 The 1850 Atlantic hurricane season was the most recent season excluded from the scope of the official Atlantic hurricane database . Although meteorological records are sparse and generally incomplete , they indicate that three significant tropical cyclones affected land , each causing some degree of damage . The first system struck North Carolina on July 18 , causing significant damage before battering the Mid @-@ Atlantic states with high tides , strong winds , and heavy rainfall . Torrential rainfall caused river flooding from Baltimore to Philadelphia , particularly along the Schuylkill River , which took the lives of 20 people in various incidents . Strong winds damaged property and public facilities in and around New York City , and damaging floods extended into central and northern New England . Crops and railroad infrastructure suffered throughout the entire region . 
