood. The recurrence interval of this
flood cannot even be surmised. During the storm 10" of rain fell at Medford on the
SW Branch. 8.2" fell at Vincentown on the S Branch, and 6.7" fell at Pemberton on
the N Branch. Rainfall of lesser intensity was experienced in the upper portions of the
N & S Branches. The intense rainfall on the SW Branch caused the dams at Taunton
and Medford Lakes to fail, resulting in flooding downstream of those dams. The
property damage in Mount Holly alone due to the flood amounted to $129,000. PHL
received 0.90" on Aug 31st, with an additional 1.60" on Sep 1st. (COE, Apr,
1967)(USGS)(PHL)
...1952...
A tropical storm that formed off the coast of Africa on Aug 18th moved WNW across
the Atlantic and into SC. It recurved to the NE as a tropical storm over the coastal
plains and became a tropical depression over Nrn NJ. As the storm passed by, ACY
measured a gust to 74 mph from the SE, which was the strongest wind recorded in
1952. PHL received 1.80" of rain on the 1st, a daily record. An additional 0.46" fell
on the 2nd, ending with 0.02" on the 3rd. (NHC)(PHL)
...1785...
A hurricane was responsible for 181 deaths along the DE coast, making it onto the
Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492 to Present, list. (At least 25 deaths needed
to make this list) (NHC)
...1850...
The worst flood known in this section up to this date. The Schuylkill River rose
higher than ever known before and caused heavy property damage. All bridges above
the Columbia Railroad bridge were swept away. The gas works was flooded and the
city was left in darkness. About 100 lives were lost. The Lehigh River at Bethlehem
rose 18'. PHL received 3.92" of rain (PHR)(EAH). Tamaqua in Schuylkill Co, PA,
recorded 62 of the dead. "By daylight, the trestles leading into the mines at Newkirk,
just beyond the west end of town, became clogged with dirt and debris that built up
so high that a massive natural dam formed on the Wabash Creek. After several hours,
the dam gave way and water rushed into the valley toward Tamaqua, combining with
yet another flood racing down from the north mountains. Two floods converged on
Tamaqua and destroyed much of what had been built on the flat land. In the gorge on
Burning Mountain a tree 60" up the side marks the height of the sudden flood. The
Great Flood of 1850 remains Tamaqua's most historic single event and most noted
tragedy." (TN - Dec 18, 2002, Karen Cimms, reporter.) This was the third storm of
what is known as the Triple Tropical Storms of 1850. The 1st was on Jul 19th and the
2nd was on Aug 25th.
...1940...
The Maurice River at Norma, Salem Co, NJ, rose to a record 8.7'. Flood stage is
estimated at 4.0'. (USGS)
...1775...
The savage Independence Hurricane swept up the Chesapeake Bay and through Ern
PA, exacting a toll of human lives higher than any previous American mainland
hurricane. At PHL the local press called the remarkably high tide in the Delaware the
highest tide ever known. The hurricane struck just as the opening maneuvers of the
War of independence were in progress. (EAH)
...1821...
An intense hurricane roared N from the tropics, moved just inland from Norfolk, VA,
entered NJ just W of Cape May and traveled N along what is now the NJ Garden
State Parkway, entered NYC near Kennedy Airport, then moved into Wrn CT. Winds
near the center of the storm were estimated at 120 mph. Extensive structural damage
resulted at the small port on Little Egg Harbor, as well as other coastal communities.
In the PHL area, trees and chimneys were blown down, and the roof of the covered
bridge at the Upper Ferry blew away. 3.92" of rain fell at PHL and the temperature
remained at 73 degrees all afternoon. The hurricane produced a record tide at NYC,
rising 13' in 1 hour. Officially, over 200 lives were lost attributed to this hurricane in
Guadeloupe and the NE US coast, making it onto the Deadliest Atlantic Tropical
Cyclones, 1492 to Present, list. (At least 25 deaths needed to make this list) (For a
description of an ocean recession followed by a tidal wave ahead of this storm along
the MD eastern shore region, see the tsunami section on this web site. (NCC)(EAH)
...1940...
The Great Egg Harbor River at Folsom, Atlantic Co, NJ, rose to a record 9.1'. Flood
stage is 6.0'.
...1953...
The temperature at Erie, PA, reached 99 degrees, and Stroudsburg, Monroe Co,
established a Sep PA state maximum temperature record with a reading of 106
degrees. (TWC)(PASC)
...1867...
A tornado touched down in New Castle Co, DE. (G)
...1979...
(5th, 8 pm-6th, 5 pm) Tropical storm David-spawned tornadoes moved through New
Castle Co, DE, Berks Co, PA, and Chester Co, PA, where a man was killed in his
trailer. The New Garden Township, Chester Co, tornado was classified as an F3, as
was the tornado that moved across parts of Oley and Alsace Townships, Berks Co.
(SD)(G) (See 6th)
...1935...
During the morning of Sep 1st, a tropical storm moving E-W through the central
Bahamas became a minimum hurricane. During the evening of the 2nd, the hurricane
attained a Cat 5 ranking with 160 mph winds over Key West, FL. It began to rain at
PHL on the 2nd, totaling 0.36". The storm then began a steady weakening, recurving
around the FL peninsula and making landfall in the eastern panhandle during the
evening of the 4th. Rainfall intensity at PHL began to increase, with 0.50" received on
the 3rd, and 3.25" on the 4th, a daily record. The now tropical storm recurved over the
SE states on the 5th. PHL received 1.89" of rain on the 5th, a daily record. As the
tropical storm moved offshore in the vicinity of Norfolk, VA, it rapidly regained
hurricane strength as it accelerated NE into the open Atlantic. PHL received 2.00" of
rain on the 6th, a daily record, with a total of 8.00" recorded during this period. There
was no measurable rain for the remainder of the month, but this rainy spell helped
make the Fall of 1935 the 3rd wettest in PHL records, with a total of 16.38".
(PHL)(NHC)
...1979...
Tropical storm David passed through central PA during the morning after hitting SC,
then moved NE through New England and across the Canadian Maritimes. David was
a rare Cat 5 when the storm hit the Dominican Republic on Aug 31. Rainfall was
generally 2-4" over Ern PA, but some sections received 4-6". PHL received 0.82" of
rain on the 5th and 1.32" on the 6th. Nearly all airport stations recorded wind gusts of
35-45 mph. Cape May NJ measured a gust to 58 mph from the SE, and NYC gusted
to 56 mph from the S, both readings the strongest wind measured for the year. TTN
gusted to 55 mph. (PHL)(NHC)(SD) (See 5th)
...1881...
The temperature at PHL reached 102 degrees , the highest Sep reading since official
records began in 1870. (PHL)
...1996...
During the passage of Hurricane Fran, the Tolchester Beach tide gage located in Wrn
Kent Co, MD, and the Cambridge tide gage located along the Choptank River in
Dorchester Co, MD, rose to a record 5.1' above mean lower low water. Moderate tidal
flooding begins at 4.5' MLLW, and severe tidal flooding begins at 5.5' MLLW, at
both gages. (NOS)
...1769...
A hurricane, one of the more destructive storms of the century, moved N close to the
Mid Atlantic coast, causing much damage from wind and flood. (EAH)
...1850...
A hurricane recurved N well offshore of the Mid Atlantic coast, causing many ships
to be in distress off the DE Capes. The U.S. "Relief," 140 miles E of ACY reported
a pressure of 29.18" on the night of the 7th to 8th. This was the 3rd storm of what is
known as the Triple Tropical Storms of 1850. The 1st was on Jul 19th and the 2nd was
on Aug 25th. (EAH)
...1889...
Although a Great Hurricane did not begin to rage until the 10th, its imminent arrival
was announced by a sudden and damaging tidal wave around 430 pm, which slammed
into LI and the Jersey shore. The hurricane itself was located in the deep Atlantic
ocean well SE of Norfolk, VA, when the wave moved in. (NYT)
...1900...
The Great Galveston, TX, hurricane did not affect just residents of Galveston. 3
sisters of Mrs Mary Barnard, widow of Capt Barnard, of Bordentown, Burlington Co,
NJ, perished in the hurricane floods. (NJM-Wed, Sep 19, 1900)
...1934...
A hurricane formed in the Bahamas and moved N, passed the Mid Atlantic coast as
an extratropical storm with sustained winds of 65 to 75 mph, then moved into Ern CT.
As the storm passed NJ, ACY measured a wind gust to 104 mph from the NW, the
strongest wind recorded in 1934. PHL reported a 6th to 8th total rainfall amount of
3.47", with 1.48" on the 8th. NYC recorded 4.86" on the 8th for a daily record. The
rescue of passengers from the ship Morro Castle, burning off the NJ coast, was
hampered by the winds from this storm. (PHL)(NCC)(H)
...1987...
A tropical depression off the coast of SC brought another round of heavy rain to the
Mid Atlantic Coast. Showers and thunderstorms produced extremely heavy rain in
Ern PA, where flooding caused more than 55 million dollars across a seven county
area. (NWS)
...1869...
A hurricane that formed just to the NE of the Bahamas turned into a major hurricane
and moved due N, slamming into the coast of RI. The lowest pressure during the 3-
day life of the storm occurred off the NJ coast. (NHC)
...1889...
A hurricane that formed E of the Antilles moved N and then NW toward NJ. The
storm came within 150 miles of ACY before becoming nearly stationary for 4 days.
The storm, one of the greatest storms to affect the shore and ocean, then turned to the
SW toward Norfolk, VA, and dissipated. ACY measured a gust to 100 mph from the
NE on the 10th, the strongest wind recorded in 1889. At PHL, rain began on the 10th,
with 0.24" falling. This began a period of 12 consecutive days of measurable rain,
with a final total of 3.70". Another sudden and damaging "tidal wave" hit LI and the
Jersey shore around 6 pm on the 10th, following the 1st "tidal wave" that hit on the
8th. The storm was located S of Cape Cod and E of Norfolk, VA, when the wave
moved in. Considerable hurricane damage occurred along the Atlantic coast, as well
as shipwrecks with loss of life. 29 ships were sunk in the Delaware Bay, killing at
least 31 sailors. Officially, 40 lives were lost attributed to this hurricane, making it
onto the Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492 to Present, list. (At least 25
deaths needed to make this list) (PHL)(H)(NCC)(NHC)(N)(NYT).
