[nb 1] An unusual late-season storm in 1804, it yielded vast amounts of snow, rain, and powerful winds across the northeastern United States.

Prior to its approach towards the East Coast of the United States, it passed through the Caribbean Sea on October 4, and later emerged near Georgetown, South Carolina.

Soon thereafter, the hurricane's abundant moisture clashed with an influx of cold Canadian air, leading to the deepening of the resulting pressure gradient and provoking inland intensification.

Even as it drifted towards the Canadian maritimes, consequently gradually weakening, precipitation persisted for another two days before the snowstorm finally subsided on October 11.

Due to its unusual nature, both heavy snowfall and strong winds caused a swath of devastation stretching from the Mid-Atlantic states to northern New England.

Cold temperatures, wet snow, and high winds downed numerous branches in fruit orchards, froze potato crops, flattened dozens of barns, and killed over a hundred cattle.

A modern study conducted in 2006 traced its origins to north of Puerto Rico on October 4, 1804, and reports indicated it also passed by Dominique and Guadaloupe on the same day.

[7] The earliest evidence of a disturbance near the United States was noted on October 8, when rainfall was recorded in upstate New York, precipitated by the storm's western periphery, in advance of an approaching trough.

A "dreadful squall" occurred near Cape Henry at noon on October 9, and historical documents confirm it quickly reached Chesapeake Bay later that morning, maintaining west-to-north winds.

[10] A strong westerly circulation encouraged the swift eastward movement of the trough's northern segment, steering the track of the storm northeastward over New England.

Its eye was consequently distorted as it meandered northward towards Canada, where it subsequently encountered an area of high pressure;[8] though gusts diminished that evening, moderate precipitation persisted for another two days, before the snowstorm finally departed on October 11.

[5][11] It was the first known tropical cyclone to feature frozen precipitation,[16] and remained the only instance until a later disturbance in 1841 and Hurricane Ginny in 1963, which triggered 13 in (33 cm) of snow in regions of northern and central Maine.

[18] Similarly, Hurricane Sandy in 2012 brought heavy snow along areas of the East Coast, with its highest depths concentrated in Virginia,[19] albeit while exhibiting extratropical characteristics.

A negative storm tide at Baltimore grounded multiple boats, and farther north at Philadelphia, an arriving ferry was inundated by a sudden gale.

[10] Devastation was widespread throughout the state of Massachusetts, with high winds and heavy snow averaging 5 to 14 in (13 to 36 cm) causing significant havoc.

[22] In Boston, strong winds, described as "unprecedented in the annals" of the city, were documented during the afternoon of October 9, with the intense gusts blowing off the steeple of the Old North Church.

In the town of Lynn, the storm was reportedly the most severe since the Great Colonial Hurricane of 1635, with roofs torn off structures, fences and chimneys toppled, and orchards bearing the brunt of formidable destruction.

At Rehoboth, winds brought down at least 80 trees, and in Quincy, a few houses' roofs were torn away, more than a dozen barns were demolished, and gusts killed numerous cows, with similar damage noted at Taunton.

At Cape Cod, the Protector was swept inland near Highland Light, losing $100,000 (1804 USD) in goods and leading to one death,[24] while the John Harris capsized nearby, its crew perishing with it.

The property of Paul Revere and Bentley's own house suffered considerable injury, and in nearby Nahant, many buildings' roofs were hurled away by intense gusts.

[21] Severe damage was inflicted to crops as a result of the storm, with potatoes freezing, apples tossed from branches,[30] and stacks of hay ruined.

Still, the heavy weight of the unusually early wet snow snapped many tree branches still in full bloom, ruining fruit orchards and sugar groves.

[5] The timber industry suffered the blizzard's detrimental effects, the worst blow to the trade since its formation in New Hampshire;[29] in addition, several barns were obliterated.

The storm's damage radius was estimated to be at least 50 mi (80 km), and encompassed the towns of Peterborough, Rindge, Lyme, and Amherst, each received 24 to 36 in (61 to 91 cm) of frozen precipitation.

[5] At Rye Beach, a woman, swept to sea on a stranded ship, was found dead with an infant in her hands, and the Amity was also wrecked along its shores, causing an additional death.

[5] The snow was deep enough to cover the entire heights of corn stalks and potato crops, impeding the impending harvest,[29] while massive drifts in the state's hills obstructed roads.

[15] Even farther north in Maine, the snowstorm's effects remained disastrous; following its passage, a 60 acres (240,000 m2) timber lot at Thomaston was nearly entirely uprooted, clearing a massive forested area and making towns from great distances away, previously obstructed, suddenly visible.

[18] Similar circumstances occurred in 2012 with the arrival of Hurricane Sandy, which had a comparable track to the 1804 snowstorm,[19] though it was extratropical by the time it made landfall.