1962 — March 5-9, “Ash Wednesday” Nor’easter, esp. coastal mid-Atlantic, esp. NJ/29– 52

— 52 Blanchard tally based on State and locality (where noted) breakouts below.
–>40 Assoc. Press. “Storm Wrecks Damage.” Daily Mail, Hagerstown, MD. 3-8-1962, p. 1.
— 40 NWS Baltimore/Washington Weather Forecast Office. 2005.
–>40 Schwartz. Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States. September 2007, p. 332.
— 40 Weather Bureau. Storm Data, Vol. 4, No. 3, March 1962.
— 7 Delaware coastal areas, p. 135.
— 3 Maryland coastal areas, p. 136.
–21 New Jersey coastal areas, p. 137.
— 3 North Carolina, northern coast, p. 137. (2 inland, 1 about 100 miles off Hatteras.)
— 1 South Carolina, coastal, March 7-9, p. 138.
— 4 Virginia, Eastern Shore and Tidewater Areas, p. 139.
–>35 AP. “35 Persons Dead From Big Storm.” Wilson Daily Times, NC. 3-8-1962, p. 1.
— 33 Cooperman/Rosendal. “Great Atlantic Coast Storm, 1962…” Mariners Weather Log, 6/3, May 1962, p. 79.
— 22 Nese and Schwartz. The Philadelphia Area Weather Book… 2002, p. 84.

Summary of Fatalities by State
Delaware ( 7)
Florida ( 1)
Maryland ( 5)
New Jersey (29)
North Carolina (>2)
South Carolina ( 1)
Virginia ( 6)
Tanker Gem ( 1) 110 miles off Cape Hatteras.
Total 52

Breakout of Storm Fatalities by State and Locality (where noted):

Delaware ( 7)
–7 Cooperman/Rosendal. “Great Atlantic Coast Storm, 1962…” Mariners Weather Log, 6/3, May 1962, p. 79.
–7 Coastal areas, Mar 5-8. Weather Bureau. Storm Data, Vol. 4, No. 3, March 1962, p. 135.
–6 Delaware Bay, off Bowers Beach. Bodies of 5 children, 15 mo. to 12 yrs. found.

Florida ( 1)
–1 Miami. Victim killed fighting electrical fire caused by rising waters causing short circuit.

Maryland ( 5)
–5 Blanchard fatality estimate based on locality breakouts below.
–3 Cooperman/Rosendal. “Great Atlantic Coast Storm, 1962…” Mariners Weather Log, 6/3, May 1962, p. 79.
–3 Coastal areas, Mar 5-8. Weather Bureau. Storm Data, Vol. 4, No. 3, March 1962, p. 136.
–2 Assateague Island. Bodies of Robert Lee Cropper, 32 and unidentified man found.
–2 Baltimore. Heart attacks shoveling snow, men.
–3 Ocean City area. AP. “Worcester Declared Disaster Area…” Salisbury Times, MD. 3-9-1962, 1.
–1 Ocean City. Body of James Wilson, 54, found in boat.

New Jersey (29)
–29 Blanchard estimate based on locality breakouts below.
–26 Cooperman/Rosendal. “Great Atlantic Coast Storm, 1962…” Mariners Weather Log, 6/3, May 1962, p. 82.
–21 Coastal areas, Mar 6-8. Weather Bureau. Storm Data, Vol. 4, No. 3, March 1962, p. 137.
–5 missing from fishing trawler off NJ coast.
— 2 Atlantic City. Drownings, two men found drowned in flooded streets March 7.
— 4 Beach Haven area. Drownings; two couples; Coast Guard amphibious vessel swamped.
— 1 Hightstown. Exposure; Angel Santiago, 19, after 11 hours in snowdrift-stalled car.
— 7 Long Beach Island. Blanchard tally using Nese & Schwartz rather than Red Bank Register.
–8 Four known dead and four missing, as of March 9. Red Bank Register, 3-9-1962.
–7 Drownings. Nese/Schwartz. The Philadelphia Area Weather Book. P. 84.
–3 Twp. Police Chief Angelo L. Leonetti, Robert Osborne, Commissioner Kenneth Chipman.
— 9 Point Pleasant. Fishing trawlers Sonya and Karina T. out of Pt. Pleasant still missing.
— 1 Ship Bottom. Moses Fridel set out on rescue mission, not heard of afterwards.
— 1 Spotswood. Car hit by train during snowstorm; Sophie Smith, 38.
— 2 Trenton. Heart attacks shoveling snow. J. Edward Mincher, 77; John Kilroy, 72.
— 1 West Windsor. Car and tractor trailer collide during snow storm; Miss Chun-au-Eung, 25.
— 1 Wildwood. Bed-ridden man who refused to evacuate shot himself when ocean entered home.

