On This Day

First recorded hurricane in North America hits the Plymouth Colony

The Great Colonial Hurricane of 1635 was an extraordinarily powerful and devastating Atlantic hurricane that brushed Colonial Virginia and struck the New England Colonies in late August 1635.

The Great Colonial Hurricane of 1635 was an extraordinarily powerful and devastating Atlantic hurricane that brushed Colonial Virginia and struck the New England Colonies in late August 1635. Accounts of the storm are very limited, but it was likely the most intense hurricane to hit New England since European colonization. The storm had a similar track and forward speed to that of the 1944 Great Atlantic hurricane and is the first of five known major hurricanes to have struck the modern New England region. The storm also likely produced one of the greatest storm surges in United States history, modern analysis has found.

Historical Significance

The Great Colonial Hurricane of 1635 was an extraordinarily powerful and devastating Atlantic hurricane that brushed Colonial Virginia and struck the New England Colonies in late August 1635.

Events Before

  1. Burchardi flood, known as the second "Grote Mandrenke," kills about 15,000 in North Friesland, Denmark, and Germany

    Burchardi flood, known as the second "Grote Mandrenke," kills about 15,000 in North Friesland, Denmark, and Germany

  2. Puritan author William Prynne tried in Star Chamber for publishing "Histrio-masti", criticising the theatre

    Puritan author William Prynne tried in Star Chamber for publishing "Histrio-masti", criticising the theatre

  3. Battle of Smolensk: King Wladyslaw IV of Poland beats Russians [NS=Mar 1]

    Battle of Smolensk: King Wladyslaw IV of Poland beats Russians [NS=Mar 1]

  4. Irish captain Walter Devereaux kills Duke Wallenstein

    Irish captain Walter Devereaux kills Duke Wallenstein

  5. Battle at Smolensk: Polish King Wladyslaw IV beats Russians

    Battle at Smolensk: Polish King Wladyslaw IV beats Russians

Events After

  1. The Massachusetts Bay Colony organizes three militia regiments to defend the colony against the Pequot Indians. Recogniz

    The Massachusetts Bay Colony organizes three militia regiments to defend the colony against the Pequot Indians. Recognized today as the founding of the United States National Guard.

  2. University of Utrecht opening ceremony

    University of Utrecht opening ceremony

  3. City of Providence, Rhode Island form

    Providence ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island.

  4. Johan Maurits is appointed governor of Dutch Brazil

    Johan Maurits is appointed governor of Dutch Brazil

  5. Spanish troops occupy Corbie near Amiens

    Spanish troops occupy Corbie near Amiens

More from the 1630s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on August 15, 1635?
The Great Colonial Hurricane of 1635 was an extraordinarily powerful and devastating Atlantic hurricane that brushed Colonial Virginia and struck the New England Colonies in late August 1635. Accounts of the storm are very limited, but it was likely the most intense hurricane to hit New England since European colonization. The storm had a similar track and forward speed to that of the 1944 Great Atlantic hurricane and is the first of five known major hurricanes to have struck the modern New England region.
Why is First recorded hurricane in North America hits the Plymouth Colony significant?
The Great Colonial Hurricane of 1635 was an extraordinarily powerful and devastating Atlantic hurricane that brushed Colonial Virginia and struck the New England Colonies in late August 1635.

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