‘Forgotten hurricane zone’ is sitting in the path of a catastrophe,
It has been more than 30 years since a hurricane made landfall in New England and 70 years without a major storm.
Now, meteorologists are warning that one of America’s most densely populated coastlines is dangerously overdue for a devastating hit.
Home to 15.4 million people and more than a dozen of America’s elite colleges, New England has not experienced a catastrophic hurricane since 1991, Hurricane Bob.
Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather’s lead hurricane expert, told the Daily Mail: ‘On average, a hurricane makes landfall in New England about every 15 to 20 years.’
Hurricane Bob was a Category 3 storm that battered the Northeast with 115 mph winds, massive power outages and storm surges reaching up to eight feet while causing roughly $1.5 billion in damage and killing at least 17 people across the East Coast.
A similar storm today could prove even more catastrophic as luxury beachfront homes, historic coastal neighborhoods and densely packed communities now line vulnerable stretches of the New England coastline.
‘Coastal homes, beach houses and mansions in vulnerable areas of southern New England could be severely damaged or even collapse into the ocean,’ DaSilva warned.
He said some of the greatest risks would come from storm surge flooding along south-facing coastlines, particularly in cities such as Providence, New Bedford and Fall River, while Boston, Worcester and Hartford could face destructive winds, widespread tree damage and prolonged power outages.
The last hurricane to make direct landfall in New England was Hurricane Bob in 1991 (pictured)
Some of the greatest risks would come from storm surge flooding along south-facing coastlines, particularly in cities such as Providence (pictured), New Bedford and Fall River
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with peak activity starting in late August or September.
‘There is no reason to let your guard down this year. It only takes one storm to cause major damage, disruption and heartache,’ DaSilva warned in AccuWeather’s 2026 hurricane prediction report.
‘Review your insurance coverage, safety plans and local evacuation routes now. Make sure your emergency supplies are stocked up.’
Some of the Northeast’s most destructive storms, including Hurricane Carol in 1954 and Hurricane Gloria in 1985, slammed into New England during previous active periods, leaving behind catastrophic flooding, destroyed homes and widespread devastation.
Experts now fear that if a powerful hurricane were to strike today, the damage could eclipse anything seen in modern New England history because populations have surged and sea levels have risen dramatically since the infamous 1938 New England hurricane.
DaSilva noted that New England’s population has roughly doubled since 1938, while rising sea levels mean far more homes and businesses would now sit in the path of destructive storm surge flooding.
The 1938 hurricane reportedly raced northward at more than 50 mph when it slammed into New England, helping spread destruction across multiple states in just hours.
Hurricane Bob unleashed a devastating 17-foot storm surge in Narragansett Bay that flooded large portions of Providence and ripped apart coastal communities across southern New England.
Hurricane Bob unleashed a devastating 17-foot storm surge in Narragansett Bay and ripped apart coastal communities across southern New England
Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather’s lead hurricane expert, told the Daily Mail that the region’s decades-long break from direct hits is unusual compared to historical patterns. Pictured is the aftermath of Hurricane Bob in Massachusetts
Meteorologists warn that Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana face a high risk of hurricane impacts in 2026. However, they also noted that New England is overdue for a hurricane strike
The hurricane also destroyed roughly two billion trees throughout the Northeast, creating damage that stretched far inland and permanently reshaped parts of the region’s landscape.
DaSilva said one of the most misunderstood dangers surrounding New England hurricanes is that a storm does not need to be a Category 4 or 5 monster to become catastrophic.
Even a Category 2 hurricane with sustained winds between 96mph and 110mph could create widespread devastation across the region because of the combination of storm surge, flooding rain and destructive inland winds.
DaSilva explained that a landfalling Category 2 hurricane would likely bring widespread major damage in parts of New England, especially because of storm surge, inland wind damage and the region’s vulnerability.
Forecasters fear the current gap since a major hurricane may have created a dangerous sense of complacency, as millions of residents now living across coastal New England have never personally experienced a hurricane evacuation or the kind of widespread destruction these storms can unleash.
DaSilva said New England’s decades-long lull is unusual but not unprecedented, noting that hurricanes in the region often arrive in cycles marked by bursts of activity followed by quiet stretches that can last decades.
He also warned that New England hurricanes frequently move at extremely fast speeds compared to storms farther south, allowing damaging winds to spread far inland before storms weaken over cooler Atlantic waters.
‘Many New England hurricanes in the past have moved very quickly, and that fast forward motion can spread damaging winds much farther inland than people may expect,’ DaSilva said. ‘Even areas away from the coast could have significant tree damage and power outages.’
Despite those risks, DaSilva said today’s technology gives residents significantly more warning than people had nearly a century ago.
During the 1938 hurricane, forecasting tools were limited and many residents had little idea the storm was approaching until it was too late.
Modern satellites, forecasting models and hurricane-tracking systems now allow meteorologists to monitor storms days before they approach land.
DaSilva said New England’s decades-long lull is unusual but not unprecedented, noting that hurricanes in the region often arrive in cycles marked by bursts of activity followed by quiet stretches that can last decades
If a storm like Hurricane Bob (pictured) were to hit, it could prove even more catastrophic as luxury beachfront homes, historic coastal neighborhoods and densely packed communities now line vulnerable stretches of the New England coastline
Forecasters project there will be as many as 16 named storms and seven hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean in 2026
‘The AccuWeather Eye Path track extends out seven days to provide people with more advanced notice, while the National Hurricane Center cone currently forecasts out five days,’ DaSilva explained.
However, the meteorologist cautioned that forecasts alone cannot protect communities if residents fail to prepare.
Historically, major hurricanes, Category 3 storms or stronger, strike New England far less frequently than weaker hurricanes, averaging about once every 60 to 70 years.
But meteorologists stress that the odds reset every season, meaning another powerful storm could form at any time if conditions align correctly.
For a major hurricane to strike New England, several factors must come together.
The storm must remain powerful while tracking northward, avoid weakening too quickly over cooler Atlantic waters and move fast enough to maintain its intensity before landfall.
‘A lot has to align for a major hurricane to reach New England,’ DaSilva explained.
‘The storm has to be powerful, it has to be directed north by the steering pattern, and it has to be moving fast enough that it does not lose too much wind intensity over cooler ocean water.’
As the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season approaches, DaSilva urged residents across the Northeast not to mistake decades of relative calm for safety.
One powerful storm, he warned, could change the region forever.