...1944...
The "Great Atlantic Hurricane" ravaged the east coast. The storm killed 22 persons
and caused 63 million dollars damage in the Chesapeake Bay area, then besieged New
England killing 390 persons and causing another 100 million dollars damage. (TWC)
...1854...
A hurricane known for its great violence moved inland between Jacksonville, FL, and
Savannah, GA, on the 8th, passed Norfolk, VA, on the 9th, and reached BOS on the
10th to 11th. The center appears to have been a short distance inside the coast line. This
storm was very destructive at Savannah, Charleston and PHL. Officially, 26 deaths
were caused by this hurricane, putting it on The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones,
1492 to Present, list. (More than 25 deaths needed to make the list) (H)(NHC)
...1881...
A tropical storm formed just E of the Bahamas and moved NW into coastal NC. The
storm recurved to the NE, passing just to the S of the Delmarva as a tropical storm.
PHL received 0.30" of rain as the storm passed, with an additional 0.50" the next day.
(PHL)(NHC)
...1882...
A tropical storm moved W across Nrn Cuba, recurved into the FL panhandle, then
moved NE, passing over the Srn Delmarva and out to sea. Barnegat, NJ, measured a
wind gust to 78 mph from the N, the highest wind recorded in 1882. PHL recorded
0.13" of rain on the 10th, 0.72" on the 11th, and 0.22" on the 12th, for a total of 1.07".
(PHL)(NCC)(NHC)
...1888...
A tropical storm recurved over FL then moved up the E coast over land, crossing
extreme SE NJ on its way to SE MA. PHL received 0.29" of rain on the 11th, with an
extra 0.10" on the 12th, for a total of only 0.39". (PHL)(NHC)
...1954...
Hurricane "Edna" recurved up the E coast from the Bahamas, then crossed Cape Cod
and moved into the Maritime provinces. As it passed the Mid Atlantic states, PHL
received 0.30" of rain on the 10th and 1.33" on the 11th. (NHC)(PHL)
...1883...
A hurricane moved into NC on the 11th then moved N into central PA on the 12th,
where it dissipated. PHL received 0.25" of rain on the 11th, 0.70" on the 12th, and
0.21" on the 13th, for a total amount of 1.16". (PHL)
...1960...
When what was to be hurricane Donna moved off the coast of Africa, it downed a
French airliner, killing 63. Hurricane Donna moved just N of the major Caribbean
islands, curved to the NE passing through Key West, then became the only tropical
system to affect the entire E coast from the tip of FL to the tip of ME with hurricane
force winds. As Hurricane Donna, a CAT5 when just E of Puerto Rico, passed
offshore NJ, the barometric pressure at PHL fell to 28.91", the lowest pressure ever
recorded in Sep (PHL). 2.73" of rain had already fallen at PHL during the 3 days
previous to the hurricane, and an additional 4.60", a daily record, fell during the
storm. NYC received 2.35" for a daily record. On the 11th, the Delaware Breakwater,
DE, measured a wind gust to 98 mph from the NW. On the 12th, ORF gusted to 79
mph/W, and PHL gusted to 52 mph/NE, with sustained winds of 49 mph.. The gusts
were the strongest winds recorded at those stations in 1960. At the Sandy Hook tide
gage located on the bay side of Sandy Hook, Monmouth Co, NJ, the tide rose to a
record height of 10.3' above mean lower low water. This reading was tied during the
Dec 11, 1992, storm. Severe tidal flooding begins at 8.7' MLLW. Donna killed more
than 364 people, putting this hurricane on The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones,
1492 to Present, list. (More than 25 deaths needed to make the list) (PHL) (NHC)
(NOS) (NCC)(PHL)
...1971...
The Chester Creek at Chester, Delaware Co, PA, rose to a record 24.6'. Flood stage
is 8.0'. (USGS)
...1987...
Showers and thunderstorms produced heavy rain in the NE U.S. Flooding was
reported in VT, NY, PA and NJ. Greenwood, NY, received 6.37" of rain. A dike
along a creek at Plattsburg, NY, gave way and a 2 million dollar onion crop left on
the ground to dry was washed away. The prolonged rains in the Ern U.S. finally came
to an end late in the day as a cold front began to push the warm and humid air mass
out to sea. (NWS) (SD)
...1944...
A very destructive hurricane swept across Cape Hatteras, side swiped NJ and LI, and
crossed SE MA. The hurricane killed more than 400 persons, mainly at sea, putting
this hurricane on The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492 to Present, list.
(More than 25 deaths needed to make the list) . The hurricane destroyed the ACY
boardwalk. A wind gust was measured to 100 mph from the NE at ACY, NYC had
a gust to 97 mph from the N, Cape Henry, VA, G148/NW, and ORF, G79/N. These
were the strongest wind gusts recorded at those places in 1944. PHL received 1.49"
of rain on the 12th, 2.80", a daily record, on the 13th, and 1.17" on the 14th, for a total
of 5.46". NYC received daily record rainfall amounts of 3.94" on the 13th and 3.82"
on the 14th. The pressure at PHL fell to 29.33", the 6th lowest reading for the month
of Sep. This hurricane was the 2nd, and strongest, tropical system to affect the Mid
Atlantic states in 1944. (For detailed information on an attack of giant tsunami-like
waves upon the NJ shore associated with this hurricane, from the Mt Holly home
page, go to Office Information, then to Research/Reports, and then to Tsunami
Information.) (NCC)(NHC)(Ludlum)(TWC)
...1961...
An unnamed tropical storm moved from coastal NC to across the Ern counties of NJ
during the evening. PHL received 0.56" of rain on the 14th and an additional 0.30" on
the 15th. (PHL)(NHC)
...1979...
Tropical storm Frederic moved NE during the afternoon from Pittsburgh to Nrn ME
after striking the AL/MS coasts as a Cat 4. PHL received 0.02" of rain on the 13th and
0.61" on the 14th. (PHL)(NHC)
...1999...
Drought emergencies and restrictions were lifted in NJ, from Burlington to Ocean
Counties and to the S, after increasing rain ended a growing season drought that
caused 80 million dollars in agricultural damage. 2 days later the unprecedented rains
of tropical storm Floyd effectively ended the drought, as up to 14.5" of rain fell, or
about 4 months worth of normal rainfall. The drought emergency was lifted across the
rest of NJ on the 27th.
...1815...
A hurricane roared N from the tropics, passed about 75 miles E of ACY, crossed Ern
LI, and moved into CT. Winds in the storm were estimated at around 100 mph. (EAH)
...1904...
A hurricane formed NE of Puerto Rico and made landfall at the SC/NC border. The
storm recurved to the NE, passing across Srn DE and the SE NJ coastline as a tropical
storm during the pre-dawn hours. PHL recorded a sustained 1-minute wind speed of
58 mph from the NW, the highest ever recorded in Sep, with a measured gust to 62
mph from the N. Cape May, NJ, recorded a gust to 70 mph from the NW, and, on the
14th, Delaware Breakwater, DE, recorded a gust to 114 mph from the NW. All gusts
were the strongest wind gust recorded at those places in 1904. PHL received 0.80"
of rain on the 13th, 2.93" on the 14th, and the current daily record 2.74" on the 15th, for
a storm total of 6.47". (PHL)(NCC)(NHC)
...1813...
Navy Gun Boat #164 sank during a squall in the Chesapeake Bay, 20 drowned. (N)
...1903...
A hurricane that formed NE of Puerto Rico moved relentlessly NW, making landfall
at ACY then continuing into the Great Lakes. ACY had a wind gust estimated at 80
mph from the SE. Cape May, NJ, measured a gust to 63 mph from the NE, and
Delaware Breakwater, DE, gusted to 90 mph from the NE. Even far to the N, New
Haven, CT, gusted to 81 mph from the S. All the wind gusts were the strongest wind
recorded at those places in 1903. PHL received 0.41" of rain on the 16th, followed by
0.52" on the 17th. NYC set a daily rainfall record of 1.63" for the 16th. The hurricane
was responsible for 57 deaths, putting this hurricane on The Deadliest Atlantic
Tropical Cyclones, 1492 to Present, list. (More than 25 deaths needed to make the
list) (NHC)(EAH)(PHL)(NYC)(NCC)
...1933...
A major hurricane recurved to the NE after brushing the coastal regions of VA/NC.
Most of the heavy rainfall preceded the passage of the storm, with PHL receiving a
total of 2.58", about 2" being received on the 14th and 15th. NYC received 4.16" on
the 15th, for a daily record. Norfolk, VA, measured a gust estimated at 98 mph from
the NE on the 16th, the strongest wind recorded there during 1933. (PHL) (NHC)
(NCC)
...1967...
Hurricane Doria formed off FL and moved NE into the Atlantic. However, it reversed
course and moved W to the lwr Delmarva coast as a hurricane, then turned SW,
making landfall N of Cape Hatteras as a tropical storm. PHL received 0.12" of rain.
This is an historic hurricane for 2 reasons. It was the 1st time on record that a tropical
system made landfall N of Cape Hatteras, moving from the NE. Also on the 16th, a
noteworthy first occurred in satellite photography when Doria, hurricane Chloe, SE
of Nova Scotia, and hurricane Beulah, about to move into the Yucatan, were all
photographed on the same orbital pass by ESSA 2. (PHL)(NHC)
...1999...
