Track of Hurricane Donna, which cruised past New Jersey on Sept. 12, 1960 (Source: National Hurricane Center)
Remember the major coastal flooding and damage caused by the December 1992 nor'easter?
In the annals of tidal flooding at Sandy Hook, Hurricane Donna tied the nor'easter for second place behind superstorm Sandy, according to the National Weather Service.
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Donna also caused major damage in New Jersey 54 years ago today, according to various reports.
Donna was a powerful hurricane when it cruised past the Jersey Shore and struck Long Island, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Hurricane Donna at 7:30 a.m. on Sept. 10, 1960 (Source: Hurricane Donna 50 Years Ago, by Rusty Pfost)
Donna is "one of the all-time great hurricanes," according to the center.
The hurricane formed in a below-average season, according to a report by Rusty Pfost, former meteorologist in charge of the weather service Miami Office. This season has also been pretty quiet so far.
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According to Pfost's report, Donna was 80 miles east of Atlantic City at 11 a.m. on Sept. 12, 1960. The storm's center cruised over Long Island at 2 p.m. that day.
At Sandy Hook, the water level reached 10.1 feet above mean lower low water (a low tide measure), according to the weather service. That's 4.3 feet lower than the estimated water level during Sandy two years ago, but 0.3 feet above the mark set by Tropical Storm Irene in 2011.
Tidal records at Sandy Hook date back to 1910, according to the weather service.
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In New Jersey, Donna's wind gusts peaked at 100 mph in Wildwood, according to the state Hazard Mitigation Plan. A maximum storm surge of 7 feet was reported in Long Branch, and tides were 5.7 feet above normal.
Donna resulted in three deaths in New Jersey and caused considerable damage to piers and beachfront homes. Damages in the Garden State totaled $6.9 million, according to the plan.
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Donna also dumped up to 8.99 inches of rain in New Jersey, with Hammonton getting the most, and rainfall averaged 4.91 inches, the plan says.
According to a Rutgers report, Donna devastated Highlands. More than 1,000 people lacked power and emergency crews could not get to parts of Highlands and Atlantic Highlands because of the high floodwaters.
Donna also destroyed a 2,000-foot pier for docking steamboats in Keansburg, eliminating steamboat service there, according to a NY/NJ Baykeeper report.
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Since 1960, the sea level has risen about 8 inches off Atlantic City, according to NJ FloodMapper.
And if a Donna-like hurricane sped by the Jersey Shore at high tide today, the flooding and damage would be severe.
Lest we forget, only 24 inches separate minor from major tidal flooding in New Jersey, according to the weather service.
This June 21, 2005, photo shows Ed and Doug Howe, who said their father took them to the Sea Bright-Rumson Bridge after Hurricane Donna in 1960 (file photo by Dave May)
Hurricane Donna was one of only seven tropical cyclones in 1960 (Source: Hurricane Donna 50 Years Ago, by Rusty Pfost)
