Portal:Rhode Island/Selected article/16

Hurricane Carol was among the worst tropical cyclones to affect New England, United States. It developed from a tropical wave near the Bahamas on August 25, 1954, and gradually strengthened as it moved northwestward. On August 27, Carol intensified to reach winds of 105 mph (169 km/h), but weakened as its motion turned to a northwest drift. The hurricane made landfall on Long Island and Connecticut on August 30 near peak intensity, and quickly became extratropical over land. Carol was similar to the New England Hurricane of 1938; both struck New England as fast-moving hurricanes. The storm produced a record-high wind gust of 135 mph (215 km/h) at Block Island, and sustained winds peaked at 90 mph (145 km/h) in Warwick with gusts to 105 mph (170 km/h). Entire coastal communities were nearly destroyed, and the winds destroyed the roofs of hundreds of buildings, forcing many to evacuate to shelters.