Hurricane Floyd formed E of the Caribbean islands, then moved NW past the
Bahamas as a Cat 4. The storm recurved over coastal NC, then weakened as it moved
up the coast, becoming a tropical storm in the Delmarva. Floyd brought 6.63" of
precipitation to PHL, setting a daily record. This is also the most precipitation
received for any calendar day in Sep. The 6.77" received beginning on the 15th and
ending on the 16th remains the 24 hour precipitation record for the month of Sep and
for the entire record period. (PHL) The N Branch of the Raritan River, at Raritan,
Somerset Co, NJ, rose to a record 19.0'. Flood stage is 10.0'. The Main Stem of the
Raritan River at Manville, Somerset Co, rose to a record 27.1'. Flood stage is 14.0'.
The Millstone River at Blackwells Mills, Somerset Co, rose to a record 21.0'. Flood
stage is 9.0'. The E Branch Brandywine Creek at Downingtown, Chester Co, PA rose
to a record 14.7'. Flood stage is 7.0'. The Brandywine Creek at Chadds Ford,
Delaware Co, PA, rose to a record 24.6'. Flood stage is 8.0'. The Christina River at
Coochs Bridge, New Castle Co, DE, rose to a record 13.7'. Flood stage is 9.0'.
(USGS)(For more detailed information, click on Event Archive, under Climate on our
homepage menu.) (PHL)
...1876...
A hurricane passed over Puerto Rico, Hispaniola and Cuba, then turned N and made
landfall in Ern NC. The storm continued N over DC, then NW through PA. Wind
gusts were measured at 104 mph at Cape Henry, VA, 80 mph at Norfolk, VA, and 67
mph at PHL, all from the SE, and all being the highest wind gust received at those
places in 1876. At PHL, a maximum 1-minute wind speed of 52 mph was measured.
The maximum gust at DC was only 36 mph. PHL received a daily rainfall record of
3.48" from the storm, with NYC receiving a daily record 3.37" , both being current
records. (NCC)(PHL)
...1888...
An F2 tornado moved NNE at Kenton, Kent Co, DE, blowing off a school roof and
injuring a teacher. 2 others were injured when a small home was destroyed. (G - listed
as Sep 16 another list)
...1999...
The Main Stem of the Raritan River at Bound Brook, Somerset Co, NJ, rose to a
record 42.1'. Flood stage is 28.0'. (USGS)
...1936...
A minimum hurricane NE of Puerto Rico on the 10th deepened to a Cat 3 storm late
on the 14th as it moved toward the Carolina coast. On the 16th, the area of force 6
winds and higher (Beaufort scale) was about 1,000 miles in diameter, one of the
largest tropical cyclones on record. The storm recurved to the NE off Norfolk on the
18th , passing just to the SE of Cape Cod. PHL received 1.06" of rain, with NYC
receiving a daily record amount of 3.92". Norfolk, VA, reported a measured wind
gust to 78 mph from the N, Cape Henry, VA, a gust to 110 mph from the N before the
anemometer failed, the Delaware Breakwater had a gust to 77 mph from the NE, and
ACY reported a measured gust to 120 mph from the N, all gusts being the strongest
wind measured at those places in 1936. (PHL)(NCC)(T)
...1945...
A hurricane moved through the Bahamas and into Srn FL. The storm then recurved
up the coastal plains as a tropical storm and become an extra-tropical depression over
MD. The depression passed through SE PA and Nrn NJ on its way to the Nova Scotia.
PHL received 0.87" of rain on the 17th, with an additional 1.61" falling on the 18th.
This hurricane was nick-named "Kappler's Hurricane" after its discoverer 2nd Lt
Bernard J Kappler. (NHC)(PHL)
...2003...
Hurricane Isabelle, once a powerful Cat 5 storm, moved NW into coastal NC, then
inland as a tropical storm to the Pittsburgh area. The storm then curved to the N into
Canada. (For more detailed information, click on Event Archive, under Climate on
our homepage menu.)
...1928...
A powerful hurricane moved up the FL peninsula after passing over Puerto Rico and
the Bahamas as a CAT 5. The storm then curved NE into NC as a tropical storm, then
turned to the NW into PA. On the 18th, Norfolk, VA, measured a wind gust to 64 mph,
and on the 19th Cape Henry, VA, gusted to 72 mph, both from the NE and both the
strongest wind recorded at those places in 1928. PHL measured a 1-minute sustained
wind speed of 48 mph, also from the NE. (PHL)(NHC)(NCC)
...1977...
Heavy rain with thunderstorms caused widespread roadway flooding, some basement
flooding and flooding in subways. In Delaware Co, 3 3/4" of rain was measured.
Around 3" fell in portions of PHL resulting in a boy drowning when an auto
submerged in a flooded underpass. High winds caused much damage. (SD)
...1989...
Showers and thunderstorms drenched the Mid and N Atlantic coast region. Cape
Hatteras NC was deluged with nearly 3.50" of rain in 3 hours. Syracuse NY reported
1.77" of rain, a record for the date, and Chatham NJ reported an all-time record of
3.45" in one day. (NWS)
...1961...
Hurricane "Esther", a Cat 4 storm offshore Cape Hatteras, began to slow down as it
moved NNE well off the Jersey shore. It continued to weaken as it did a 5 day loop
S of Cape Cod, then moved across Cape Cod and into ME on the 26th. PHL received
0.35" of rain on the 20th and an additional 0.61" on the 21st. (PHL)(NHC)
...1938...
A Great Hurricane smashed into LI and bisected New England causing a massive
forest blowdown and widespread flooding. Winds gusted to 186 mph at Blue Hill,
MA, and a storm surge of nearly 30' caused extensive flooding along the coast of RI.
The hurricane killed 600 to 700 persons, making it onto the Deadliest Atlantic
Tropical Cyclones, 1492 to Present, list, (At least 25 deaths needed to make this list),
and caused 500 million dollars damage. The hurricane destroyed 275 million trees.
Hardest hit were MA, CT, RI and LI. The "LI Express", a CAT 5 as it moved just N
of the Bahamas, produced gargantuan waves with its 150 mph winds, waves which
smashed against the New England shore with such force that earthquake-recording
machines on the Pacific coast clearly showed the shock of each wave. (EAH) (TWC)
The wind gusted to 78 mph from the NW at ACY, NYC reported a gust to105 from
the NW, Hartford, CT G76/E, New Haven, CT G59/NW, BOS G100/SE, Nantucket,
MA G73/SE, Concord, NH G70/SE, Block Island, RI G120/SE and Providence, RI
G126/SW. These gusts were the strongest winds reported in 1938 at those stations.
PHL only gusted to 37 mph from the NW. At PHL, it began to sprinkle on the 11th,
with rain being record every day after to the 21st. Up to the 18th, 0.61" fell, followed
by 1.95" on the 19th, 3.04" on the 20th and 1.14" on the 21st, for a total of 6.74".
The Delaware River at Montague, Sussex Co, NJ, crested at 28.5' on the 22nd, the
3rd highest measurement in record keeping, with flood stage being 25.0'.
(For detailed information on an attack of giant tsunami-like waves upon the NJ
shore associated with this hurricane, from the Mt Holly home page, go to Office
Information, then Research/Reports, then Tsunami Information.) (PHL)(NCC)
...1815...
One of the greatest hurricanes to strike New England made landfall at LI and crossed
MA and NH. It was the worst tempest in nearly 200 years, equal to the hurricane
which struck in 1938, and one of a series of severe summer and autumn storms to
affect shipping lanes that year. A ship off Barnegat Inlet, NJ, reported at 7 am that a
dead calm existed as an interim between "severe gales of great violence." (EAH)
...1851...
Death of Charles Pierce, Esq.
The venerable founder of "The Portsmouth Oracle," from which "The Portsmouth
Journal" numbers its volumes, died at Byberry, near Philadelphia, Penn., on Tuesday
last, Sept. 23, at the age of 81 years. Mr. Pierce was an apprentice for several years
to John Melcher, Esq., (who died last year at the age of 91,) and closed his
apprenticeship with Maj. B. Russell, of Boston. In May, 1793, he commenced the
publication of "The Oracle," which was issued semi-weekly, on Wednesdays and
Saturdays, for three years; it was then enlarged and issued weekly. He continued its
publication until the 1st of July, 1801, when, as he stated in the transfer, "owing to an
impaired state of health and the excessive fatigue unavoidably attendant on the
publication of newspapers," he sold the establishment to Messrs. Treadwell & Co. He
continued the business of book-selling and publishing, in Portsmouth, with much
success, until the year 1813, when he moved to Pennsylvania, and has spent most of
the time since, at Germantown. Mr. Pierce was very affable in his manner,
gentlemanly in his deportment, and affectionate in his social relations. He has been,
until within a year or two of his death, an unwearied chronicler of the weather. For
many years he published, in the Philadelphia papers, over the signature of C. P.,
monthly reports of meteorological matters, interspersed frequently with remarks on
passing events. These articles were frequently copied. Within a few months, we have
received from him a large volume, filled with extracts from his monthly reports,
which have been collected in a good form for reference and preference. (Portsmouth,
NH, Journal, of Saturday, reprinted in the New York Daily Times, Fri, Oct 3, 1851)
...1882...
A tropical storm formed N of the Bahamas on the 21st, passed over the NC Outer
Banks on the 22nd then rode up the present day NJ Garden State Parkway on the 23rd.
Torrential rains accompanied this system. The 3-day rainfall total for the 21st to the
23rd in NE NJ ranged from 11" up to 17.9" in Bloomfield, Essex Co, NJ, producing
one of the maximum floods of record at the Great Falls in Paterson, accompanied by
a 18,260 cf/s peak discharge. NYC set daily rainfall records of 2.34" on the 22nd and
8.28" on the 23rd. The Sep rainfall totals ranged from 10-18 inches across much of
central and NE NJ, with 25.98" reported at Paterson. PHL recorded 1.72" of rain on
the 21st, 4.65" on the 22nd, and 3.72" on the 23rd, for a total of 10.09" of rain. The 22nd
and 23rd amounts remain as daily rainfall records. (PHL)
...1897...
A tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico crossed FL then moved up the coast, passing
about 15 miles E of ACY and carrying sustained winds of over 40 mph. PHL
recorded 0.20" of rain on the 23rd and 0.11" on the 24th. (PHL) (NCC)
...1904...
The temperature at Charlotteburg, NJ, dipped to 23 degrees, the coldest reading of
record for so early in the autumn for the state. (TWC)
...1989...
Thunderstorms along a cold front deluged Roseland, NJ, with 2.25" of rain in 1
hour.(SD) (NWS)
...1882...
A great flood occurred in the NJ Raritan basin from heavy rains of the past days, but
said not to be equal to the flood of Feb 6, 1896. (USGS)(AR)
...1950...
A smoke pall from Wrn Canada forest fires covered much of the Ern U.S. Daylight
was reduced to nighttime darkness in parts of the NE. The color of the sun varied
from pink to purple, blue, or lavendar. Yellow to grey-tan was common. (24th-30th)
(TWC)
...1985...
Tropical storm Henri formed N of the Bahamas and moved straight N to SE of ACY.
The storm then turned NE and dissipated in RI. The rain shield did not extend to
PHL. 3 days later, Gloria moved up the E coast. (PHL)(NMC)
...1785...
A slow moving hurricane swept in over the Carolinas and VA. Storm damage was
reported from BAL to BOS. (EAH)
...1867...
A heavy hailstorm broke 125 panes of glass in the hospital buildings. The weight of
the hailstones was from 1/4 to 1/2 ounce. (PHR)
...1889...
A hurricane moved W through the Caribbean Sea, crossed the Yucatan peninsula,
then recurved in the Gulf of Mexico. The storm moved inland at the AL/FL border
then NE over land, exiting into the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake
Bay. PHL received a total of 0.92" of rain, with 2/3rds of an inch falling on the 25th.
(PHL)
...1963...
The temperature at PHL bottomed out at 35 degrees, the lowest Sep reading since
official records began in 1870. (PHL)
...1992...
Tropical storm Danielle moved NW across the Delmarva peninsula during the
evening and dissipated in central PA. PHL received 1.27" of rain. Another 1/3rd of
an inch fell during the next 3 days. (PHL)(NHC)
...1975...
Hurricane Eloise moved across the FL panhandle then continued NE and dissipated
in WV on the 24th. The remnants brought heavy rains across the Mid Atlantic region
from the 23rd to the 26th. PHL received 2.75" of rain on the 23rd, 1.57" on the 24th,
0.28" on the 25th and 1.19" on the 26th, for a total of 5.79". NYC received 2.26" on the
24th for a daily rainfall record. The flooding in the Susquehanna River basin was the
3rd greatest flood of record. (SD)(NHC)(PHL)
...1956...
Hurricane "Flossie" formed in the Gulf of Mexico, moved NE into the FL panhandle,
then crossed the SE states as a tropical storm, exiting land at Cape Hatteras. The
Delaware Breakwater measured a gust to 70 mph from the N on the 26th, the strongest
wind recorded in 1956. On the 27th, PHL recorded 0.75" of rain. (PHL)(NHC)
...1985...
Hurricane Gloria, which formed off the coast of Africa, recurved very near the Mid
Atlantic coast then continued NE through New England. PHL measured a wind gust
to 52 mph from the WNW. Heavy rain fell, with 2.79" on the 26th and 1.85" on the
27th, both daily rainfall records. The pressure fell to 29.04", the 2nd lowest Sep
reading. During the passage of hurricane Gloria, the tide at the Cape May Ferry
Terminal tide gage located along the Cape May Canal near the outlet to Delaware
Bay, Cape May Co, NJ, rose to a record 9.1' above mean lower low water. Severe
tidal flooding begins at 8.7'. MLLW. (PHL)(NHC)(NOS)
...1874...
A tropical storm that formed off the Yucatan peninsula crossed N FL then moved
inland again in SC. The storm moved just inland up the coast and crossed central DE
and S NJ. Maximum wind strength at its nearest approach to ACY was estimated to
be over 55 mph. PHL received 0.55" of rain from the rapidly accelerating storm. This
storm was on The Signal Corp weather map issued Sep 28, the first map containing
a hurricane. (PHL)
...1896...
A hurricane came ashore in the FL panhandle and moved Nwd, passing to the W of
DC, retaining hurricane strength. DC measured a gust to 80 mph from the SE. PHL
recorded 0.27" of rain on the 29th, and 0.28" on the 30th. (PHL) (NCC)
...1947...
The barometric pressure at PHL rose to 30.64", the highest pressure ever recorded in
Sep. (PHL)
...1884...
The month ended with 0.20" of precipitation, the DRIEST SEP in PHL records.
(PHL)
...1894...
A hurricane that had moved across Cuba and FL recurved up the E coast, half on land
and half at sea. By the time it reached the Mid Atlantic region late on the 29th to early
on the 30th, the storm was moving slow and weakened to Tropical Storm strength
about 80 miles SE of ACY. PHL recorded only a trace of rain. (PHL)
...1924...
A tropical storm moved NE from the Gulf of Mexico traveling on land E of the
Appalachians and dissipated at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. The remnants
continued moving NE and brought heavy rains to the region. PHL received 0.99" on
the 29th and 1.51" on the 30th. (PHL)
...1943...
A tropical storm that formed SW of Bermuda moved to the NW and into the
Delmarva peninsula overnight as Sep turned to Oct, then dissipated in extreme NE
MD as a depression. ACY measured a gust to 78 mph from the NE and Cape Henry,
VA, gusted to 72 mph from the NW, both gusts the strongest wind recorded at those
places in 1943. PHL received 0.72" of rain on Sep 30th and 0.23" on Oct 1st.
(NCC)(NHC)(PHL)
...1952...
The average ocean temperature measured off Atlantic City for the 4 recreational
summer season months of Jun, Jul, Aug and Sep was 71.7 degrees, the warmest on
record. The normal temperature is 68.6 degrees. Records extend back to 1911.
(PHL)(NOS)
...1988...
The average ocean temperature measured off Atlantic City for the 4 recreational
summer season months of Jun, Jul, Aug and Sep was 63.6 degrees, the coldest on
record. The normal temperature is 68.6 degrees. Records extend back to 1911.
(PHL)(NOS)
...1999...
The month ended with 13.07" of precipitation, the WETTEST SEP, and the
WETTEST MONTH ever, in PHL records. In unofficial records, 15.82" was
recorded for Aug, 1867. Marcus Hook, Delaware Co, received 16.13", establishing
a Sep PA state maximum monthly precipitation record. (PHL)(PHR)(PASC)
...1929...
A hurricane moved through the Bahamas then curved around the FL peninsula and
moved into the panhandle. The storm then moved NE overland, passing through Ern
PA as a tropical storm. Heavy rain accompanied the storm, with PHL receiving 1.52"
and NYC 2.16", both daily records. (PHL)(NYC)
...1841...
A violent NE rain storm did immense damage. More than 100 vessels were lost, and
many poor mariners perished. It was estimated that property in vessels and goods was
destroyed to the amount of $2 million. The storm at New Brunswick was very furious,
and rain fell in torrents, mingled with snow and hail. Such a severe and destructive
storm had not occurred on the American coast for many years. PHL received 1.90"
of rain. (P)(PHR)
(This is the Great Gale of New England, a hurricane that recurved off NC and
passed offshore Cape Cod).
...1869...
Into the 4th, the greatest floods ever known here in the fall of the year. The water was
11 1/2' deep over Fairmont Dam. Floods were reported from VA to ME. PHL
received a total of 3.85" of rain. (PHR) This flood carried away Penrose Ferry Bridge
and two bridges at Manayunk (Watson). This storm was a hurricane known as
Saxby's Gale, and was particularly severe in the Canadian maritimes.
...1849...
A tornado touched down around 5 am in Cape May Co, NJ. (G)
...1869...
The Schuylkill River at Fairmount dam crested at 17.0', 6' above flood stage, from the
rains received during Saxby's Gale of the 3rd to 4th. This is the highest flood of
record. This stage was determined by the Authority of City Engineer, PHL, from high
water marks.
...1877...
A hurricane moved through the Caribbean sea then curved N into the FL panhandle.
The storm then moved NE as a tropical storm overland up the coast just W of
Norfolk, VA, and then skirted by SE NJ on its way to Cape Cod as an extra-tropical
storm. DC reported a fastest mile wind speed of 45 mph, and Cape May, NJ, a
maximum wind gust to 80 mph, both from the NW. PHL had a wind gust also to 80
mph, and a maximum 1-minute wind speed of 60 mph, reported to be from the SE.
The 80 mph gusts were the strongest winds measured at those places in 1877.
Torrential rains accompanied the storm, with PHL receiving 2.73" of rain and NYC
4.05", both daily rainfall records. Various sources give the death toll along its path
from Curacao to the NE USA at over 84, putting this hurricane on The Deadliest
Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492 to Present, list. (More than 25 deaths needed to
make the list) (PHL)(NCC)(NHC)
...1927...
A tropical storm formed in the Bahamas, moved into SC then dissipated over Nrn
VA. The remnants might have contributed to the heavy rain that fell in the region,
with PHL receiving 1.09". (PHL)(NHC)
...1786...
The famous "Pumpkin Flood" occurred on the Delaware and Susquehanna Rivers.
Harrisburg, PA, reported a river stage of 22'. The heavy rains culminated a wet
season. (L)
...1811...
Navy Gun Boat #2 sank during a gale in the Chesapeake Bay, killing 40. (N)
...1941...
The temperature at PHL reached 96 degrees , the highest Oct reading since official
records began in 1870. Phoenixville, Chester Co, reached 100 degrees, establishing
an Oct PA state maximum temperature record. (PHL)(PASC)
...1749...