North Carolina ( >2)
–>2 Blanchard fatality estimate.
— 2 Northern coast, Mar 6-8. Weather Bureau. Storm Data, Vol. 4, No. 3, March 1962, p. 137.
— 4 Kill Devil Hills Lightship Station, NC. Wreckage of Meta and Margaret fishing trawler.

South Carolina ( 1)
–1 Coastal, March 7-9. Weather Bureau. Storm Data, Vol. 4, No. 3, March 1962, p. 138.
–1 Santee-Cooper Lakes. Drowning.

Virginia ( 6)
–6 Blanchard estimated death toll.
–7 AP. “Death Toll Now 29 From Storm.” Daily Times, Burlington, NC. 3-8-1962, p. 1.
–6 Storm Data, Vol. 4, No. 3, March 1962, p. 139.
–2 All but extreme SE VA. March 4-5 heavy snowstorm.
–4 Eastern Shore and Tidewater Areas. March 6-8, extra topical coastal storm-tide.
–5 Cooperman/Rosendal. “Great Atlantic Coast Storm, 1962…” Mariners Weather Log, 6/3, May 1962, p. 83.
–2 Chincoteague. Drownings, men.
–1 Chincoteague. Heart attack; Paul Watson. (Not noted how heart attack was related to storm.)
–2 Lawrenceville area, VA 46. Prison inmates killed by sand truck sanding roads due to storm.
–1 Richmond. Joe Sheets “slipped on slushy street and fractured his skull.”

Maritime (other than those noted within a State breakout): (1)
— 1 Tanker Gem breaks in-half 110 miles off Cape Hatteras. First officer lost.

Narrative Information

NWS: “The strongest nor’easter of this century [Greater Washington and Baltimore Metropolitan Area] struck the Mid-Atlantic Region on March 5-9, 1962. It caused over $200 million (1962 dollars) in property damage and major coastal erosion from North Carolina to Long Island, NY. In New Jersey alone, it was estimated to have destroyed or greatly damaged 45,000 homes. The Red Cross recorded that the storm killed 40 people. It hit during “Spring Tide.” When the sun and moon are in phase, they produce a higher than normal astronomical tide. Water reached nine feet at Norfolk (flooding begins around five feet). Houses were toppled into the ocean and boardwalks were broken and twisted. The islands of Chincoteague and Assateague were completely underwater. Ocean City, Maryland sustained major damage especially to the south end of the island. Winds up to 70 mph built 40-foot waves at sea. Heavy snow fell in the Appalachian Mountains. Big Meadows, southeast of Luray, recorded Virginia’s greatest 24-hour snowfall with 33 inches and the greatest single storm snowfall with 42 inches. Nearly two feet of snow fell from Charlottesville (21 inches) to Luray (24 inches) to Winchester (22 inches). Roads were blocked and electrical service was out for several days.” (Balt/Wash, WFO. NWS 2005)

Nese and Schwartz: “….The coastal pounding covered 700 miles from North Carolina to Maine, with the New Jersey and Delaware shores right in the middle. The storm’s sustained winds of 40 to 70 mph over the open ocean produced waves over thirty feet high. The roiling seas washed a U.S. Navy destroyer, the USS Monssen, onshore at Beach Haven Inlet, New Jersey on the southern tip of Long Beach Island… More than 4,000 buildings were destroyed in New Jersey and nearly 1,500 in Delaware, mostly in shore communities, and nearly every boardwalk was destroyed… On Long Beach Island alone, five new ocean-to-bay inlets opened up, breaking the island into pieces. Six hundred homes were destroyed on the island, and seven people drowned. Overall, damage in the United States from the storm was $1 to $3 billion (in current dollars), with twenty-two deaths….” (Nese, Jon and Glenn Schwartz. The Philadelphia Area Weather Book, including Delaware, the Poconos, and the Jersey Shore. 2002, p. 84.)

