Hurricane Carol was among the worst tropical cyclones on record to affect the New England region of the United States. It developed from a tropical wave near the Bahamas on August 25, 1954, and slowly strengthened as it moved northwestward, developing into a major hurricane. While paralleling the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States, the storm produced strong winds and rough seas that caused minor coastal flooding and slight damage to houses. It made landfall on Long Island, New York, and Connecticut on August 31 near peak intensity. Early on the following day, Carol transitioned into an extratropical cyclone over New Hampshire. In New York, storm surge flooded LaGuardia Airport and inundated Montauk Highway, leaving the eastern portion of Long Island isolated. There were 65 deaths and 1,000 injuries in New England. About 150,000 people were left without electricity in the region, and over 1,500 houses were destroyed. Overall, Carol caused 68 fatalities and damage totaled about $460 million (1954 USD), making it the costliest hurricane in U.S. history at the time. Following the storm, Carol became the first name to be removed from the naming lists in the Atlantic basin.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Carol
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1271:
The Knights Hospitaller surrendered the Krak des Chevaliers to the army of the Mamluk sultan Baibars. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krak_des_Chevaliers
1740:
War of the Austrian Succession: The Royal Navy captured the Spanish ship of the line Princesa and mustered her into British service. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Princess_(1740)
1904:
British occultist and writer Aleister Crowley began transcribing The Book of the Law, a Holy Book in Thelema. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Book_of_the_Law
1911:
Dutch physicist Heike Kamerlingh Onnes discovered superconductivity. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superconductivity
2008:
The wind turbines at the Bahrain World Trade Center (pictured), the first building to incorporate turbines into its design, became operational. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahrain_World_Trade_Center
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
cross swords: (idiomatic) To quarrel or argue with someone, to have a dispute with someone. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/cross_swords
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
Life is short, short, brother! Ain't it the truth? And there is no other Ain't it the truth? You gotta rock that rainbow while you still got your youth! Oh! Ain't it the solid truth? --Yip Harburg https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Yip_Harburg