A hurricane passed N a short distance offshore from VA to NJ. At Lewes, DE, on the
Delaware Bay, the raging ocean cut a passage through the beach near Cape Henlopen
into the Bay with a 5' clearance so that small boats could sail through. In PHL,
Benjamin Franklin was watching this storm. Being reported first in NC then VA, he
drew confirmation for his hypothesis made with the hurricane of Oct 22, 1743, that
coastal storms moved from the SW and were preceded by northerly winds. (EAH)
...1783...
A hurricane brushed the E coast as it moved N. NE gales drove 9 square-rigged,
ocean-going vessels ashore at Cape Henlopen, DE. When the wind shifted to the NW,
2 additional ships, sheltering behind the lee shore of Cape May, NJ, were driven
ashore. 2 brigs came ashore near Egg Harbor, Long Beach Island, NJ. (EAH)
...1996...
Tropical storm Josephine formed in the Gulf of Mexico and moved NE just inland up
the coast, passing over Norfolk, VA, and Cape Cod. PHL received 1.33" of rain.
(PHL)(NHC)
...1804...
A hurricane moved from the Bahamas, made landfall in SC on the 7th, then recurved
to the NE, passing over the Delmarva peninsula and extreme Srn NJ, and into Nova
Scotia. The storm did great structural damage, and was considered the severest blow
on record at the time. "At PHL a violent squall about 0800 on the 9th struck and
submerged a newly arrived ship. Farther up the river the violence of the wind on the
same morning upset the ferry at Trenton. To the E on the Jersey shore we have an
important report of a ship being driven on Absecon Beach (ACY) by a SE wind."
(EAH)
...1895...
A trace amount of snow fell in PHL, for the earliest recording of snow. This is also
a daily snowfall record, and the only Oct daily snowfall record that remains from the
1800s. (PHL)
...1804...
A famous snow hurricane occurred. The unusual coastal storm caused N gales from
ME to NJ. Heavy snow fell across New England, with 3' reported at the crest of the
Green Mountains. 1' of snow was reported in the Berkshires of Srn New England, at
Goshen CT. (EAH)
...1894...
A hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico came ashore in the FL panhandle then moved up
the E coast over the coastal land regions, passing only about 20 miles SE of ACY,
where it weakened to tropical storm status. ACY measured a wind gust to 60 mph
from the E, and NYC a gust to 60 mph from the NE. Although a tropical storm as it
entered RI, Block Island, MA, measured a wind gust to 100 mph from the E. All wind
gusts were the strongest winds reported at those places in 1894. PHL measured 1.76"
of rain. (PHL) (NCC)
...1903...
The Passaic River at Little Falls, Passaic Co, NJ, rose to a record 17.5'. Flood stage
is 7.0'. The Pequannock River at Macopin Dam, Passaic Co, NJ, rose to a record 9.4'.
Flood stage is 5.5'. The Delaware River at Montague, Sussex Co, NJ, rose to a record
35.5'. Flood stage is 25.0' (USGS).
...1979...
2.1" of snow fell in PHL, for the earliest measurable, and the highest daily snowfall
recording in Oct. (PHL)
...1902...
A hurricane came ashore along the MS/AL coast then moved NE, passing across the
Srn Delmarva as an extratropical storm overnight on the 11th to 12th. PHL received
1.06" of rain on the 11th, a daily record that held for 100 years, until 2.04" fell in
2002. An additional 0.47" fell on the 12th. Maximum sustained winds near the center
of the storm were estimated at 40 mph. New Haven, CT, measured a gust to 65 mph
from the NE on the 12th, the strongest winds received there in 1902. (PHL) (NCC)
...1972...
The barometric pressure at PHL rose to 30.77", the highest pressure ever recorded in
Oct. (PHL)
...1878...
A hurricane that formed in the Gulf of Mexico moved across N FL, then NE to S of
Cape Hatteras and out to sea. ACY measured a gust to 47 mph from the NE. PHL
received no rain. (PHL)
...1888...
A hurricane that formed in the Gulf of Mexico moved NE across FL, then hugged the
coast to Ern LI, passing the Jersey shore the night of the 11th to 12th. PHL received
only 0.15" of rain. (PHL)
...1846...
A great hurricane tracked across Cuba, FL, GA, the Carolinas, VA and PA. The
hurricane inflicted major damage along its entire path, which was similar to the path
of Hurricane Hazel 108 years later. The hurricane caused great damage at Key West
FL, and at PHL, it was the most destructive storm in 30 years. SE winds backed up
the waters of the Delaware River to flood all the wharves. "The Delaware was lashed
into a perfect fury and the roar would have drowned the thunder of Niagra itself." The
lowlands along the Delaware near New Castle, DE, were overflowed in the greatest
storm surge in 70 years, probably a reference to the Sep hurricane of 1775. (EAH)
(TWC)
...1893...
A hurricane moved inland at the NC/SC border then moved N through central PA and
Wrn NY. The storm maintained its hurricane strength from the Carolinas to NY,
where it weakened to tropical storm status. PHL recorded a 1-minute wind speed of
55 mph with a measured gust to 75 mph from the SE. The wind gust was the strongest
wind reported at PHL in 1893. Also, 0.14" of rain fell on the 13th, followed by 0.21"
on the 14th. (PHL) (NCC)
...1900...
A tropical storm moved NE across Nrn FL then up the Atlantic seaboard, passing
close to the Mid Atlantic beaches and shores before moving into Wrn LI. PHL
received 0.16" of rain on the 13th and 1.28" on the 14th. NYC received a daily record
rain fall on the 14th of 1.37". (PHL)(NYC)
...1954...
Hurricane "Hazel" struck the Carolina coastline then moved directly N as a tropical
storm through central VA/PA. The hurricane demolished every pier along a 170 mile
stretch from Myrtle Beach SC to Cedar Island NC, and obliterated entire lines of
beach homes. Hazel also destroyed 1500 homes as it moved inland with 17' tides.
Winds between Myrtle Beach SC and Cape Fear NC gusted to 150 mph. The
hurricane caused 163 million dollars damage, and claimed the lives of between 600
and 1200 persons from the Caribbean to Canada, making it onto the Deadliest
Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492 to Present, list. (At least 25 deaths needed to make
this list). Winds gusted to 72 mph at ACY from the SE, 81 mph at ABE, and 94
mph/S at PHL, where winds were sustained at 73 mph/S, the 2nd higher wind gust ever
measured for Oct and in any year. Other measured wind gusts were 79 mph/SE at
BAL, 85 mph/SE at DCA, 75 mph/S at the Delaware Breakwater, 78 mph/SE at
Reading, PA, and 125 mph/SE at NYC, all gusts the strongest winds measured at
those places in 1954. PHL recorded only 0.63" of rain from this fast moving storm.
(L)(TWC)(PHL)(NCC)(NHC)
...1955...
An afternoon F2 tornado touched down in Monmouth Co, NJ. Large hail /1"/ was also
reported. There were no deaths or injuries reported from the storm. (SD)
...1989...
Temperatures warmed into the 80s and lower 90s in the Ern and S central U.S. 13
cities reported record high temperatures for the date, including ACY with a reading
of 84 degrees. (SD) (NWS)
...1990...
An F3 tornado destroyed 3 homes in Montgomery, Somerset Co, NJ, injuring 8
people, and an F2 tornado damaged homes along the N edge of Greenville, New
Castle Co, DE. Also, F1 tornadoes touched down in Burlington and Atlantic Cos.
Thunderstorm winds injured 4 people in Atlantic Co. (SD)(G)
...1940...
2.2" of snowfall was recorded in PHL, starting on the 19th and ending on the 20th, for
the highest amount of snow received from a storm in Oct. The maximum 1.7" snow
depth measured is an Oct record. (PHL)
...1944...
A hurricane formed in the Wrn Caribbean Sea then moved N, crossing over the Wrn
tip of Cuba and N Fl, then moved NE as a tropical storm over the coastal plains of the
USA, moving out to sea at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. PHL received 0.97" of
rain on the 20th and 0.24" on the 21st. (NHC)(PHL)
...1949...
An F2 tornado destroyed 2 homes and damaged 5 others near New Market, Sussex
Co, DE. (G)
...1743...
A N moving hurricane brought violent gusts of wind and rain with thunder and
lightning. The hurricane is called Benjamin Franklin's Eclipse Hurricane, since the
clouds blocked a luna eclipse Franklin had wanted to see. He thought his brother in
BOS had missed the eclipse also, but he had seen it in clear skies. PHL's Franklin
then hypothesized that storms moved from the SW, with N winds preceding it. He
confirmed this with the passage of the Oct 7, 1749, hurricane. (L)
...1878...
A major hurricane that formed in the Caribbean Sea moved N over Wrn Cuba and
smashed into the NC coast. The storm moved N into Ern PA, then curved sharply E
and moved through central New England. It retained hurricane strength into SE NY.
The hurricane caused great damage around Wilmington, NC, on the Chesapeake Bay,
and around PHL. In the upper Delaware Bay, a "tidal wave" wiped out much of the
resort hotels and outbuildings, and caused major shoreline changes at Collins Beach,
Bombay Hook and Woodland Beach, resulting in the demise of these areas as a major
summer resort for visitors from ILG and PHL. Cape May measured a wind gust to
110 mph from the E, and PHL gusted to 85 mph from the SE, both gusts the strongest
wind recorded at those places in 1878. PHL recorded a maximum 1-minute wind
speed of 75 mph, the strongest 1-minute average measured in Oct, and the strongest
ever measured. PHL received a total of 0.97" of rain.(MWR) (NCC)(PHL)(DGS)
...1893...
A tropical storm moved N up the coast then took a turn to the NW off Norfolk, VA,
moving across the Chesapeake Bay and into Wrn MD. Sustained winds during its
passage across the Bay were estimated at 45 mph. PHL recorded 0.15" of rain on the
22nd, 1.12" on the 23rd, and finished with 0.01" on the 24th, for a total of 1.28". (PHL)
(NCC)
...1923...
