Weather Explainers

The Forgotten Hurricane That Literally Reshaped the East Coast

On October 29, 1693, a massive storm system struck the Delmarva Peninsula with such devastating force that it permanently altered the geography of the Mid-Atlantic coastline. Known historically as the Accomack Storm, this weather event was described by colonial records as the "most violent storm in Virginia," and left a lasting mark on the landscape that can still be seen today, more than 330 years later.

The storm's epicenter appeared to be near Accomack County on Virginia's Eastern Shore, strategically located on the narrow Delmarva Peninsula between the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean. From this point, the system’s influence extended northward along the entire coast to Long Island.

As one Col. Edmund Scarburgh wrote in a letter, “There happened a most violent storme in Virginia, which stopped the course of ancient channels and made some where never were any: So that betwixt the bounds of Virginia in Newcastle in Pennsylvania, on the seaboard side, are many navigable rivers for sloops and small vessels.”

Perhaps the most significant and lasting change attributed to this storm is the creation of Fire Island Cut, the inlet that separates Fire Island from Long Island near New York City. Historical and geological evidence suggests that this crucial waterway, which today serves as an important navigation channel and coastal feature, was born from the raw power of the 1693 storm. The storm's ability to breach barrier islands and create permanent inlets demonstrates the incredible force of the storm surge and winds that battered the coast for hours.

Senior writer Chris DeWeese edits Morning Brief, The Weather Channel’s newsletter.