 Satellite image of Hurricane Esther | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | September 10, 1961 |
| Dissipated | September 27, 1961 |
| Category 5 major hurricane | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Highest winds | 160 mph (260 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 919mbar (hPa); 27.14 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 7 indirect |
| Damage | $6 million (1961USD) |
| Areas affected | East Coast of the United States,New England |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the1961 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Hurricane Esther was the first largetropical cyclone to be discovered bysatellite imagery. The fifth tropical cyclone,named storm, and hurricane of the1961 Atlantic hurricane season, Esther developed from an area of disturbed weather hundreds of miles west-southwest of the southernmostCape 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 aCategory 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) 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 struckCape Cod, hours before emerging into theGulf of Maine. Later on September 26, the storm made landfall in southeasternMaine, before weakening to a tropical depression and becomingextratropical over southeasternQuebec. The remnants persisted for about 12 hours, before dissipating early on September 27. BetweenNorth Carolina andNew Jersey, effects were primarily limited to strong winds and minorbeach erosion andcoastal flooding due to storm surge. InNew 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 inMassachusetts. Additionally, some areas observed more than 8 inches (203 mm) of rainfall, flooding basements, low-lying roads, and underpasses. Overall, damage was minor, totaling about $6 million (1961 USD). There were also seven deaths reported when a United States Navy P5M aircraft crashed about 120 miles (190 km) north ofBermuda.
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depressionOn September 10, theTelevision Infrared Observation Satellite observed an area ofconvection, or thunderstorms, to the southwest of theCape Verde islands, suggesting the possibility oftropical cyclogenesis.[1] At 18:00 UTC that day, a tropical depression formed and subsequently moved on a northwest trajectory.[2] By the time theHurricane Hunters reached the system on September 12, winds of hurricane force were recorded,[3] and as such, theSan Juan, Puerto RicoWeather Bureau began issuing warnings on Hurricane Esther.[1] It was later estimated that the system attained tropical storm status on September 11,[2] although theNational Hurricane Center later noted that it could have attained hurricane status by this date, thus potentially being one of four simultaneous hurricanes, along with hurricanes Betsy,Carla, andDebbie. The only other such occasions were in1893 and1998.[4] This also made Esther the first hurricane to be discovered bysatellite imagery, although not the first to be imaged by one.[5]
After becoming a hurricane, Esther turned more to the west-northwest, influenced by the strengtheningBermuda High that built behind Hurricane Debbie well to the north.[3] By September 13, the storm attained major hurricane status, which is a Category 3 on the current-daySaffir-Simpson scale withsustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h).[2] By that time, thegale force winds extended about 230 mi (370 km) from the center, with hurricane-force winds spreading 135 mi (217 km) to the north.[1] After maintaining winds of 125 mph (201 km/h) for about two days, Esther weakened slightly on September 16 while passing well north of theLesser Antilles.[2] On the next day, the hurricane passed about 375 mi (604 km) north ofPuerto Rico. Late on September 17, thebarometric pressure fell to 927 mbar (92.7 kPa; 27.4 inHg) in the center of Esther, and operationally the Hurricane Hunters estimated winds of 150 mph (240 km/h).[1] This was later lowered slightly to 145 mph (233 km/h), which would be its peak intensity attained on September 18, making it aCategory 4 hurricane.[2] However, reanalysis as part of theAtlantic 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 919 mbar (91.9 kPa; 27.1 inHg); this has now been officially incorporated intoHURDAT.[6]
Around the time of attaining peak winds, Esther began moving more to the northwest toward theeast coast of the United States, influenced by a dissipatingcold front that exited the coast on September 15. On September 20, the hurricane passed about 120 mi (193 km) east ofCape Hatteras while turning to the north-northeast while gradually weakening.[3] It continued up the coastline, later passing about 150 mi (241 km) east of theDelmarva Peninsula.[1] Another trough from the west steered Esther to the northeast and was expected to cause the storm to accelerate,[3] potentially bringing it overCape Cod. While turning, the hurricane passed about 110 mi (177 km) south of the eastern tip ofLong Island, 35 mi (56 km) southeast ofBlock Island,[1] and just 27 mi (43 km) south ofNantucket 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.[3] It weakened to tropical storm status on September 22,[2] and on that day the Weather Bureau discontinued advisories, remarking that Esther no longer had tropical characteristics.[1]
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,[2] influenced by another approaching trough. Warmer waters allowed the storm to re-intensify slightly.[3] As a result, the Boston Weather Bureau reissued advisories on the storm on September 25 while Esther was 275 mi (443 km) south of Nantucket.[1] The storm crossed over eastern Cape Cod while gradually weakening,[2] making a finallandfall nearRockland, Maine, on September 26.[1] After crossing into Canada, Esther becameextratropical early on September 27 while continuing to the east-northeast. It was last noted at 06:00 UTC that day while over easternQuebec.[2]
While Esther was becoming a powerful hurricane over the open Atlantic, the San Juan Weather Bureau office issued asmall craft advisory for theLeeward Islands,United States Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico,Hispaniola, theBahamas, andBermuda. Because of uncertainty about the storm's future path, the Weather Bureau advised residents along the east coast of the United States to closely follow the storm. The agency later issued ahurricane watch fromMyrtle Beach, South Carolina toNorfolk, Virginia on September 18.[1]
