Content deleted Content added
No edit summary |
→See also: fix |
||
| (12 intermediate revisions by 9 users not shown) | |||
Line 1:
{{Short description|Category 5 Atlantic hurricane in 1961}}
{{Infobox
|
| alt = View of Hurricane Esther from Space. Due to limited technology, the black-and-white image is not clear.▼
}}{{Infobox weather event/NWS
▲| Image name=Satellite image of Hurricane Esther
| winds = 140
▲| alt=View of Hurricane Esther from Space. Due to limited technology, the black-and-white image is not clear.
| pressure = 919
▲| Formed=September 10, 1961
}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects
▲| Dissipated=September 27, 1961
|
| damage = 6000000
| areas = [[East Coast of the United States]], [[New England]]
| refs =
▲| Fatalities=0 direct, 7 indirect
}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer
|
}}
'''Hurricane Esther''' was the first large [[tropical cyclone]] to be discovered by [[satellite imagery]]. The fifth tropical cyclone, [[Tropical cyclone naming|named storm]], and hurricane of the [[1961 Atlantic hurricane season]], Esther developed from an area of disturbed weather hundreds of miles west-southwest of the southernmost [[Cape Verde]] Islands on September 10. Moving northwestward, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Esther on September 11, before reaching hurricane intensity on the following day. Early on September 13, Esther curved westward and deepened into a major hurricane. The storm remained a Category 3 hurricane for about four days and gradually moved in a west-northwestward direction. Late on September 17, Esther strengthened into a [[Category 5 hurricane]] with sustained winds of {{convert|160|mph|km/h|abbr=on|round=10}} on September 18. The storm curved north-northeastward on September 19, while offshore of North Carolina. Esther began to weaken while approaching New England and fell to Category 3 intensity on September 21. The storm turned eastward early on the following day, and rapidly weakened to a tropical storm.▼
▲'''Hurricane Esther''' was the first large [[tropical cyclone]] to be discovered by [[satellite imagery]]. The fifth tropical cyclone, [[
Esther then executed a large cyclonic loop, until curving northward on September 25. Early on the following day, Esther struck [[Cape Cod]], hours before emerging into the [[Gulf of Maine]]. Later on September 26, the storm made landfall in southeastern [[Maine]], before weakening to a tropical depression and becoming [[Extratropical cyclone|extratropical]] over southeastern [[Quebec]]. The remnants persisted for about 12 hours, before dissipating early on September 27. Between [[North Carolina]] and [[New Jersey]], effects were primarily limited to strong winds and minor [[coastal erosion|beach erosion]] and [[coastal flooding]] due to storm surge. In [[New York (state)|New York]], strong winds led to severe crop losses and over 300,000 power outages. High tides caused coastal flooding and damage to a number of pleasure boats. Similar impact was reported in [[Massachusetts]]. Additionally, some areas observed more than {{convert|8|in|mm|0}} of rainfall, flooding basements, low-lying roads, and underpasses. Overall, damage was minor, totaling about $6 million (1961 [[United States dollar|USD]]). There were also seven deaths reported when a United States Navy P5M aircraft crashed about {{convert|120|mi|km}} north of [[Bermuda]].▼
▲Esther then executed a large cyclonic loop, until curving northward on September 25. Early on the following day, Esther struck [[Cape Cod]], hours before emerging into the [[Gulf of Maine]]. Later on September 26, the storm made landfall in southeastern [[Maine]], before weakening to a tropical depression and becoming [[
==Meteorological history==
{{storm path|Esther 1961 track.png}}
On September 10, the [[Television Infrared Observation Satellite]] observed an area of [[convection (meteorology)|convection]], or thunderstorms, to the southwest of the [[Cape Verde]] islands, suggesting the possibility of [[tropical cyclogenesis]].<ref name="prelim">{{cite report|author=Arthur I. Cooperman|author2=Howard C. Sumner|author3=James K. McGuire|url =http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/hurricanes/Qc9452e82h81961.pdf| title = Hurricane Esther September 11–26 (A Preliminary Report)|page=1| access-date = 2014-08-29 | year = 1961 | publisher = United States Weather Bureau}}</ref> At 18:00 [[