A tropical storm that formed in the Caribbean Sea moved N, making landfall in the
Delmarva then moving NNW across Ern PA and into Wrn NY. The slow moving
storm brought 2 days of heavy rain to the region. PHL received 1.86" of rain on the
23rd, and 1.10" on the 24th. The highest wind gusts occurred on the 23rd, with ACY
measuring a gust to 88 mph, and Cape May, NJ, gusting to 66 mph, both from the NE,
and both the strongest winds recorded in 1923. (PHL) (NCC)
...1878...
A hurricane produced widespread damage across NC, VA, MD, NJ and PA. At PHL,
the hurricane was the worst of record. Along its path from Cuba and up the E coast,
over 72 people were killed, putting this hurricane on The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical
Cyclones, 1492 to Present, list. (More than 25 deaths needed to make the list)
(NHC)(EAH)
...1938...
A little over a month after the devastating Sep hurricane, a tropical storm formed in
the Gulf of Mexico and moved NE, becoming extra-tropical as it moved rapidly along
the coastline of the Carolinas, and passed NJ during the evening on its way to Cape
Cod. PHL received 0.70" of rain (PHL).
..1962...
The temperature at PHL bottomed out at 25 degrees, the lowest Oct reading since
official records began in 1870. 7 year later, on Oct 24, the mercury hit 25 degrees
again. (PHL)
...1980...
3.82" of precipitation fell at PHL setting a daily record. This is also the most
precipitation received for any calendar day in Oct. The 3.85" that fell beginning on
the 25th and ending on the 26th remains the record for the most precipitation received
in a 24 hour period for the month of Oct. (PHL)
...1872...
A hurricane that formed N of the Yucatan peninsula moved N, crossed FL, then
moved in over Ern NC. The storm traveled N through the Delmarva then curved
across NJ to NYC and Cape Cod. Rain started falling at PHL on the 23rd, when the
storm was in the FL panhandle. 0.32" fell on the 23rd and .28" on the 24th. As the
storm curved around NJ, 1.97" fell on the 25th and 2.11" on the 26th, for a rainfall total
of 4.68". The total for the 26th remains the daily rainfall record. Baltimore MD gusted
to 46 mph, direction not known, for the strongest wind recorded there in 1872.
(PHL)(NCC)
...1981...
An evening F2 tornado destroyed a barn, silo, and 2 cars near Vienna, Warren Co, NJ.
No deaths or injuries were reported with the tornado. (SD)(G)
...1987...
Showers and thunderstorms produced locally heavy rain from VA to NY. Fallen
leaves made roads and sidewalks slick, and also clogged sewers. Rainfall totals of
1.55" at Newark, NJ, 1.54" at Harrisburg, PA, 1.27" at Scranton, PA, and 1.22" at
ACY, were records for the date. (NWS)
...2003...
A strong cold front moved through during the afternoon, causing an outbreak of
severe weather. An F0 tornado touched down in Hainesport, Burlington Co, NJ, about
345 pm EST near the Holly Bowl bowling alley on Rt 38. A 20' section of a tree 6-8'
in diameter was snapped off and flew 200' across the parking lot, hitting a lady
getting into her car. Doris Smith, 77, of Lumberton, a lifelong Burlington county
resident, was killed by the flying treetop. This was the first Burlington Co tornado
fatality both in modern tornado records kept since 1950, and in reliable unofficial
records extending back into the 1700s. The tornado cut a path 1/2 mile long and 30
yards wide. Although the tornado was F0, it is considered a significant tornado,
usually F2 or greater, because of the fatality. On the morning of Sep 23, another F0
tornado had touched down in Florence, Burlington Co, under similar weather
conditions. (BCT)(NGDC)(G)(L)
...1879...
A hurricane formed near the Yucatan peninsula and curved NE, crossing N FL. The
storm then curved up the coast and made landfall in SE MA. PHL received 0.05" of
rain as it passed by the Delmarva and NJ coasts. (PHL)
...1987...
Rain began to diminish in the NE U.S., but some flooding continued in VT, Ern NY
and Nrn NJ. 1" rains in VT clogged culverts and sewers with fallen leaves, resulting
in erosion of dirt roads. (SD) (NWS)
...1885...
The barometric pressure at PHL fell to 29.10", the lowest pressure ever recorded in
Oct. (PHL)
...1851...
The Delaware River was lowest at TTN for a period of 50 years. (PHR)
...1899...
A Caribbean hurricane crossed Cuba then moved N and made landfall at the SC/NC
border. The hurricane became extra-tropical in VA about midnight, Oct 31st to Nov
1st, then curved across SE PA and moved into New England and the Maritimes. The
highest wind gusts occurred on the 31st, with a gust measured to 60 mph at Norfolk,
VA, 84 mph at Cape Henry, VA, and 82 mph at the Delaware Breakwater, DE, all
from the NE, and all the strongest wind reported at those places in 1899. PHL
reported 0.31" of rain on the 31st, and 0.48" on the 1st. (PHL) (NCC)
...1902...
The month ended with 6.66" of precipitation, the WETTEST OCT in PHL records.
In unofficial records, 10.05" fell in 1833. (PHL)
...1924...
The month ended with only 0.09" of precipitation at PHL, the DRIEST OCT and the
DRIEST MONTH in PHL records, a record to be tied in 1963. Hamburg, Berks Co,
along with locations in other PA counties outside the Mt Holly forecast area, received
no rain, tying the minimum precipitation state record set in 1892.(PHL)
...1963...
The month ended with only 0.09" of precipitation at PHL, TYING the previous
DRIEST OCT and DRIEST MONTH set in 1924. Chadds Ford, Delaware Co, along
with Berne and Virginville, Berks Co, as well as locations in other PA counties
outside the Mt Holly forecast area, received no rain, tying the Oct Pa state minimum
precipitation record set in 1924 and 1892. (PHL)(PASC)
...1988...
22 cities in the NE U.S. reported record low temperatures for the date. The low of 19
degrees at Cleveland, OH was a record for Oct, and morning lows of 21 degrees at
ABE and Bridgeport, CT tied Oct records. (NWS)
...1950...
The temperature at PHL reached 84 degrees , the highest Nov reading since official
records began in 1870. (PHL)
...1973...
A deep low pressure system centered over New England caused strong winds over SE
PA. Trees and tree limbs were downed or uprooted. Buildings were blown down or
moved, and airplanes blown over and damaged. Winds gusted to 59 mph at ABE and
51 mph at PHL. (SD)
...1861...
The "Expedition" Hurricane commenced during the morning and lasted for nearly an
entire day. The storm produced excessive tides from Hatteras to ME. Federal war
ships and transports that had gathered inside the Chesapeake Bay for an "expedition"
(attack on the South) were greatly disorganized by this storm, losing ships and troops.
(EAH)
...1877...
An F2 tornado touched down during the afternoon in Mercer Co, NJ. (G)
...1927...
A tropical storm formed S of Cuba, crossed the Bahamas then became an extra-
tropical depression SE of NC. The remnants accelerated Nwd, passing the Mid
Atlantic states and moving into New England. Heavy rains accompanied the storm,
with PHL receiving 1.41" plus an additional 0.21" on the 4th. As the system raced
through New England, Portland, ME, measured a gust to 70 mph from the SE, the
strongest wind recorded there in 1927. (PHL)(NCC)
...1950...
An F3 tornado skipped from the Neighborville-Reamstown area, to Adamstown and
Tuckerton, Berks Co, PA, damaging or destroying 14 buildings. (G - F2)
...1970...
An F2 tornado touched down during the afternoon in Atlantic Co, NJ. Heavy
hailstorm at Point Pleasant Beach, Ocean Co, NJ; 2 1/2' accumulation. (SD)(G)(L)
...1953...
8.8" of snow fell at PHL, beginning on the 6th and ending on the 7th, for the earliest
snowstorm producing 4" or more. Long Branch, Monmouth Co, NJ, had a wind gust
to 78 mph. (PHL)
...1977...
3.99" of precipitation fell at PHL, setting a maximum daily record. This is also the
most precipitation received for any calendar day in Nov, and remains the 24 hour
maximum precipitation record for the month of Nov. (PHL)
...1892...
0.8" of snow fell in PHL, setting a daily snowfall record. This Nov daily snowfall
record is 1 of only 3 that remain from the 1800s, the other 2 being 3.2" which fell on
the 24th, 1898, and 6.0" on the 26th, also in 1898. (PHL)
...1977...
The Metedeconk River at Lakewood, Ocean Co, NJ, rose to a record 9.3'. Flood stage
is estimated at 8.0'. (USGS)
...1987...
Rain and drizzle in the Poconos changed to snow and became heavy during the
afternoon. Final amounts ranged from 4-7". (SD)
...1987...
After receiving almost an inch of rain the day before with temperatures near 60
degrees, the temperature fell to below freezing during the afternoon of this Veterans
Day. The rain mixed with sleet then changed to snow. PHL received 1.3", a daily
snowfall record and the snowiest Veterans Day in the record books. DCA received
17", with thunder and lightning accompanying the storm. (SD)(PHL)
...1904...
The barometric pressure at PHL fell to 28.78", the lowest pressure ever recorded in
Nov. (PHL)
...1989...
Thunderstorms produced severe weather in the Ern U.S. through the morning and
afternoon hours. Severe thunderstorms spawned 23 tornadoes, and there were 164
reports of damaging winds. There were 14 tornadoes in NJ, central and Ern NY, and
Ern PA, with 122 reports of damaging winds. A tornado at Coldenham, NY killed 9
school children and injured 18 others, and thunderstorm winds gusted to 100 mph at
Malvern, PA. Thunderstorms spawned a total of 39 tornadoes E of the Great Plains
in 2 days, and there were 499 reports of large hail and damaging winds. (NWS) (SD)
...1996...
The barometric pressure at PHL rose to 30.84", tying the highest pressure ever
recorded in Nov, previously set on the 28th in 1932, and the 19th in 1891. (PHL)
...1977...