Weather Bureau, Storm Data, on Connecticut: “Shore areas…6-7 [March]…0 [killed]…Tide and Wind. Four successive high tides, 2-4 feet above normal, with gale force winds battered seawalls as a major storm moved eastward in the Atlantic well south of the State. Greatest damage due to tidal flooding in Fairfield and eastern New London Counties with minor damage along rest of Coast. Sand erosion moderate along eastern-most beaches. Wind damage confined mostly to tree branches and downed power lines.” (Weather Bureau. Storm Data, 4/3, Mar 1962, p.134.)

Weather Bureau, Storm Data, on Delaware:
“Coastal areas…5-8 [March]…Evening of 5th to 8th…7 [killed]..many [injured]…Spring tide and intense, slowly moving offshore storm.”

“The storm deepened and nearly stagnated off the Virginia Capes giving sustained northeasterly winds for over 24 hours. The highest windspeed at Delaware Breakwater was NE 72 mph at 9PM on the 5th. The storm tide piled on top of the high spring tides to make the water up to 5 feet above normal. In addition, 20 to 30 foot waves broke against the coast causing very serious beach erosion and destruction of shoreline property. Many beach homes and commercial property were damaged or destroyed. In some places the beach sand was completely washed away. Salt damage to flooded farmlands in norther Delaware is considerable.” (Weather Bureau. Storm Data, 4/3, Mar 1962, p.133.)

Weather Bureau, Storm Data, on Florida: “Southeast Florida Coast…7, 8 & 9…1 [killed]… Wind generated waves.

“Large waves generated by winds of an intense Atlantic storm pounded beaches along entire east Florida coast during 3 day period. Times along coast at time of predicted high tide ranged 2 to 3 feet above predicted. Superimposed wave action caused considerable erosion and a number of beach roads and properties were inundated. Greatest damages occurred between Melbourne and Miami Beach. One dean in Miami Beach occurred while fighting an electrical fire caused when rising waters created a short circuit. Nearly all damages were result of heavy ground swells rather than high tides.” (Weather Bureau. Storm Data, 4/3, Mar 1962, p.135.)

Weather Bureau, Storm Data, on Maine: “Coastal South of Portland…6-8 [March]…0 [killed]…Flooding. This area received fringe effects of a vast ocean storm that wreaked havoc along coastal areas farther south. Flooding of coastal lowlands and some road washouts were reported. Slight damage was reported to sea walls.” (Weather Bureau. Storm Data, 4/3, Mar 1962, p.136.)

Weather Bureau, Storm Data, on Maryland: “Coastal Areas…5-8 [March]…Evening of 5th to 8th…3 [deaths…many [injured]…Spring tide and intense, slowly moving offshore storm.

“The storm deepened and nearly stagnated off the Virginia Capes giving sustained northeasterly winds for over 24 hours. Ocean City Coast Guard reported 40-45 mph wind with gusts 55-65mph for 18 hours. The storm tide piled on top of the high spring tides to make the water up to 5 or 6 feet above normal. Four or five such high tides with 20 to 30 foot waves broke against the coast causing serious beach erosion and destruction of shore property. Many beach homes and commercial property were damaged or destroyed. Other property was damaged by water and sand. Nearly 1.5 million broilers and an unknown number of incubator eggs were lost due to power failure. Salt damage to flooded farmlands was minimized by the rain-soaked soil. Direct wind damage was small. Greatest and longest lasting damage is to beaches where the sand was washed away.” (Weather Bureau. Storm Data, Vol. 4, No. 3, March 1962, p. 136.)