After becoming a hurricane, Esther turned more to the west-northwest, influenced by the strengthening [[Azores High|Bermuda High]] that built behind Hurricane Debbie well to the north.<ref name="mwr"/> By September 13, the storm attained major hurricane status, which is a Category 3 on the current-day [[Saffir-Simpson scale]] with [[maximum sustained wind|sustained winds]] of {{convert|115|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="hurdat"/> By that time, the [[gale]] force winds extended about {{convert|230|mi|km|0|abbr=on}} from the center, with hurricane-force winds spreading {{convert|135|mi|km|0|abbr=on}} to the north.<ref name="prelim"/> After maintaining winds of {{convert|125|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}} for about two days, Esther weakened slightly on September 16 while passing well north of the [[Lesser Antilles]].<ref name="hurdat"/> On the next day, the hurricane passed about {{convert|375|mi|km|0|abbr=on}} north of [[Puerto Rico]]. Late on September 17, the [[atmospheric pressure|barometric pressure]] fell to {{convert|927|mbar|kPa inHg|abbr=on|lk=on}} in the center of Esther, and operationally the Hurricane Hunters estimated winds of {{convert|150|mph|km/h|abbr=on|round=5}}.<ref name="prelim"/> This was later lowered slightly to {{convert|145|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}}, which would be its peak intensity attained on September 18, making it a [[List of Category 4 Atlantic hurricanes|Category 4]] hurricane.<ref name="hurdat"/> However, reanalysis as part of the [[Atlantic hurricane reanalysis]] project concluded that Esther was in fact a Category 5 hurricane with winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and a minimum pressure of {{convert|919|mbar|kPa inHg|abbr=on|lk=on}}; this has now been officially incorporated into [[HURDAT]].<ref>{{Cite conference|conference=33rd Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology|url=https://ams.confex.com/ams/33HURRICANE/webprogram/Paper339830.html|title=Reanalysis of the 1960-1970 Atlantic Hurricane Seasons|date=16 April 2018}}</ref>
Around the time of attaining peak winds, Esther began moving more to the northwest toward the [[east coast of the United States]], influenced by a dissipating [[cold front]] that exited the coast on September 15. On September 20, the hurricane passed about {{convert|120|mi|km|0|abbr=on}} east of [[Cape Hatteras]] while turning to the north-northeast while gradually weakening.<ref name="mwr"/> It continued up the coastline, later passing about {{convert|150|mi|km|0|abbr=on}} east of the [[Delmarva Peninsula]].<ref name="prelim"/> Another trough from the west steered Esther to the northeast and was expected to cause the storm to accelerate,<ref name="mwr"/> potentially bringing it over [[Cape Cod]]. While turning, the hurricane passed about {{convert|110|mi|km|0|abbr=on}} south of the eastern tip of [[Long Island]], {{convert|35|mi|km|0|abbr=on}} southeast of [[Block Island]],<ref name="prelim"/> and just {{convert|27|mi|km|0|abbr=on}} south of [[Nantucket Island]], while a Category 1 hurricane at the time. After the trough bypassed the hurricane, Esther slowed and turned to the east - away from land and over much cooler waters.<ref name="mwr"/> It weakened to tropical storm status on September 22,<ref name="hurdat"/> and on that day the Weather Bureau discontinued advisories, remarking that Esther no longer had tropical characteristics.<ref name="prelim"/>
As a weakened tropical storm, Esther turned to the southeast and gradually executed a large loop. On September 24, it turned back to the west and subsequently turned back to the north,<ref name="hurdat"/> influenced by another approaching trough. Warmer waters allowed the storm to re-intensify slightly.<ref name="mwr"/> As a result, the Boston Weather Bureau reissued advisories on the storm on September 25 while Esther was {{convert|275|mi|km|0|abbr=on}} south of Nantucket.<ref name="prelim"/> The storm crossed over eastern Cape Cod while gradually weakening,<ref name="hurdat"/> making a final [[
==Preparations==
Line 37 ⟶ 38:
