Forecast track for Tropical Storm Cristobal as of 11 a.m. Aug. 25, 2014 (Source: National Hurricane Center)
The 1903 and 1944 hurricanes. Hurricane Donna and Tropical Storm Floyd.
They are some of the "memorable tropical cyclones" that have affected the Garden State, according to an interesting recap by Tom Karmel of the Office of the New Jersey State Climatologist.
And since 1950, 93 cyclones have affected the Garden State, according to the report.
Here are some of the recap's highlights:
- The 1903 "Vagabond Hurricane" is the last hurricane to make landfall in New Jersey. The storm struck Atlantic City on Sept. 16, with winds of 80 mph. It led to 1 death in the state and caused $180 million (2006 U.S. dollars) in damage from coastal flooding and strong winds.
- The storm surge from the 1944 Great Atlantic Hurricane blocked and damaged the causeways to Long Beach Island and also cut off the Brigantine Bridge to Atlantic City. The hurricane damaged Atlantic City's famous Steel and Heinz piers (the Steel was rebuilt).
- In 1960, Hurricane Donna skirted just east of New Jersey as a Category 2 storm on Sept. 11-12, bringing hurricane-like conditions to the coastline. Wildwood recorded a peak wind gust of 100 mph, the second highest ever linked to a tropical cyclone in the state. The highest is 101 mph, recorded in Ocean City during Hurricane Gloria in 1985. Donna is the fourth deadliest tropical cyclone in the state, with six deaths.
- Tropical Storm Floyd dumped 14.13 inches of rain in Little Falls on Sept. 16, 1999 - the second highest total ever recorded in the state. No. 1 is 14.81 inches in Tuckerton during a 1939 tropical disturbance.
- Tropical Storm Irene and superstorm Sandy (a post-tropical cyclone when it hit New Jersey) had, of course, enormous impacts, according to climate office summaries.
- Hurricane Arthur in July was the 93rd tropical cyclone to affect New Jersey since 1950.
As for Tropical Storm Cristobal, it appears that the storm's center will not come within a few hundred miles of New Jersey, according to the 11 a.m. forecast track by the National Hurricane Center.
But the National Weather Service says today's new moon, an onshore flow and swells linked to Cristobal later in the week should maintain an elevated risk of dangerous rip currents.
Today's rip current risk is high at the Jersey Shore, with 3- to 5-foot surf, according to the National Weather Service.
Be careful at the beaches!
Tropical Storm Irene making landfall in August 2011 (Source: NOAA)