Weather Bureau, Storm Data, on New Jersey: “Coastline…6-8 [March]…21 [deaths]…Many [injured]…Wind storm with tidal surge.

“A severe coastal storm, moving very slowly, combined with high tides on five consecutive occasions in a three-day period, wrought tremendous destruction to coastal installations. Hundreds of summer homes were demolished. The sand from beaches was washed away, changing the shoreline in many areas. Many new channels and inlets were out in the shoreline. Highways were out in many places, or buried under several feet of sand. A Navy destroyer, the Monssen, was beached about a half mile north of Beach Haven after breaking its tow. The destroyer was unmanned and was being towed to Philadelphia from Bayonne Navy Yard. Loss of life from the storm includes 6 persons missing and presumed dead. Five of those six were aboard a fishing trawler off the New Jersey coast. Agricultural losses were chiefly due to flooding of around 1,000 acres in Cumberland County, on Delaware Bay.” (Weather Bureau. Storm Data, Vol. 4, No. 3, March 1962, p. 137.)

Weather Bureau, Storm Data, on North Carolina: “Northern Coast…6-8 [March]…2 [deaths] …25 [injured]…Wind, Tides, Waves.

“Large and persistent low pressure storm caused greater alteration of coast line from Hatteras northward than any previous known storm, including hurricanes. Miles of protective dunes destroyed and several break-throughs entirely across Outer Banks from Ocean to Sound. Completely new inlet 200 yards wide dividing Hatteras Island in two parts will require bridging. Miles of paved highway destroyed by washing out or buried in several feet of sand. Hundreds of beach homes destroyed or damaged, hundreds of autos submerged in water or buried in sand. Many residents evacuated by helicopter. Two elderly persons died from excitement and exposure due to rigors of the storm. Ship broke in two 100 miles off Hatteras with one persons lost. Most of damage due to high water and pounding surf. Highest recorded wind gusts near 70 miles per hour, lowest barometer 29.20 inches at Nags Head. Highest tides about ten feet above mean low water with seas of about 20 ft. height. Number persons injured estimated.” (Weather Bureau. Storm Data, Vol. 4, No. 3, March 1962, p. 137.)

Weather Bureau, Storm Data, on South Carolina: “Coastal…7-9 [March]…1 [killed]…Wind storm and tides.

“The Great Atlantic Coast Storm of March 5-9, 1962 did limited damage in this state. Damage was mainly in the form of tidal flooding damage. All beaches suffered from loss of sand.” (Weather Bureau. Storm Data, Vol. 4, No. 3, March 1962, p. 138.)

Weather Bureau, Storm Data, on Virginia: “Virginia, except extreme Southeastern portion…4-5 [march]…2 [killed]…Heavy snowstorm.

“Eastern Shore and Tidewater Areas…6-7-8 [March]…4 [killed]…Extra tropical coastal storm – tide and wave action.

“The combination of the long fetch of strong onshore winds and the ‘spring tides’ caused greater wave and surf damage and tidal flooding than any other coastal storm of recent record. The islands Chincoteague and Assateague were completely covered with water and more than 1000 residents were evacuated by military helicopters. Hundreds of homes on the beaches were totally destroyed and thousands were damaged; many residents were evacuated by boats and amphibious equipment. The fishing pier at Virginia Beach was destroyed and the largest pile driver in the world (a one and one half million dollar machine) was turned over on its side in deep water. Hampton Roads Harbor experienced the highest tide on record for an extra tropical storm, that on 5.6 feet above normal, which was less than a foot below the record tide during a hurricane in 1933. All Eastern Shore and Tidewater region was declared a disaster area by the Governor. Removal of sand by waves and tide has in many cases changed the configuration of the shore line.” (Weather Bureau. Storm Data, Vol. 4, No. 3, March 1962, p. 139.)

