The 1944 Great Atlantic hurricane was a destructive and powerful tropical cyclone that swept across a large portion of the United States East Coast in September 1944.

Tracking west-northwest, the storm gradually intensified, curved northward, and reached peak intensity as a Category 5 hurricane on September 13 north of the Bahamas.

On September 7, an area of low pressure, albeit disorganized, formed in association with the tropical wave east of Barbados.

[1] The following day, the barometric depression became more well-defined, prompting the Weather Bureau in San Juan, Puerto Rico to issue advisories on the tropical disturbance.

[3] After formation, the tropical cyclone gradually intensified as it slowly moved west-northwestward, reaching the threshold for hurricane intensity at 06:00 UTC on September 10 while north of the Virgin Islands.

Later that day, the cyclone strengthened further into a Category 4-equivalent and was given the moniker of "Great Atlantic hurricane" by the Weather Bureau in Miami, Florida.

[2] At 06:00 UTC on September 13, the hurricane reached its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h),[3], and five hours later, a ship in the eye documented a minimum barometric pressure of 919 mbar (hPa; 27.14 inHg) alongside 15-knot (17 mph; 28 km/h) winds, suggesting a central pressure of 918 mbar (918 hPa; 27.1 inHg).

[3] In the morning hours of September 14,[2] the storm passed just east of Cape Hatteras and eastern Virginia as a small but powerful hurricane with winds of 125 mph (201 km/h).

[1] Afterwards, the cyclone curved slightly further towards the northeast and continued to accelerate;[2] at 02:00 UTC on September 15, the hurricane made landfall near Southampton in eastern Long Island with winds of 105 mph (169 km/h).

[2][3] Upon being designated a tropical cyclone, the Weather Bureau began advising extreme caution to shipping within the expected path of the hurricane.

[2] The following day, storm warnings were issued for areas from the United States East Coast from Savannah, Georgia to Cape Hatteras.

Nearby, the Brooklyn Red Cross Chapter began readying for possible relief work, stocking five mobile canteens with emergency rations.

The Massachusetts State Police began relaying Weather Bureau bulletins to local public services via telecommunications.

[1] With the eye remaining mostly offshore, the resulting impacts of the hurricane in the state were limited to areas east of the 77th meridian west.

[2]: 185 The Outer Banks were particularly hard-hit by the passing storm; while the strong southeasterly winds accompanying the hurricane's approach pushed water from Pamlico Sound westward, opposing winds that followed the storm's passage caused the backed up water to surge back east, flooding villages in the Outer Banks.

[15]: 73  Storm surge along unprotected coastline destroyed hundreds of boats, damaged boardwalks, and deposited debris along the Carolina beaches.

Surge and winds washed out 3,000 ft (910 m) of pavement along the causeway connecting Roanoke Island and the North Carolina mainland; a second bridge crossing the same stretch of water was also heavily damaged.

The scale of the damage was relatively minor in Gloucester and Matthews counties, though the high tides raised by the passing storm forced coastal residents to evacuate to higher ground.

[29] Hey Bonnie Hall, the mansion built by Russell Warren for the DeWolf family in Bristol, Rhode Island, was damaged beyond repair and demolished later in 1944.

[30] The storm was also responsible for sinking the Navy destroyer USS Warrington approximately 450 miles (720 km) east of Vero Beach, Florida, with a loss of 248 sailors.

The hurricane was one of the most powerful to traverse the Eastern Seaboard, reaching Category 4 when it encountered Warrington, and producing hurricane-force winds over a diameter of 600 miles (970 km).

Seventy-five men managed to escape onto life rafts from Bedloe and Jackson, but only 32 survived the rough seas and subsequent hours of exposure to be rescued two days later.