Old Saybrook, CT – On August 31, 1954, Hurricane Carol made a devastating landfall near Old Saybrook, Connecticut, as a Category 3 hurricane. The storm unleashed winds between 80 to 100 mph across eastern Connecticut, Rhode Island, and much of Massachusetts.
According to the National Weather Service, the hurricane caused significant damage, destroying trees, power lines, and crops. In Block Island, Rhode Island, Carol recorded a wind gust of 135 mph, marking the strongest wind ever recorded on the island.
Carol’s storm surge wreaked havoc, leading to extensive coastal flooding along Connecticut, Rhode Island, and southern Massachusetts. The storm’s surge peaked within Narragansett Bay and New Bedford Harbor, where it reached over 14 feet, causing severe flooding and damage.
The impact of Hurricane Carol remains etched in New England’s history as one of the most powerful storms of the 20th century. Today, communities along the coast continue to reflect on the resilience required to recover from such a catastrophic event.
