Hurricane Edouard (1996)
Hurricane Edouard reached Category 4 in the North Atlantic between August 19, 1996 and September 6, 1996, with a lowest pressure of 933 mb. It killed 2 people in the United States, by the National Weather Service’s record.
Radar
Reflectivity now over Hurricane Edouard. Open it to see storms, cones and warnings on the map.























Radar mosaic and map layers from NOAA MRMS. Boundaries from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet.
The storm
- Basin
- North Atlantic
- Dates
- August 19, 1996 to September 6, 1996
- Peak strength
- Category 4, 125 kt (144 mph)
- Lowest pressure
- 933 mb (27.55 inHg)
- Landfall
- No; closest approach 113 km (70 mi)
- Accumulated cyclone energy
- 49.3
- Fastest the center moved
- 25 kt (29 mph)
- Identifier
- AL051996
Deaths and damage
The sources count different things and are not added together.
NOAA Storm Events
2 deaths (2 direct, 0 indirect)none recorded
What National Weather Service offices recorded county by county in 6 states and marine areas, in the United States only. Property and crop damage as each office estimated it, which is not a national loss total.
In the United States
NOAA’s Storm Events database, the record National Weather Service offices compile months after a storm, as compiled March 2026.
- Deaths
- 2 (2 direct, 0 indirect)
- Injuries
- 3
- Property damage
- none recorded
- Crop damage
- none recorded
- Events recorded
- 21 in 6 reports from 6 states and marine areas
State by state
| State or marine area | Deaths | Injuries | Damage | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 2 | 1 | 4 | |
| Maine | 0 | 2 | 8 | |
| Massachusetts | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| New York | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| New Hampshire | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Delaware | 0 | 0 | 1 |
What was recorded
9 hurricane (typhoon), 5 high surf, 4 high wind, 3 coastal flood.
Rainfall
The Weather Prediction Center attributes 130 rain gauge totals over the contiguous United States to this storm. The wettest reached 6.37 inches (162 mm).
| Station | Total | Position |
|---|---|---|
| WEST DENNIS | 6.37 in (162 mm) | 42.12N 70.27W |
| HATCHVILLE | 4.48 in (114 mm) | 41.62N 70.53W |
| EDGARTOWN | 4.14 in (105 mm) | 41.38N 70.52W |
| HYANNIS | 3.99 in (101 mm) | 41.67N 70.30W |
| CHATHAM WSMO | 3.31 in (84 mm) | 41.67N 69.97W |
| EAST WAREHAM | 3.26 in (83 mm) | 41.77N 70.67W |
| PLYMOUTH-KINGSTON | 3.19 in (81 mm) | 41.98N 70.70W |
| MIDDLEBORO | 2.67 in (68 mm) | 41.88N 70.92W |
| ROCHESTER | 2.67 in (68 mm) | 41.78N 70.92W |
| NEW BEDFORD | 1.82 in (46 mm) | 41.63N 70.93W |
| ACADIA NATIONAL PARK | 1.82 in (46 mm) | 44.37N 68.27W |
| JONESBORO | 1.82 in (46 mm) | 44.65N 67.65W |
WPC’s storm rainfall file, 1900 to 2020, compiled by David Roth.
Wind reports
The strongest winds National Weather Service offices recorded with this storm. An estimated figure is a forecaster’s judgment from the damage, not an instrument reading.
