Hurricane Belle was a strong tropical cyclone that caused moderate damage across the East Coast of the United States in August 1976.

Traversing the Atlantic Ocean for more than a week, the system eventually consolidated into a tropical depression near the Bahamas on August 6.

A total of 12 people lost their lives, mostly incidents indirectly related to the hurricane, and damage reached an estimated $100 million.

[nb 1] Portions of New Jersey, New York, and Vermont were later declared major disaster areas by then-President Gerald Ford.

As it approached the Lesser Antilles in early August, convection separated from the system and moved north of the islands while the wave itself continued into the Caribbean.

The northern portion of the system eventually reached a point north of the Bahamas on August 5 and grew increasingly organized.

A low-level center formed early on August 6 and became a tropical depression by 06:00 UTC while situated roughly 290 mi (470 km) east-northeast of Nassau, Bahamas.

Reconnaissance aircraft investigating the storm revealed the system to have achieved hurricane strength by 18:00 UTC as its pressure fell to 985 mbar (hPa; 29.09 inHg).

[2] Early on August 9, Belle achieved its peak intensity with maximum estimated surface winds of 120 mph (190 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 957 mbar (957 hPa; 28.3 inHg).

Around 05:00 UTC on August 10, Belle made landfall as a minimal hurricane with 75 mph (121 km/h) winds along Jones Beach, Long Island, New York.

[1] Briefly crossing Long Island Sound, Belle made a second landfall as a strong tropical storm near Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Police officers handed out sandbags to residents in low-lying areas and National Guard armories and some public schools were used as evacuation centers.

[7][11] The Red Cross reported that about 2,300 people evacuated Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and thousands of tourists left the area.

[1][7] Hurricane Belle produced a swath of light to moderate, and locally heavy, rain extending from North Carolina into New England.

[13][14] Although on the weaker side of the storm, New Jersey saw the highest winds from Belle, with an estimated peak gust of 90 mph (140 km/h) in Ship Bottom.

[17] On August 21, then-President Gerald Ford issued a major disaster declaration for Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth, and Ocean counties, allowing them to receive federal funding.

[18][19] The high winds knocked down trees and power lines across Long Island, New York, leaving roughly 170,000 residents without electricity.

[16] High winds in Bridgeport toppled many trees and power lines, shattered windows, and sparked two house fires.

[1] Overall damage in Connecticut was far less than expected, according to state police,[8] with losses reaching $7.1 million and mostly stemming from Fairfield and New Haven counties.

[26][27] Power companies brought in additional personnel to expedite the restoration process, though many remained in the dark days after the storm.

[29] Owing to heavy rains that preceded the hurricane, widespread small stream flooding took place in New England,[1] particularly in Vermont where then-governor Thomas P. Salmon declared a state of emergency.

[31] Along the Saint John River in Aroostook County, Maine, flooding caused $2.5 million worth of damage to crops and buildings.

[26] Heavy rains across New Brunswick, Canada, amounting to 7 in (180 mm) in Edundston, triggered flooding that damaged crops, homes, and roads.