Sources

Associated Press. “2 Bodies Found 25 Miles Away.” Red Bank Register, NJ. 3-9-1962, p. 1. Accessed 10-3-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/red-bank-register-mar-09-1962-p-1/

Associated Press. “2 Die, 6 Missing at Beach Haven.” Red Bank Register, NJ. 3-7-1962, p. 1. Accessed 10-3-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/red-bank-register-mar-07-1962-p-1/

Associated Press. “20 Deaths Attributed To Storm.” Gastonia Gazette, NC. 3-7-1962, p. 1. Accessed 10-3-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/gastonia-gazette-mar-07-1962-p-1/

Associated Press. “35 Persons Dead From Big Storm.” Wilson Daily Times, NC. 3-8-1962, p. 1. Accessed 10-3-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/wilson-daily-times-mar-08-1962-p-1/

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Associated Press. “Death Toll Now 29 From Storm.” Daily Times, Burlington, NC. 3-8-1962, p. 1. Accessed 10-3-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/burlington-daily-times-news-mar-08-1962-p-1/

Associated Press. “Missing Trawler Returns.” Red Bank Register, NJ. 3-19-1962, p. 9. Accessed 10-3-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/red-bank-register-mar-19-1962-p-9/

Associated Press. “Only One Man Lost in Break.” Daily Mail, Hagerstown, MD. 3-9-1962, p. 1. Accessed 10-3-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/hagerstown-daily-mail-mar-09-1962-p-1/

Associated Press. “State to Spend $500,000 and use 1,500 Prisoners to Help clean up Ocean City Resort.” Daily Mail, Hagerstown, MD. 3-9-1962, p. 1, col. 5. Accessed 10-3-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/hagerstown-daily-mail-mar-09-1962-p-1/

Associated Press. “Storm Wrecks Damage.” The Daily Mail, Hagerstown, MD. 3-8-1962, p. 1. Accessed 10-3-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/hagerstown-daily-mail-mar-08-1962-p-1/

Associated Press. “Two Prison Camp Inmates Killed by Sand Trucks.” The Bee, Dansville, VA. 3-7-1962, 2A. Accessed 10-3-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/danville-bee-mar-07-1962-p-2/

Associated Press. “Worcester Declared Disaster Area, Can Get Federal Aid.” Salisbury Times, MD. 3-9-1962, p.1. Accessed 10-3-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/salisbury-times-mar-09-1962-p-1/

Courier-Post, Camden, NJ. “Storm (continued from p. 1).” 3-14-1962, p. 2. Accessed 10-3-2022 at: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/180765848/

Cooperman, A. I. and H. E. Rosendal. “Great Atlantic Coast Storm, 1962, March 5-9.” Mariners Weather Log, U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Vol. 6, No. 3, May, 1962, pp. 79-85. Accessed 10-3-2020 at: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015024328828&view=1up&seq=101

National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Baltimore/Washington. The Greatest Storms of the Century in the Greater Washington-Baltimore Region. Sterling, VA: NOAA, NWS, Dec 28, 2005 update. At: http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/lwx/Historic_Events/StormsOfCentury.html

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News Journal, Radford, VA. “Season’s Worst Storm. Heavy Snow Hits City.” 3-6-1962, p. 1. Accessed 10-3-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/radford-news-journal-mar-06-1962-p-1/

Red Bank Register, NJ. “Disaster (continued from p. 1).” 3-9-1962, p. 2. Accessed 10-3-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/red-bank-register-mar-09-1962-p-2/

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UPI. “Savage Storm Deals Battering on East.” Aiken Standard and Review, SC. 3-7-1962, p. 1. Accessed 10-3-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/aiken-standard-and-review-mar-07-1962-p-1/

UPI. “Storm Takes Heavy Toll in Wide Area.” Daily Independent, Kannapolis, NC. 3-7-1962, pp. 1, 6. Accessed 10-3-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/kannapolis-daily-independent-mar-07-1962-p-1/

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Weather Bureau. Storm Data, Vol. 4, No. 3, March 1962. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Commerce. Accessed 10-2-2022 at: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-8E79F8E6-DE05-4823-9858-2EBBBCD6BC8D.pdf