The Science and History of the Great New England Hurricane of 1938

Dr. Lourdes B. Avilés

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July 27, 2023  7pm

Dr. Avilés will be talking about the most devastating New England Hurricane of all time, the 1938 Hurricane. She will talk about the storm’s meteorological history and science, and the effects that it produced throughout its path through Long Island and New England, highlighting the effects in New Hampshire.

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 Dr. Lourdes B. Avilés is a Professor of Meteorology at Plymouth State University. Her topics of interest and research include historical meteorology, physical and dynamical meteorology, tropical weather and climate, and severe weather. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physics and a doctorate in atmospheric sciences. Avilés grew up in Puerto Rico during the 1970s and 1980s captivated with the hurricanes and tropical storms that seemed to threaten the island every year.

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In the course of her research, she scoured scientific journals, used-book and auction sites, local town libraries and historical societies, magazine articles, agency reports, national archives, newspaper articles, and anything else on which she could get her hands.

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Taken by Storm, 1938: A Social and Meteorological History of the Great New England Hurricane is the product of Dr. Avilés’ work during the past several years. However, she does not believe that she will ever be done finding resources and seeking new insights into this fascinating and terrifying storm.