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{{Short description|Category 5 Atlantic hurricane in 1961}}
{{Infobox weather event
| image = Hurricane Esther.jpg
| caption = Satellite image of Hurricane Esther
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| season = [[1961 Atlantic hurricane season]]
}}
'''Hurricane Esther''' was the first large [[tropical cyclone]] to be discovered by [[satellite imagery]]. The fifth tropical cyclone, [[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.
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==
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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==
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===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>
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==Project Stormfury==
[[
{{Main|Project Stormfury}}
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