InNorfolk, 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 theNational Weather Service's Norfolk bureau as "the most thorough ever seen here" at the time.[7] 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.[8]
The National Weather Service, in anticipation of a possible landfall in the Carolinas, issued agale warning and ahurricane watch fromMyrtle Beach, South Carolina toNorfolk, Virginia on September 18 (tropical storm warnings were not issued at the time).[9]Ahurricane warning was issued fromCherry 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 fromCape May, New Jersey to the Massachusetts coast on September 19, and like the warning, was discontinued on September 20.[citation needed]
As Esther began to parallel the coastline, a hurricane warning was issued for coastal areas fromLong Island toProvincetown, Massachusetts on September 20, and were extended toEastport, Maine early on September 21.[10] 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.[11] 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.[12] Personnel on two offshore surveillance stations called theTexas Towers were evacuated; a third tower had collapsed during a storm in January 1961, prompting higher safety standards.[8]
A powerful hurricane, Esther produced high waves and strong swells across much of the western Atlantic, including along the north coast of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Bahamas.[3]
InNorth Carolina, the outer edges of Esther brought sustained winds of 35 mph (56 km/h) with gusts up to 60 mph (97 km/h). Astorm surge of 6 ft (1.8 m) was reported inWilmington, North Carolina. The storm surge caused minor flooding and beach erosion in theOuter Banks,[7] where road damage was extensive.[13] Damage to property, however, was minimal, and the storm's effects in the Wilmington area were compared to those of "a goodnor'easter" by the local weather bureau.[14] SoutheasternVirginia experienced tides 2 to 4 ft (0.6 to 1.2 m) above normal, which flooded some coastal highways in theHampton Roads area. There was minor beach erosion in theNorfolk area due to turbulent seas.[7]
Esther mainly produced heavy rainfall and gale-force wind gusts along the coasts ofMaryland andDelaware. These areas also experiencedstorm surges of 6–7 ft (1.8–2.1 m) above normal. Wind gusts to 45 mph (72 km/h) were observed atOcean City, Maryland, and storm surge flooding caused damage to the city's sea wall and boardwalk. Minor to moderate damage was reported along theNew Jersey coast. A wind gust of 69 mph (111 km/h) was observed inAtlantic City.[1] 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.[15]
In New York, sustained winds of 40 mph (64 km/h) and gusts up to 60 mph (97 km/h) inPutnam andRockland counties downed numerous trees, caused power outages, and damaged crops. Farther south on Long Island, the hardest hit areas wereNassau and easternSuffolk counties. Wind gusts up to 108 mph (174 km/h) felled trees and power lines, leaving over 300,000 homes without electricity; minor structure damage was also reported.[15] Downed power lines and minor flooding due to rainfall amounts of up to 7 in (178 mm) also caused public transportation delays on Long Island.[1] Tides as high as 35 ft (10.7 m) damaged many pleasure boats. Minor flooding was reported inQueens andBrooklyn.[1] Damage likely exceeded $3 million, with nearly one-third of that amount incurred to crops and property each.[15]
In Connecticut, sustained winds between 35 and 50 mph (56 and 80 km/h) and gusts between 45 and 65 mph (72 and 105 km/h) caused electrical and phone service outages, as well as generally minor property damage. There was also some loss to crops, especially apples and corn. Similar impact was reported farther east in Rhode Island, though winds were much stronger, with sustained winds of 74 mph (119 km/h) and a gust up to 83 mph (134 km/h) observed atBlock Island. Tides ranging from 4 to 6 ft (1.2 to 1.8 m) above normal damaged small crafts and caused severe beach erosion, destroying a parking lot and washing out several roads. In south-central and northeastern Maine, precipitation totals between 2 and 4 in (51 and 102 mm) flooded basements, underpasses, and low-lying roads, resulting in traffic being delayed by detours.[15]
Strong winds were also observed in eastern Massachusetts, with the strongest wind gust being 70 mph (110 km/h) inChatham.[15]
Despite gale and storm force wind gusts in easternMassachusetts and southernNew Hampshire, damage was minimal and consisted mainly of downed trees and isolated power outages. Rainfall totals ranged from 1 inch (25 mm) in southernMaine to around 6 inches (152 mm) in theBoston area.[1] 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,[16]re-separated, and re-connected again in 2009). In all, Esther caused an estimated $6 million (1961 USD) in damage.[citation needed]
While over open waters, Esther caused seven indirect deaths when aUnited States NavyP5M aircraft crashed about 120 miles (193 km) north ofBermuda. A merchant ship, theAfrican Pilot, was in the area where the plane crashed when the captain of the ship received a message from the Bermuda Coast Guard that "We have aircraft in trouble in that vicinity..."[17] The captain of theAfrican Pilot diverted the ship in order to assist theCoast Guard's search for the lost plane. The heavy seas brought by Esther made search-and-rescue efforts difficult. In the end, only three of the ten crewmen were rescued; the other seven were declared lost at sea.[17]
The survivors told Coast Guard officials that during the storm, one of the engines of the plane failed, along with most of the electrical power; as a result, the crew was unable to drop the reserve tank or close thebomb bay doors automatically. Before the crew could close the bomb bay doors manually, the plane crashed in shark-infested waters and broke apart; three of the crewmen were able to get out of the downed plane, but the other seven were unable to escape. The three survivors were then attacked by sharks before being rescued.[17]
Hurricane Esther was also one of the first targets of a Navy experiment in modifying or weakening hurricanes by seeding them. On September 16, a Navy plane flew into the eye of Esther about 400 miles (644 km) northeast ofPuerto Rico, and dropped canisters ofsilver iodide into the storm.[18][19] 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.[2] The aircraft returned the next day to seed again, but the seeding canisters fell outside theeyewall 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 ofProject Stormfury.[20]
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