Today in History: September 29, Hurricane Gloria makes landfall in Maine.
On September 29, 1985, Hurricane Gloria made landfall in Maine, leaving a trail of destruction across New England and marking one of the most memorable hurricanes of the decade. Though Gloria was first detected in the Atlantic nearly two weeks earlier, its impact on the northeastern United States, particularly Maine, cemented its place in history as a storm that tested the resilience of communities and reshaped disaster preparedness in the region.
Gloria began as a tropical depression off the coast of Africa on September 16, 1985. It gradually strengthened while moving westward across the Atlantic, developing into a major hurricane with sustained winds exceeding 140 miles per hour at its peak. By the time it reached the U.S. East Coast, the storm had weakened slightly but still carried immense power. The hurricane threatened a wide swath of states from the Carolinas to New England, prompting widespread evacuations and emergency declarations.
When Hurricane Gloria finally made landfall in Maine on September 29, it brought fierce winds, heavy rainfall, and dangerous storm surges. The storm was classified as a Category 1 hurricane upon arrival, but even at that strength, it caused significant disruption. Coastal communities bore the brunt of the impact, with homes damaged, fishing boats sunk, and thousands left without electricity. In inland areas, torrential rains led to localized flooding and downed trees, further complicating recovery efforts.
Maine, a state not typically associated with tropical cyclones, was caught off guard by the scale of the storm. Although residents were aware of its approach, the intensity of the winds surprised many. Portland, Bangor, and several smaller towns reported wind gusts topping 80 miles per hour. The strong winds snapped power lines across the state, leaving hundreds of thousands in the dark for days. Schools, businesses, and government offices were forced to close until power was restored.
Nationally, Hurricane Gloria was considered the most significant Atlantic storm of the 1985 season. It had already made landfall in North Carolina and Long Island, New York, before reaching Maine, causing widespread damage along its path. Estimates placed the total damage from Gloria at nearly $900 million, with eleven confirmed fatalities across the affected states. While Maine was spared the worst of the storm compared to areas farther south, its landfall there marked the final chapter of Gloria’s destructive journey.
The aftermath of Hurricane Gloria spurred discussions about preparedness in northern states that rarely experience hurricanes. Local governments and emergency management agencies recognized the need for better communication, infrastructure resilience, and evacuation planning. For many Mainers, the storm served as a wake-up call: even regions thought to be beyond the reach of tropical cyclones are vulnerable under the right conditions.
Today, Gloria is remembered not just for the destruction it caused but also for the lessons it taught. It reminded residents of Maine and New England of nature’s unpredictability and the importance of readiness in the face of extreme weather events. Nearly four decades later, its landfall on September 29, 1985, remains a significant chapter in the history of hurricanes in the United States.