1938 Long Island Express:

82 years ago today, one of the most destructive and powerful hurricanes in recorded history struck Long Island and Southern New England.

- Known as the Long Island Express or Great New England Hurricane of 1938.

- The storm hit Long Island and Southern Connecticut on September 21, moving at a forward speed of 47 mph!

- Landfall near Bellport, NY sometime between 2:10 and 2:40 pm EST as a Category 3 with an approx. pressure of 27.79 in (941 mb) and a 120 mph maximum sustained wind.

- Deaths: 700

- Trees Destroyed: Approx. 2 Billion

- Peak Storm Surge: 17 ft. above normal high tide (Rhode Island)

- Estimated Lowest Pressure: 27.79 in (941 mb).

- Max Recorded Wind Gust: 186 mph at Blue Hill Observatory, MA.

- Highest Sustained Wind Measurement not Influenced by Terrain: 109 mph at Fishers Island, NY.

- An estimated storm tide of 15ft. across eastern Long Island. 8' MLLW was record at Port Jefferson.

- The storm surge in Western Long Island Sound was 5 1/2 hrs AFTER landfall.

- Ten new inlets formed from the storm from Fire Island to East Hampton. The most notable was Shinecock Inlet. A few others have since been filled by artificial means.

- Montauk was an island temporarily.

- Daily News Bldg: 90 mph (500 ft.)

- Empire State Bldg: est.120 mph (1250 ft.)

- Battery: 70 mph with 80 mph gust (30 ft.)