On September 3 throughout history, several destructive hurricanes have made landfall, alongside record-breaking hailstorms, early freezes, and instances of severe flooding.
Notable weather events on September 3
Hurricanes and tropical storms
- 1821: The Norfolk and Long Island Hurricane
- This system, which was likely a Category 3 or 4 storm, hit New York City, making it the only major hurricane on record to have passed directly over the city.
- It produced a 13-foot storm surge that inundated Battery Park in Lower Manhattan.
- 1834: South Carolina Hurricane
- A strong hurricane made landfall near Georgetown, South Carolina.
- 1900: Galveston Hurricane
- A tropical storm was first detected in the Atlantic on August 27, reaching Cuba on September 3 before intensifying into a deadly Category 4 hurricane that struck Texas on September 8.
- 1930: The Dominican Republic Hurricane (San Zenon)
- A Category 4 hurricane devastated the Dominican Republic, killing more than 8,000 people and becoming the fifth-deadliest Atlantic hurricane on record.
- 1969: Hurricane Francelia
- The storm made landfall near Punta Gorda, Honduras.
- 1979: Hurricane David
- On its path through the Atlantic, this storm hit the Dominican Republic as a Category 5 hurricane, killing over 2,000 people. On September 3, it made landfall in south Florida as a Category 2 storm, causing 15 deaths in the U.S..
Record-setting hailstorm
- 1970: Coffeyville, Kansas Hailstorm
- A severe hailstorm dropped a stone with a circumference of 17.5 inches and a weight of nearly 2 pounds.
- At the time, it was recognized as the largest hailstone on record in the U.S. and remains among the largest ever documented.
Early freeze
- 1974: Minnesota and Wisconsin
- An early freeze hit the region, with temperatures dropping into the 20s and low 30s.
- It ended the growing season prematurely in some areas and caused more than $100 million in damage to corn and soybean crops.
Flash flooding and severe weather
- 1999: South Dakota Flash Flooding
- A band of thunderstorms stretching up to 40 miles wide dropped 3 to 7 inches of rain, causing extensive flash flooding.
- The towns of Blunt and Onida were particularly hard-hit, with most homes and businesses experiencing severe flooding and sewer backups.
- 2018: Midwest Flooding
- Significant flooding and severe weather affected portions of Wisconsin and Iowa between September 3 and 5.
- 2025: Southwestern U.S. Threat
- On September 3, the National Hurricane Center was tracking a tropical wave with a high chance of developing into a tropical depression.
- Meanwhile, Pacific Hurricane Lorena threatened parts of the U.S. with heavy rainfall and significant flash flooding. A flash flood warning was issued for the Phoenix, Arizona, area on this date.
Lightning strike
- Date unknown: Northwestern Utah
- A lightning strike killed 837 sheep sheltering from a thunderstorm.