Heavy hail across Mercer Co, NJ; Trenton State College damaged; 73 mph winds at
Mercer airport; Princeton had 6" of hail. (L)
...1891...
The barometric pressure at PHL rose to 30.84", the highest pressure ever recorded in
Nov. (PHL)
...1879...
A hurricane that formed in the Caribbean Sea moved across Cuba then raced N to
Labrador. Although the storm remained a considerable distance from the Atlantic
seaboard, Cape May, NJ, measured a wind gust to 112 mph, direction from which the
wind was blowing not known. PHL received 0.07" of rain (NCC)(PHL)
...1989...
A low pressure system brought thunderstorms and high winds to the NE U.S. There
were 193 reports of damaging winds with thunderstorms in NY, PA and NJ.
Tornadoes touched down near Seaside Park, NJ and McAlevys Port, PA. Winds with
thunderstorms gusted to 92 mph at Poughkeepsie, NY, and reached 94 mph at
Newburgh, NY. High winds in the DC area, gusting to 73 mph, resulted in 1 death.
(SD) (NWS)
...1989...
4.6" of snow fell at PHL in a Thanksgiving holiday snow storm, beginning on the 22nd
and ending on the 23rd, one of the earliest Fall snow storms that produced 4" or more
of snow. (PHL)
...1810...
A great flood occurred in the NJ Raritan basin, but said not to be equal to the flood
of Feb 6, 1896. (USGS)(AR)
...1812...
SW winds of hurricane force sank ships and unroofed buildings at PHL and NYC. (L)
...1898...
3.2" of snow fell in PHL, setting a daily snowfall record. This Nov daily snowfall
record is 1 of only 3 that remain from the 1800s, the other 2 being 0.8" which fell on
the 1st , in 1892, and 6.0" on the 26th, also in 1898. (PHL)
...1888...
USA E coast storm. 50 vessels wrecked and 45 lives lost. (N)
...1950...
The NJ area received the full impact of strong E winds from the "Storm of Nov
1950." The winds were accompanied by heavy precipitation. This storm resulted in
extreme damage to Srn NJ, particularly along Delaware Bay, and caused the highest
tide of record to that time, 8.8' above mean sea level being recorded at Greenwich
Piers, equal to the estimated height during the Oct 1878 hurricane. Both storms
produced heights near the 9.1' above mean sea level that the Intermediate Regional
Tidal Flood, or, the 100 year flood, would cause. The fishing village of Bay Side was
practically washed out with damages estimated at $50,000. Gandys Beach and the
beach communities to the S were severely damaged. Waves from 12-18' high were
reported in the East Point, NJ, area. (COE, Dec, 1968) At the PHL tide gage located
on the Delaware river near the E end of Washington Ave, the tide rose to a record
height of 10.8' above mean lower low water. Severe tidal flooding begins at 10.2'.
MLLW (NOS). The wind at Newark, NJ, gusted to 108 mph, and Central Park, NY,
to 70 mph, the strongest winds ever recorded at those locations. ABE observed winds
gusting to 88 mph.(NCC)
...1898...
9.2" of snow fell at PHL, 6.0" on the 26th and the remainder on the 27th, for the
greatest snowfall received from a storm in Nov. The 6.0" is a daily snowfall record,
and 1 of only 3 Nov daily snowfall records that remain from the 1800s, the other 2
being 0.8" which fell on the 1st , in 1892, and 3.2" on the 24th, also in 1898. (PHL)
...1979...
A strong cold front moved through the region during the afternoon bringing
thunderstorms and gusty winds with it. Kutztown reported a gust to 70 mph and
Reading, both in Berks Co, gusted to 65 mph. ABE gusted to 62 mph and PHL
reported a gust to 59 mph. The gusts tore the roofs or portions of roofs off houses and
other buildings. Many trees were uprooted or broken off. Rain ruined a large amount
of chemicals when the roof of a storage building was blown away. (SD)
...1938...
6.9" of snow was recorded at PHL, for the greatest daily record of any Nov day. The
storm total of 7.2" that occurred on the 26th to 27th , along with a previous 4.3"
received on the 25th , produced a maximum Nov snow depth of 11.0" on the ground
on the 27th. (PHL)
...1932...
The barometric pressure at PHL rose to 30.84", tying the previously highest pressure
ever recorded in Nov, last set on the 19th in 1891. (PHL)
...1969...
Dense fog along the NJ Turnpike resulted in a chain reaction of vehicle collisions
during the morning rush hour. A propane truck jacknifed and was struck by a trailor
truck, and other vehicles piled into the fiery mass. (L)
...1875...
The temperature at PHL bottomed out at 8 degrees, the lowest Nov reading since
official records began in 1870. This is the earliest temperature reading in the single
digits, and the only Nov day in PHL that has ever seen the single digits. (PHL)
...1922...
The Fall season received 2.37" of rain, the DRIEST FALL in PHL records. (PHL)
..1967...
4.9" of snow fell at PHL in a Fall snow storm, one of the earliest snow storms that
produced 4" or more of snow. (PHL)
...1972...
The month ended with 9.06" of precipitation, the WETTEST NOV in PHL records.
(PHL)
...1976...
The month ended with 0.32" of precipitation, the DRIEST NOV in PHL records.
(PHL)
...1987...
Heavy rain in the NE U.S. Up to 3" of rain drenched the Brandywine Creek Basin of
PA. (NWS) (SD)
...1999...
The Fall season received 18.93' of precipitation, the WETTEST FALL in PHL
records. (PHL)
...2002...
Up to now, no Nov PA state records for max/min temperature, max/min precipitation,
and max snowfall have been set in the Mt Holly area of responsibility. (PASC)
...1890...
It has never snowed more than 0.8" on this date since 1890 at PHL, for the lowest
record daily snowfall for any Dec day. This daily record is 1 of only 3 remaining from
the 1800s, the other 2 being a 7.1" fall on the 16th in 1896, and the other a 6.0"
amount that occurred on Dec 18th, 1887. (PHL)
...1925...
A late season hurricane caused extensive damage across the FL peninsula, then
moved off the GA coast crossing Cape Hatteras as a tropical storm. The storm
produced whole gales along the Mid Atlantic and Srn New England coast. Winds
gusted to 60 mph at Block Island RI, and reached 64 mph from the NE at ACY.
(EAH) A wind gust was measured to 84 mph from the NE at the Delaware
Breakwater, DE, their strongest wind to occur in 1925. PHL recorded a 4-day wet
spell with 0.17" of rain on the 2nd, 0.37" on the 3rd, 0.05" on the 4th and 0.17" on the
5th , a mild day with a high temperature of 61 degrees. This tropical period was brief,
since Nov 30th and Dec 9th had below freezing temperatures with snow flurries.
(PHL)(NCC)
...1942...
The barometric pressure at PHL fell to 28.79", the lowest pressure ever recorded in
Dec. (PHL)
...1957...
7.0" of snow fell, beginning on the 3rd and ending on the 4th, for one of the earliest
snowstorms producing 4" or more. (PHL)
...1786...
The first of two great early Dec storms began. The storm produced 18" of snow at
Morristown NJ, and 20" at New Haven CT. (L)
...1998...
The temperature at PHL reached 73 degrees, the highest Dec reading since official
records began in 1870. (PHL)
...2002...
7.0" of snow fell at PHL for one of the earliest snowstorms producing 4" or more.
This storm now ranks as producing the most snow for so early in the meteorological
Winter season, beating out Nov 27th, 1949 and 1938, which had 6.9" of snowfall.
(Meteorological Winter begins Dec 1st.) It also broke the longest standing Dec daily
snowfall record, 4.5" in 1886. Only 2 Dec daily snowfall records are left dating from
the 1800s, 0.8" received on Dec 1st, 1890, and 6.0" received on Dec 18th, 1887. (PHL)
...1914...
3.71" of precipitation fell at PHL, setting a maximum daily record. This is also the
most precipitation received on any calendar day in Dec. The 3.78" beginning on the
7th and ending on the 8th remains the maximum 24 hour precipitation record for the
month of Dec. (PHL)
...1998...
The temperature at PHL reached 73 degrees, tying the highest Dec reading, set only
3 days earlier, since official records began in 1870. (PHL)
...1963...
Lightning caused the crash of a jet airliner killing 81 persons at Elkton, MD. (Sandra
and TI Richard Sanders - 1987)
...1989...
A winter storm spread snow and freezing rain across much of the Atlantic Coast
Region, from GA to NJ. Snowfall totals ranged up to 7" at Stanton, VA, and Tobacco,
MD. (NWS) (SD)
...1786...
A second great snowstorm in just 5 days brought another 15" of snow to Morristown,
NJ, on top of the 8" which fell on the 7th and 8th, and the 18" which fell on the 4th
and 5th. The total snowfall for the week was thus 41". (L) (TWC)
...1960...
(Dec 10-12) VA-PA-NY-NJ. Heavy snowfall with high winds. Greatest statewide
snow so early in NJ and greatest of record in some localities for any month in 24
hours. Falls up to 15" in PA, and 7-21" in NJ. 108 dead, 52 in NJ and 14 in PA.
(LS6211) See 11th for PHL record.
...1960...
14.6" of snow fell at PHL, beginning on the 11th and ending on the 12th, for one of the
earliest snowstorms producing 4" or more, and the greatest Fall storm in PHL records.
(PHL)
...1992...
During a Nor'easter, the Sandy Hook tide gage located on the bay side of Sandy
Hook, Monmouth Co, NJ, the tide rose to a record height of 10.3' above mean lower
low water. This reading tied the previous record set during Hurricane Donna on Sep
12, 1960. At the ACY tide gage located on the oceanfront at the Trump Pier, Atlantic
Co, NJ, the tide rose to a record height of 9.3' above mean lower low water. Severe
tidal flooding begins at 8.7' MLLW for both gages. At the Reedy Point tide gage
located in New Castle Co, DE, at the E end of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal,
the tide rose to a record height of 9.5' above mean lower low water. Severe tidal
flooding begins at 9.2' MLLW (NOS). Sandy Hook, Monmouth Co, NJ, reported a
wind gust to 89 mph.
