strongest hurricane atlantic hurricane season reaching winds mph path remained major hurricane days unusually long time cape_verde type hurricane storm formed near coast africa middle august moved westward curved northward persisted early september extratropical southeast new_england originally forecast strike northeast united_states produced hurricane force gusts portions southeastern massachusetts remaining offshore winds caused minor damage totaling million addition hurricane generated strong waves rip currents coastlines killing people new_jersey causing numerous injuries meteorological history tropical wave moved coast africa august accompanied spiral bands convection area low pressure large circulation quickly developed reached atlantic_ocean system organized tropical depression late august located southeast cape_verde initial forecasts predicted great intensification including forecast depression strengthen hurricane days depression remained disorganized slowly intensified attain tropical storm status august tropical storm quickly strengthened establishment upper level anticyclone storm storm moved west response strong subtropical ridge north strengthened hurricane august favorable conditions hurricane rapidly strengthened august august peak mph category hurricane saffir simpson scale weakness subtropical ridge allowed motion west northwest hurricane passed north lesser antilles august days time maintained category intensity weakened late august eyewall replacement cycle vertical shear late august developed concentric unusual occurrence coinciding increase strength mph mid trough turned hurricane north area unfavorable conditions weakened category hurricanes august september hurricane passed midway bermuda cape turned north northeast continued weaken turned northeast september passed southeast massachusetts mph hurricane closest point approach united_states weakened tropical storm status september extratropical shortly located south nova scotia extratropical storm turned east moved periphery larger extratropical storm absorbed storm early september preparations high pressure system new_england resulted possibility track west strike united_states computer model predicted hurricane strike near new_jersey winds mph labor day caused officials ordering evacuation busiest tourist weekend year evacuation occurred possibility landfall east_coast united_states officials national_hurricane_center issued hurricane watches warnings north_carolina maine times tropical storm warnings existed north_carolina rhode_island mouth border hurricane warnings existed rhode_island massachusetts hurricane watches issued tropical storm warning area north_carolina closed evacuated prior storm passage hurricane watch existed new_york_city metropolitan area new_york mayor urged citizens preparations addition city officials set hurricane activated city distributed flood prone areas near massachusetts landfall predicted occur schools prepared shelters case direct hit issued state emergency city people stayed shelters storm passage thousands tourists summer residents evacuated preparation storm resulting mile traffic backup result beach resorts lost millions potential revenue remained stayed emergency shelters storm passed area boston logan international airport numerous flights cancelled delayed planes safety sailors removed boats water prior storm time workers removed boats rate minutes maine red_cross opened emergency shelters like massachusetts sailors removed boats media coverage residents prepared hurricane impact despite initial predictions effects expected strong waves struck east_coast united_states killing injuring numerous national_hurricane_center reported caused total million greatest damage occurring moderate wind gusts resulted million usd carolinas mid-atlantic south_carolina minor beach erosion reported charleston swells combination strong waves caused route minor beach erosion occurred moderate winds mph blew trees caused damage buildings delaware rough surf closed numerous coastal beaches storm tides waves flooded near strong waves new_jersey killed people seriously injured numerous rescues coast beaches closed restrictions bathing winds minor jersey coastline peaking mph new_york produced strong waves storm tides causing southern long_island high tide coastal flooding occurred including waves flooded road covered sand flooding trapped cars strong waves forced beaches close hurricane moved numerous ships reported winds hurricane status winds remained tropical storm force land boat capsized coast passengers injured celebrity cruises cruise ship suffered damage waves injuring passengers crew members rainfall minimal peaking half inch eastern long_island new_england canada passed miles southeast moving mph slower previous new_england hurricanes resulted hours strong waves winds rain hurricane produced wave heights feet washed boats ashore damaged numerous strong waves storm surge feet flooded coastal roads produced tropical storm force winds massachusetts hurricane force gust addition unofficial reports stronger gusts including mph mph martha mph strong winds caused power outages martha hours hours power outages reported massachusetts far power outages caused hurricane bob years prior winds downed numerous trees blew roof fire station rainfall moderate slow moving hurricane peaking inches locations reporting inches rainfall produced minor street flooding damage cape totaled million usd million usd new_hampshire hurricane produced winds gusts mph inch rain coast maine heavy surf closed beaches injured people waves damaged boats winds moderate near coast peaking mph gusts mph winds knocked trees caused sporadic power outages state including loss power portland residents water fell office building damaging computer equipment rainfall minor peaking inches southern nova_scotia produced heavy rainfall inches winds moderate peaking mph hurricane caused beach erosion southeastern nova scotia
Hurricane Edouard (1996)