In [[Norfolk, Virginia]], between 10,000 and 15,000 people were evacuated to emergency shelters on September 19, but were able to return home the next day as Esther passed far to the east. Preparations for Esther were described by the [[National Weather Service|National Weather Service's]] Norfolk bureau as "the most thorough ever seen here" at the time.<ref name="prelimreport-ncva">{{cite web | url = http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1961/esther/preloc/pshorf.gif | title = Preliminary Storm Report (Norfolk) | access-date = 2006-06-09 | year = 1961 | publisher = [[National Weather Service|NWS]]}}</ref> Naval ships and aircraft carriers based in the city headed for open waters to endure the storm, while over 200 military airplanes were flown inland away from the coast.<ref name="texas">{{cite news|title=Esther Whirls Towards Coast of N. Carolina|date=September 19, 1961|work=Janesville Daily Gazette|agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/12138705/esther_whirls_toward_coast_of_n/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]] }} {{subscription required}}</ref>
The National Weather Service, in anticipation of a possible landfall in the Carolinas, issued a [[gale warning]] and a [[Tropical cyclone watches and warnings|hurricane watch]] from [[Myrtle Beach, South Carolina]] to [[Norfolk, Virginia]] on September 18 (tropical storm warnings were not issued at the time).<ref name="prelimreport-10">{{cite web | url = http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1961/esther/prenhc/prelim10.gif | title = Hurricane Esther Tropical Cyclone Report (page 10) | access-date = 2006-07-03 | year = 1961 | publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]}}</ref> {{citation needed span|A [[Tropical cyclone watches and warnings|hurricane warning]] was issued from [[Cherry Point, North Carolina]] to the Virginia capes on September 19, but was discontinued early on September 20 as the hurricane passed to the east. A hurricane watch was also issued from [[Cape May, New Jersey]] to the Massachusetts coast on September 19, and like the warning, was discontinued on September 20.|date=December 2021}}
As Esther began to parallel the coastline, a hurricane warning was issued for coastal areas from [[Long Island]] to [[Provincetown, Massachusetts]] on September 20, and were extended to [[Eastport, Maine]] early on September 21.<ref name="prelimreport-17">{{cite web | url = http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1961/esther/prenhc/prelim17.gif | title = Hurricane Esther Tropical Cyclone Report (page 17) | access-date = 2006-07-03 | year = 1961 | publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]}}</ref> All hurricane watches were discontinued on September 21 as Esther moved away from the New England coast, and all hurricane warnings were downgraded to gale warnings later that day as Esther passed near Nantucket and weakened to a tropical storm, and all warnings were discontinued on September 22 after the storm moved away from the coast.<ref name="prelimreport-23">{{cite web | url = http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1961/esther/prenhc/prelim23.gif | title = Hurricane Esther Tropical Cyclone Report (page 23) | access-date = 2006-07-03 | year = 1961 | publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]}}</ref> After Esther completed its anticyclonic loop over the northwestern Atlantic, a gale warning was again issued from Provincetown, Massachusetts to Eastport, Maine on September 25, and was discontinued the next day after Esther made its second landfall in Maine.<ref name="prelimreport-25">{{cite web | url = http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1961/esther/prenhc/prelim25.gif | title = Hurricane Esther Tropical Cyclone Report (page 25) | access-date = 2006-07-03 | year = 1961 | publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]}}</ref> Personnel on two offshore surveillance stations called the [[Texas Towers]] were evacuated; a third tower had collapsed during a storm in January 1961, prompting higher safety standards.<ref name="texas"/>
Line 48 ⟶ 49:
===Mid-Atlantic===
[[