| Wind | How | Where | State | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 74 kt (85 mph) | Estimated | Nantucket | Massachusetts | Sep 2, 07:00 |
| 67 kt (77 mph) | Estimated | Barnstable | Massachusetts | Sep 2, 07:00 |
Track
| Time (UTC) | Position | Wind | Pressure | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 19, 18:00 | 12.4N 19.9W | 25 kt | 1007 mb | Tropical depression |
| Aug 20, 00:00 | 12.4N 20.7W | 25 kt | 1007 mb | Tropical depression |
| Aug 20, 06:00 | 12.4N 21.6W | 25 kt | 1007 mb | Tropical depression |
| Aug 20, 12:00 | 12.5N 22.6W | 25 kt | 1007 mb | Tropical depression |
| Aug 20, 18:00 | 12.6N 23.8W | 25 kt | 1007 mb | Tropical depression |
| Aug 21, 00:00 | 12.6N 25.3W | 25 kt | 1007 mb | Tropical depression |
| Aug 21, 06:00 | 12.8N 26.7W | 25 kt | 1007 mb | Tropical depression |
| Aug 21, 12:00 | 12.9N 27.9W | 25 kt | 1007 mb | Tropical depression |
| Aug 21, 18:00 | 13.0N 29.2W | 25 kt | 1006 mb | Tropical depression |
| Aug 22, 00:00 | 13.1N 30.3W | 30 kt | 1006 mb | Tropical depression |
| Aug 22, 06:00 | 13.2N 31.6W | 35 kt | 1005 mb | Tropical storm |
| Aug 22, 12:00 | 13.4N 32.9W | 40 kt | 1003 mb | Tropical storm |
| Aug 22, 18:00 | 13.5N 34.4W | 40 kt | 1002 mb | Tropical storm |
| Aug 23, 00:00 | 13.7N 35.8W | 45 kt | 1000 mb | Tropical storm |
| Aug 23, 06:00 | 13.8N 37.0W | 50 kt | 996 mb | Tropical storm |
| Aug 23, 12:00 | 13.9N 38.3W | 65 kt | 988 mb | Hurricane |
| Aug 23, 18:00 | 14.0N 39.8W | 65 kt | 986 mb | Hurricane |
| Aug 24, 00:00 | 14.1N 41.1W | 70 kt | 983 mb | Hurricane |
| Aug 24, 06:00 | 14.1N 42.4W | 75 kt | 980 mb | Hurricane |
| Aug 24, 12:00 | 14.4N 43.6W | 90 kt | 970 mb | Hurricane |
| Aug 24, 18:00 | 14.6N 44.7W | 100 kt | 960 mb | Hurricane |
| Aug 25, 00:00 | 15.0N 45.8W | 120 kt | 942 mb | Hurricane |
| Aug 25, 06:00 | 15.4N 47.0W | 125 kt | 933 mb | Hurricane |
| Aug 25, 12:00 | 15.9N 48.3W | 125 kt | 934 mb | Hurricane |
| Aug 25, 18:00 | 16.5N 49.6W | 125 kt | 935 mb | Hurricane |
| Aug 26, 00:00 | 17.0N 50.9W | 125 kt | 936 mb | Hurricane |
| Aug 26, 06:00 | 17.5N 52.0W | 125 kt | 936 mb | Hurricane |
| Aug 26, 12:00 | 17.9N 53.2W | 125 kt | 937 mb | Hurricane |
| Aug 26, 18:00 | 18.4N 54.5W | 125 kt | 938 mb | Hurricane |
| Aug 27, 00:00 | 18.9N 55.6W | 125 kt | 942 mb | Hurricane |
| Aug 27, 06:00 | 19.5N 56.9W | 120 kt | 948 mb | Hurricane |
| Aug 27, 12:00 | 20.0N 58.1W | 115 kt | 952 mb | Hurricane |
| Aug 27, 18:00 | 20.4N 59.3W | 115 kt | 951 mb | Hurricane |
| Aug 28, 00:00 | 20.9N 60.4W | 125 kt | 944 mb | Hurricane |
| Aug 28, 06:00 | 21.3N 61.7W | 115 kt | 952 mb | Hurricane |
| Aug 28, 12:00 | 21.9N 63.2W | 110 kt | 960 mb | Hurricane |
| Aug 28, 18:00 | 22.3N 64.6W | 110 kt | 956 mb | Hurricane |
| Aug 29, 00:00 | 22.9N 65.9W | 110 kt | 957 mb | Hurricane |
| Aug 29, 06:00 | 23.4N 67.1W | 110 kt | 961 mb | Hurricane |
| Aug 29, 12:00 | 24.0N 68.1W | 115 kt | 950 mb | Hurricane |
| Aug 29, 18:00 | 24.7N 69.0W | 120 kt | 948 mb | Hurricane |
| Aug 30, 00:00 | 25.5N 69.5W | 120 kt | 941 mb | Hurricane |
| Aug 30, 06:00 | 26.4N 69.9W | 120 kt | 939 mb | Hurricane |
| Aug 30, 12:00 | 27.4N 70.2W | 120 kt | 938 mb | Hurricane |
| Aug 30, 18:00 | 28.5N 70.5W | 120 kt | 934 mb | Hurricane |
