August 1724 – A storm referred to as the "Great Gust" made landfall near the Chesapeake Bay region on August 12, causing severe flooding and destroying many strong milldams; it was described as the worst flood in 20 years.[1]
November 1743[note 1] – Best known as the "Eclipse hurricane" or "Franklin's storm", the hurricane was unusual for its coincidence with a lunar eclipse in which it blocked, as noted by Benjamin Franklin. This hurricane led him to the conclusion that wind direction was not always a major factor in the movement of hurricanes. Heavy rains and strong winds accompanied the storm, which had a barometric pressure of 994 mbar (hPa; 29.35 inHg).[2]
September 1769 – A hurricane struck the North Carolina coast on September 7, destroying numerous milldams and vessels were thrown ashore. Crops suffered great damage, especially flint corn and buckwheat. At Centre Woods near Philadelphia, at least 100 trees were blown down.[3]
September 1775 – On September 2, a hurricane came ashore near the Georgia-South Carolina border, and trekked briskly through Pennsylvania on September 3. With it came strong winds and heavy rains, leading to a high storm surge along the Delaware River. In Virginia, the hurricane tore off the roof of the Maryland State House and hence it was known as the "independence hurricane".[4]
September 1785 – The hurricane of September 1785 is best known for its wreck of the Faithful Steward. The vessel was expected to arrive in Philadelphia on the morning of September 2, and had many Irish newcomers on board. Rough seas led it to strike a shoal several hundred yards from the shoreline, and many were forced to swim, although most died. A total of 68 individuals survived, though 300 were originally on board. As stormy conditions were not present, a theory states that a hurricane that passed by the Leeward Islands on August 31 could have tracked several hundred miles within the ship, creating rough seas. The strip of land along the location of the drownings was designated "Coin Beach" for the coins that were on board the ship.[5]
July 1788 – The remnants of a hurricane passed through Pennsylvania in July 1788; the storm was informally named "George Washington's hurricane" for the documentation of the storm at Mount Vernon.[6]
August 1795 – Following the landfall of a hurricane on August 2 in Virginia, vast floods occurred in eastern Pennsylvania. Mail service was terminated as all paths had become unnavigable, and mills and forges suffered severely.[7]
September 1821 – The 1821 Norfolk and Long Island hurricane produced 3.92 inches (100 mm) of rain in Philadelphia; a steady temperature of 72 °F (22 °C) was recorded for the duration of the storm.[10]
June 1825 – An early-season storm knocked down trees in front of the Pennsylvania State House. It was described as a storm similar to a "respectable nor'easter, bringing lengthy gales and heavy rain."[11][12]
July 1842 – A hurricane made landfall in North Carolina on July 12, and brought heavy rains in Pennsylvania. The Schuylkill River overflowed 5 feet (1.5 m) above its waterfront.[13]
October 1846 – The great hurricane of 1846 was the worst in 30 years for Philadelphia. Southeasterly winds caused a storm surge of the Delaware River, flooding wharves; in addition, significant damage to structures was described, but was less than anticipated. The winds were strongest between 1300 and 1600 EST, though the storm departed the area by 2000 EST. A minimum atmospheric pressure of 990.5 mbar (hPa; 29.25 inHg) was reported. A total of 1.25 inches (32 mm) of rainfall was measured.[14] Torrential rainfall was reported in western portions of the state and New York.[15]
July 1850 – A hurricane produced intense northeasterly and east-northeasterly winds in Philadelphia, in addition to approximately 4 inches (100 mm) of rainfall. A minimum pressure of 993 mbar (hPa; 29.32 inHg) was recorded.[16]
August 1850 – Winds from a hurricane were felt in Philadelphia beginning after midnight on August 25, originally oriented toward the northeast but later curved north. No damage was reported.[17]
Schwartz, Rick (August 2007). Karr, Al; Myatt, Kevin (eds.). Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States (1st ed.). United States: Blue Diamond Books. ISBN978-0-9786280-0-0. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