Esther mainly produced heavy rainfall and gale-force wind gusts along the coasts of [[Maryland]] and [[Delaware]]. These areas also experienced [[storm surge]]s of {{convert|6|-|7|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} above normal. Wind gusts to {{convert|45|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}} were observed at [[Ocean City, Maryland]], and storm surge flooding caused damage to the city's sea wall and boardwalk. Minor to moderate damage was reported along the [[New Jersey]] coast. A wind gust of {{convert|69|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}} was observed in [[Atlantic City, New Jersey|Atlantic City]].<ref name="prelim"/> Winds downed trees and power lines and damaged apple crops. Storm surge resulted in minor beach erosion and wrecked some boats. Damage totaled less than $1 million.<ref name="stormdata">{{cite report|url=http://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS-9FF6F836-52BD-4912-9F1F-2C5B28F9E210.pdf |title=Storm Data And Unusual Weather Phenomena |author=Luther H. Hodges |work=United States Weather Bureau |access-date=2014-08-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201051314/http://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS-9FF6F836-52BD-4912-9F1F-2C5B28F9E210.pdf |archive-date=2014-02-01 }}</ref>
Line 58 ⟶ 59:
Strong winds were also observed in eastern Massachusetts, with the strongest wind gust being {{convert|70|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} in [[Chatham, Massachusetts|Chatham]].<ref name="stormdata"/>
Despite gale and storm force wind gusts in eastern [[Massachusetts]] and southern [[New Hampshire]], damage was minimal and consisted mainly of downed trees and isolated power outages. Rainfall totals ranged from {{convert|1|in|mm}} in southern [[Maine]] to around {{convert|6|in|mm|0}} in the [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]] area.<ref name="prelim"/> The storm separated Smith's Point from the rest of Nantucket Island, creating what came to be known as Esther's Island (which has since re-connected in 1988,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nantucketchronicle.com/nantucket-outdoors/2012/paddle-esthers-island-quahogs-and-sunsets |title=Paddle to Esther's island for quahogs and sunsets |publisher=Nantucket Chronicle |date=2007-04-16 |access-date=2016-05-26}}</ref> {{citation needed span| re-separated, and re-connected again in 2009). In all, Esther caused an estimated $6 million (1961 USD) in damage.|date=December 2021}}
===Navy plane crash===
Line 75 ⟶ 76:
==Project Stormfury==
[[
{{Main|Project Stormfury}}
Line 81 ⟶ 82:
|last=Posey |first=C. |date=March 1994 |title=Hurricanes --- Reaping the whirlwind |periodical=[[Omni (magazine)|Omni]]
|publisher=General Media |volume=16 |pages=34–47
}} ''Note: This replaces a prior citation to an expired Google Cache entry accessed 2006-07-04; some details for this citation were taken from the reference list for the online article ''[http://weather.jsums.edu/hurricane.htm An overview of hurricanes] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080710131102/http://weather.jsums.edu/hurricane.htm |date=2008-07-10 }}.
|periodical=USA Today |publisher=Gannett |url=https://www.usatoday.com/weather/research/2006-04-18-project-stormfury_x.htm
}}</ref> The hurricane appeared to weaken slightly in response to the seeding, reportedly by ten percent. This weakening was temporary, however, as the hurricane resumed strengthening shortly after.<ref name="hurdat"/> The aircraft returned the next day to seed again, but the seeding canisters fell outside the [[Eye (cyclone)|eyewall]] with no effect on its structure, and the hurricane continued to strengthen. Despite this result, the experiment was deemed a success, and led to the establishment of [[Project Stormfury]].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.usatoday.com/weather/hurricane/wstormfury.htm | title = Stormfury attempted to weaken hurricanes | access-date = 2006-05-10 | author = Williams, Jack | date = 2005-05-05 | work = [[USA Today]]}}
Line 88 ⟶ 89:
==See also==
{{Portal|Tropical cyclones}}
* [[List of storms named Esther|Other storms of the same name]]
* [[List of New England hurricanes]]
* [[Hurricane Gloria]] (1985)
* [[Hurricane Earl (2010)]]
Line 105 ⟶ 106:
{{Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes}}
{{1961 Atlantic hurricane season buttons}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Esther (1961)}}
| |||