...1982...
6.8" of snow fell at PHL, for one of the earliest snowstorms producing 4" or more.
(PHL)
...1951...
5.3" of snow fell at PHL, for one of the earliest snowstorms producing 4" or more.
(PHL)
...1896...
7.1" of snow fell at PHL, for one of the earliest snowstorms producing 4" or more.
This daily record is 1 of only 3 remaining from the 1800s, one being a 0.8" fall on the
1st in 1890, and the other a 6.0" amount that occurred on Dec 18th, 1887. (PHL)
...1978...
Strong wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph brought down many trees, caused damage to
buildings and automobiles, and downed utility lines. The gusts caused 2 deaths in Ern
PA, one when a motorcyclist lost control and flew over a guard rail in PHL, and the
other near Williamsport when a tractor trailer flipped over while going down an off
ramp. In Nether Providence, Delaware Co, a woman was injured when a tree fell on
the auto in which she was riding. (SD)
...1887...
6.0" of snow fell at PHL, for one of the earliest snowstorms producing 4" or more.
This is also the daily snowfall record, 1 of only 3 Dec daily snowfall records that
remain from the 1800s, one being 0.8" that fell on Dec 1st, 1890, and the other a 7.1"
fall occurring on the 16th in 1896. (PHL)
...1777...
The Continental Army moved into encampment at Valley Forge amidst stormy winds
and piercing cold. A relatively moderate winter followed. (L)
...1948...
The NFL championship game at PHL Shibe Park between the Eagles and the Chicago
Cardinals began with snow falling 2"/hr. This "Blizzard Bowl" was hard to play or
watch. Chalk lines froze to the tarp. Ropes on sidelines marked the field. PHL ended
up with 7.4 inches of snow. (2004 weather calender Accord Publishing Ltd)(PHL)
...1909...
(Dec 25-26) N Atlantic States. Christmas storm most severe and destructive winter
storm for many years. Snowfall averaged 20" in Ern PA and DE, and at PHL, 21", the
greatest Dec snowfall ever recorded in 24 hours (see the 26th). Winds to 72 mph.
Great accumulation of snow damaged poles and wires. 20 dead, NYC and MA. There
have been only 3 storms that gave PHL more than 20" of snow. The storm of Jan 7th
to 8th, 1996, saw a total of 30.7", with 27.6" falling on the 7th; the storm of Feb 11th
to 12th, 1983, saw a total of 21.3", with 21.1"falling on the 11th; and the storm of Dec
25th to 26th, 1909, saw a total of 21.0", with 12.5"falling on the 26th. The remaining
8.5"that fell on the 25th is the most snow to ever fall on Christmas Day.
(LS6211)(PHL)
...1949...
The barometric pressure at PHL rose to 30.98", the highest pressure ever recorded in
Dec. (PHL)
...1966...
12.7" of snow fell at PHL, beginning on the 24th and ending on the 25th. 12.4" fell on
the 24th, and the 12" measured on the morning of the 25th is the deepest Christmas
Day snow pack ever. This memorable White Christmas broke the old record of 6.0"on
the ground in 1912. There was heavy drifting of the snow, and much thunder and
lightning accompanied the storm. (PHL)
...2002...
Snowfall from a winter storm ranged from 4"or less in the Delaware valley to over
20" in the Poconos. SE NJ and most of DE had no snow accumulation. (For more
detailed information, click on Event Archive, under Climate on our homepage menu.)
...1776...
George Washington crossed the ice clogged Delaware River. He marched on TTN in
the midst of snow and sleet thus surprising and capturing many of the British
garrison. (L)
...1909...
Of the 21.0" of snow that fell at PHL, beginning on Christmas and ending on the 26th,
12.5" fell on the 26th, setting a record calendar day snowfall. The snow depth reached
16", a Dec record. (PHL)
...1933...
(Dec 26-31) NY-PA. Heavy snow in Ern PA and Ern and SErn NY. 10" NYC and 9"
in 24 hours at George School, Gratersford, and Lakeville, PA. Streets slippery.
Several hundred persons treated for injuries. 50+ dead, 1 in PA. (LS6211)
...1947...
(Dec 26-27) NY-NJ-New England. Heavy snowfall, 6 to nearly 30" in NJ; 29.7" at
Long Branch for greatest 24-hour fall of record in State. 27 dead, 23 in NJ. (LS6211)
...1988...
Strong winds behind a cold front claimed 3 lives in Ern PA, and injured a dozen
others in Ern PA, Srn NJ and MD. Winds gusted to 87 mph at Hammonton, NJ and
in the DC area. (NWS) (SD)
...1917...
The temperature at PHL bottomed out at -1 degrees, the earliest below zero
temperature reading since official records began in 1870. (PHL)
...1880...
The temperature at PHL bottomed out at -5 degrees, the lowest Dec reading since
official records began in 1870. (PHL)
...2000...
The End of the Millennium Nor'easter brought a snowfall ranging from 1-2" in DE
to 25" in NW NJ. (For more detailed information, click on Event Archive, under
Climate on our homepage menu.)
...1922...
The year ended at PHL with a total of 29.31" of precipitation, the DRIEST YEAR in
PHL records. (PHL)
...1941...
The year ended at ABE with 28.76" of precipitation, the driest year in ABE records
since 1912. (ABE)
...1945...
The year ended at ILG with 61.05" of precipitation, the wettest year in ILG records
since 1894. (ILG)
...1952...
The year ended at ABE with a total of 67.69" of precipitation, the wettest year in
ABE records since 1912. (ABE)
...1955...
The month ended at PHL with 0.25" of precipitation, the DRIEST DEC in PHL
records. (PHL)
...1958...
The year ended at ACY with a total of 67.17" of precipitation fell, the wettest year in
ACY records from 1906. However, readings were taken at the downtown office
during the first 6 months of the year, with readings for the second half of the year
taken at the airport, 10 miles to the NW. The year 1948 ended with 62.20" of
precipitation, the wettest year in ACY at one location. (ACY)
...1965...
The year ended at ACY with 25.27" of precipitation, the driest year in ACY records
since 1906. (ACY)
The year ended at ILG with 24.90" of precipitation, the driest year in ILG records
since 1894. (ILG)
...1969...
The month ended at PHL with a trace or more of snow falling on 18 days, setting a
new monthly record. The old record was 14 days in 1904. This also tied the previous
record of 18 days of snow in a month set just the previous Feb. (PHL)
...1996...
The month ended with 8.47" of precipitation, the WETTEST DEC in PHL records.
The year ended with 56.45", the wettest year in the record books. (PHL)
...2002...
Up to now, no Dec PA state records for max/min temperature, max/min precipitation,
and max snowfall have been set in the Mt Holly area of responsibility. (PASC)
GUIDE TO SOURCES AND ABBREVIATIONS
CITIES AND REGIONS:ABE - Allentown, Lehigh Co, PennsylvaniaDIRECTIONS:
ACY - Atlantic City, Atlantic Co, New Jersey
BOS - Boston, Massachusetts
BAL - Baltimore, Maryland
BURLCO - Burlington County, NJ
DC - Washington, District of Columbia
ILG - Wilmington, Delaware
LI - Long Island, New York
MONTCO - Montgomery County, PA
NYC - New York City, New York
ORF - Norfolk, VA
PHL - Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co, Pennsylvania
RDG - Reading, Berks Co, PA
TTN - Trenton, Mercer Co, New JerseyN(rn) - North(ern)OTHER:
E(rn) - East(ern)
S(rn) - South(ern)
W(rn) - West(ern)
(ABE) - Allentown weather records.
(AR) - 1896 Annual Report of the State Geologist
BCT - Burlington County Times.
CD - Climatic Data, NJ.
COE - Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army Philadelphia District.
DGS - Delaware Geological Survey.
EAH - Early American Hurricanes: Ludlam.
EDJ - Elizabeth (NJ) Daily Journal newspaper.
F - The Fredonian newspaper.
G - Grazulis, Thomas P, Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991, Update 1992-95.
H - Hurricanes, Tannehill, Ivan Ray, 1956.
L - Ludlum, David, editor of "Weatherwise" magazine (Princeton NJ).
LS6107 - Some Outstanding Blizzards, 1857-1962, DOC, Weather Bureau, Oct
1963.
LS6211 - Some Outstanding Snowstorms, 1717-1962, DOC, Weather Bureau, Oct
1963.
N - United States Navy
NHC - National Hurricane Center
NJM - The New Jersey Mirror, Mount Holly, NJ
NCC - National Climatic Center
NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NOS - National Ocean Service
NWS - The National Weather Summary, issued by the National Severe Storms
Forecast Center in Kansas City MO.
(NYC) - New York City records.
P - Pierce, Charles: A Meteorological Account of the Weather in Philadelphia, from
Jan 1, 1790 to Jan 1, 1847. (For Pierce's obituary, see Sep 23)
PASC - PA State Climatologist official records, mostly from 1888.
PR - Pocono Record, newspaper serving the Poconos of PA.
(PHL) - Philadelphia weather records beginning with Center City readings, then
continuing Dec 1, 1945, with readings from Philadelphia International Airport.
PHR - Pennsylvania Hospital Records, 1825 to 1871.
Sandra and TI Richard Sanders - 1987
SD - The Storm Data publication, issued monthly by the National Climatic Center
in Asheville NC.
The Washington D.C. Weather Alamanac (1989)
TN - Times News, newspaper serving the people of Carbon, Schuylkill, Lehigh,
Monroe and Northampton Cos.
TWC - The Weather Channel, "Weather Calendar" (Atlanta GA, 1988- 1990)
USGS - United States Geological Survey.
Watson - Watson's Annals of Philadelphia: Watson, John F.
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