| Aug 31, 00:00 | 29.5N 70.5W | 110 kt | 944 mb | Hurricane |
| Aug 31, 06:00 | 30.4N 70.6W | 105 kt | 950 mb | Hurricane |
| Aug 31, 12:00 | 31.6N 70.3W | 105 kt | 952 mb | Hurricane |
| Aug 31, 18:00 | 32.7N 70.1W | 100 kt | 953 mb | Hurricane |
| Sep 1, 00:00 | 34.0N 70.1W | 100 kt | 959 mb | Hurricane |
| Sep 1, 06:00 | 35.2N 70.1W | 100 kt | 958 mb | Hurricane |
| Sep 1, 12:00 | 36.5N 70.2W | 95 kt | 958 mb | Hurricane |
| Sep 1, 18:00 | 37.5N 70.0W | 85 kt | 960 mb | Hurricane |
| Sep 2, 00:00 | 38.7N 69.5W | 80 kt | 964 mb | Hurricane |
| Sep 2, 06:00 | 39.8N 69.4W | 70 kt | 961 mb | Hurricane |
| Sep 2, 12:00 | 40.5N 68.3W | 70 kt | 962 mb | Hurricane |
| Sep 2, 18:00 | 41.3N 67.3W | 65 kt | 972 mb | Hurricane |
| Sep 3, 00:00 | 42.0N 66.8W | 60 kt | 978 mb | Tropical storm |
| Sep 3, 06:00 | 42.2N 66.0W | 55 kt | 985 mb | Extratropical |
| Sep 3, 12:00 | 42.5N 65.0W | 50 kt | 992 mb | Extratropical |
| Sep 3, 18:00 | 42.7N 63.0W | 50 kt | 995 mb | Extratropical |
| Sep 4, 00:00 | 43.2N 59.8W | 50 kt | 997 mb | Extratropical |
| Sep 4, 06:00 | 43.3N 57.5W | 50 kt | 994 mb | Extratropical |
| Sep 4, 12:00 | 43.4N 55.5W | 50 kt | 994 mb | Extratropical |
| Sep 4, 18:00 | 43.5N 53.5W | 50 kt | 995 mb | Extratropical |
| Sep 5, 00:00 | 43.5N 51.5W | 50 kt | 995 mb | Extratropical |
| Sep 5, 06:00 | 43.5N 50.0W | 45 kt | 994 mb | Extratropical |
| Sep 5, 12:00 | 43.5N 48.5W | 45 kt | 994 mb | Extratropical |
| Sep 5, 18:00 | 43.7N 47.5W | 45 kt | 995 mb | Extratropical |
| Sep 6, 00:00 | 44.5N 46.0W | 40 kt | 995 mb | Extratropical |
| Sep 6, 06:00 | 46.0N 44.0W | 40 kt | 994 mb | Extratropical |
| Sep 6, 12:00 | 48.0N 43.0W | 40 kt | 992 mb | Extratropical |
| Sep 6, 18:00 | 50.0N 41.0W | 40 kt | 990 mb | Extratropical |
Other North Atlantic storms of 1996
- Tropical Storm ArthurNorth Atlantic · 1996
- Hurricane BerthaNorth Atlantic · 1996
- Hurricane CesarNorth Atlantic · 1996
- Hurricane DollyNorth Atlantic · 1996
- Hurricane FranNorth Atlantic · 1996
- Tropical Storm GustavNorth Atlantic · 1996
- Hurricane HortenseNorth Atlantic · 1996
- Hurricane IsidoreNorth Atlantic · 1996
- Tropical Storm JosephineNorth Atlantic · 1996
- Tropical Storm KyleNorth Atlantic · 1996
- Hurricane LiliNorth Atlantic · 1996 · 22 deaths · $662 million
- Hurricane MarcoNorth Atlantic · 1996
What this means
A best track is the record a warning agency settles on after the storm, not what it said at the time: position, maximum sustained wind and central pressure every six hours, revised against every observation that came in later. Category is the Saffir-Simpson scale, which runs from Category 1 at 64 kt to Category 5 at 137 kt and reads wind only, so it says nothing about surge or rain. Accumulated cyclone energy adds up the square of the wind through the storm's life, so it counts strength and duration together.
Sources
Storm history from NOAA NCEI’s International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS), which merges the official best track of every warning agency. Live storms, cones, watches and warnings from the National Hurricane Center and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Archived radar from NOAA’s Level II archive.