Hurricane Bob developed from a persistent area of clouds just to the east of the Bahamas. By August 17th, Bob was located about 200-miles east of the central Florida coast, with winds of 75-mph. By the 18th, Bob begin turning in a more northerly direction, continuing to intensify. As the storm swept past the North Carolina Outer Banks - the Diamond Shoals Light buoy recorded sustained winds of 99-mph and a peak gust of 123-mph. Bob continued to intensify early on August 19th - reaching major hurricane strength about 80-miles east of Virginia Beach,with sustained winds of 115-mph and a barometric pressure measured at 28.05 inches (950 mb).
Six hours later (1:30 p.m.) the eye of Hurricane Bob passed just to east of Montauk Point, New York, then passed right over Block Island, Rhode Island. After passing over Block Island - the eye of Bob become disorganized and begin to fill with clouds. Bob then crossed the coast of the mainland near Newport, Rhode Island about 45-minutes after striking Block Island. Bob moved through eastern Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts, the center passing over Fall River and Plymouth, and then passing just off the tip of Cape Cod near Provincetown. As Bob passed the over Provincetown and moved over the cooler waters off New England, the storm quickly weaken to tropical storm strength before crossing the coast of Maine. Although Bob's track spared most of the region, coastal Rhode Island, Buzzards Bay, and the lower Cape took the brunt of the storm
Six tornadoes were associated with hurricane Bob. Four in North Carolina and two on Long Island, New York. These were confirmed, and there were 16 unconfirmed tornadoes reported including nine on Hatteras Island, NC, 2 in Rhode Island, and 2 in Massachusetts. There was also one possible tornado reported in St. Albans.
Formed August 16, 1991
Dissipated August 29, 1991
Highest winds 115 mph (180 km/h) sustained
Lowest pressure 950 mbar (hPa)
Damages $2.8 billion (2005 dollars)
Fatalities 8 direct, 10 indirect
Areas affected North Carolina, Long Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine, Atlantic Canada
