 An eastward moving deep @-@ wave trough intensified as it moved through the eastern United States . This caused Carol to accelerate as it turned to the north and north @-@ northeast . On August 30 , the hurricane again strengthened to reach Category 2 status while located 180 miles ( 290 km ) east of Savannah , Georgia . Early on August 31 , Carol passed very near Cape Hatteras , North Carolina with reconnaissance aircraft intensity estimates from 75 – 125 mph ( 120 – 200 km / h ) . The hurricane continued north @-@ northeastward with a forward motion of up to 39 mph ( 63 km / h ) , and Carol intensified further to make landfall on eastern Long Island a Category 3 hurricane with peak winds of 115 mph ( 185 km / h ) . After quickly crossing Long Island Sound , the hurricane made its final landfall on Old Saybrook , Connecticut , still at peak intensity . By that time , Carol had maintained its small structure and well @-@ defined eye , despite the fast forward motion and the latitude . The landfall intensity was based on a pressure of 957 mbar ( 28 @.@ 3 inHg ) in Groton , Connecticut , where the eye resulted in calm conditions and clear skies , followed by hurricane @-@ force winds and storm tide that destroyed ninety percent of area homes . Carol quickly lost tropical characteristics while crossing Connecticut and western Massachusetts , and became extratropical over southwestern New Hampshire late on August 31 . The powerful extratropical storm continued northward , and after entering Canada lost its identity over southern Quebec . 
