Hurricane Esther

Category 4 hurricane  (SSHS)
Satellite image of Hurricane Esther
Formed	September 10, 1961
Dissipated	September 27, 1961
Highest winds	145 mph (235 km/h) (1-minute sustained) {{{highest gusts}}} (gusts) {{{highest 10-min winds}}} (10-minute sustained) {{{current winds}}} (current)
Lowest pressure	927 mbar (hPa)
Damages	$6 million (1961 USD) $37.4 million (2005 USD)
Fatalities	0 direct, 7 indirect
Areas affected	North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Long Island, New England
Part of the 1961 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Esther was the fifth named storm and fifth hurricane of the 1961 Atlantic hurricane season. A long-lived Category 4 Cape Verde-type hurricane, Esther spent its lifetime offshore, before moving up the East Coast of the United States. Esther made two distinct landfalls in New England, passing over Nantucket Island as a rapidly weakening Category 3 hurricane, then coming ashore in Maine while losing its tropical characteristics. These landfalls were separated by a rather unusual anticyclonic loop over the north Atlantic Ocean. The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is a scale classifying most Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the levels of tropical depression and tropical storm and thereby become hurricanes. ... Image File history File links Hurricane_Esther. ... September 10 is the 253rd day of the year (254th in leap years). ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... September 27 is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 95 days remaining. ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... Miles per hour is a unit of speed, expressing the number of international miles covered per hour. ... Kilometre per hour (American spelling: kilometer per hour) is a unit of both speed (scalar) and velocity (vector). ... A millibar (mbar, also mb) is 1/1000th of a bar, a unit for measurement of pressure. ... HPA means Physiology Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis: The hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal glands work together to regulate hormone levels and maintain homeostasis. ... The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States. ... Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Area  Ranked 28th  - Total 53,865 sq mi (139,509 km²)  - Width 500 miles (805 km)  - Length 150 miles (240 km)  - % water 9. ... Official language(s) English Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Area  Ranked 35th  - Total 42,793 sq mi (110,862 km²)  - Width 200 miles (320 km)  - Length 430 miles (690 km)  - % water 7. ... Official language(s) None (English, de-facto) Capital Annapolis Largest city Baltimore Area  Ranked 42nd  - Total 12,417 sq mi (32,160 km²)  - Width 90 miles (145 km)  - Length 249 miles (400 km)  - % water 21  - Latitude 37°53N to 39°43N  - Longitude 75°4W to 79°33... Official language(s) None Capital Dover Largest city Wilmington Area  Ranked 49th  - Total 2,491 sq mi (6,452 km²)  - Width 30 miles (48 km)  - Length 100 miles (161 km)  - % water 21. ... Official language(s) None, English de facto Capital Trenton Largest city Newark Area  Ranked 47th  - Total 8,729 sq mi (22,608 km²)  - Width 70 miles (110 km)  - Length 150 miles (240 km)  - % water 14. ... Mercator projection of Long Island Long Island is an island in New York, USA. At 1,377 square miles (3567 km²) and is home to 7. ... This article is about the region in the United States of America. ... ... ... The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is a scale classifying most Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the levels of tropical depression and tropical storm and thereby become hurricanes. ... Hurricane Ivan, a category 5 Cape Verde-type hurricane A Cape Verde-type hurricane is an Atlantic hurricane that develops near the Cape Verde islands, off the west coast of Africa. ... Regional definitions vary from source to source. ... This article is about the region in the United States of America. ... Nantucket is an island south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, formed of glacial moraine. ... Official language(s) None Capital Augusta Largest city Portland Area  - Total   - Width   - Length    - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 39th 33,414 sq mi  86,542 km² 190 miles  305 km 320 miles  515 km 13. ...

The hurricane caused $6 million (1961 USD, $37.4 million 2005 USD) in damage along the Eastern Seaboard, mostly on Long Island. Seven indirect deaths were also attributed to Esther after a Navy aircraft crashed in the Atlantic Ocean north of Bermuda, one of only a few documented occurrences of a tropical cyclone causing an airplane crash. This article is about general United States currency. ... Categories: US geography stubs ... Mercator projection of Long Island Long Island is an island in New York, USA. At 1,377 square miles (3567 km²) and is home to 7. ... The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations. ... Cyclone Catarina, a rare South Atlantic tropical cyclone viewed from the International Space Station on March 26, 2004. ...

Esther was also one of the first storms targeted by a Navy experiment aimed at weakening hurricanes by seeding their eyewalls with silver iodide. Two flights were made into the storm, and the results of this expedition led to the establishment of the ill-fated Project Stormfury in 1962. Eye of Category 4 Hurricane Isabel seen from the International Space Station on September 15, 2003 The eye is a region of mostly calm weather found at the center of strong tropical cyclones. ... Silver iodide (chemical symbol: AgI) is a chemical compound used in photography and cloud seeding. ... Project Stormfury was an attempt to weaken hurricanes by using cloud seeding in the eyewall of these storms. ...

Storm history

Storm path

On September 10, 1961, a tropical wave in the tropics over the central Atlantic was identified by satellite imagery as a potential area for tropical cyclone development. This wave gradually increased in organization, and developed into a tropical depression on September 11. The depression moved northwestward into a region were conditions for development were favorable and began to rapidly intensify, becoming Tropical Storm Esther the next day.^[1] Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x896, 295 KB) Summary Hurricane Esther (1961) track. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x896, 295 KB) Summary Hurricane Esther (1961) track. ... September 10 is the 253rd day of the year (254th in leap years). ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... Tropical waves, also known as easterly waves, are elongated areas of relatively low air pressure, oriented north to south, causing areas of cloudiness and thunderstorms. ... Satellite imagery consists of photographs of Earth or other planets made from artificial satellites. ... September 11 is the 254th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (255th in leap years). ...

Intensification within the tropical storm continued at a quick pace, and Esther reached hurricane strength early on September 12.^[1] Esther then turned westward in response to a high pressure ridge over the central Atlantic, becoming a major hurricane on September 13.^[2] For the next four days, Esther intensified more slowly as it moved west-northwestward, reaching its peak intensity of 145 mph (235 km/h) on September 18 as it approached the Eastern Seaboard.^[1] September 12 is the 255th day of the year (256th in leap years). ... A ridge is an elongated region of relatively high atmospheric pressure, the opposite of a trough. ... September 13 is the 256th day of the year (257th in leap years). ... September 18 is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years). ... Regional definitions vary from source to source. ...

In response to an oncoming trough, the hurricane turned northwest, then northward, threatening the New England states and gradually weakening over increasingly cooler waters. Esther brushed Nantucket Island on September 21 before performing an anticyclonic loop to the southeast, rapidly weakening to a tropical storm as it moved over the cold waters of the north Atlantic.^[2] Another trough pulled Esther to the northwest, then to the north as the storm made its second and final landfall in southern Maine on September 26. Esther became extratropical the next day as it raced northward over Maine, and was absorbed by a larger extratropical low near the mouth of the St. Lawrence River later that day.^[3] A trough is an elongated region of relatively low atmospheric pressure, often associated with fronts. ... This article is about the region in the United States of America. ... Nantucket is an island south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, formed of glacial moraine. ... September 21 is the 264th day of the year (265th in leap years). ... In meteorology, an anticyclone (i. ... Official language(s) None Capital Augusta Largest city Portland Area  - Total   - Width   - Length    - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 39th 33,414 sq mi  86,542 km² 190 miles  305 km 320 miles  515 km 13. ... September 26 is the 269th day of the year (270th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 96 days remaining. ... Extratropical cyclones lie somewhere in between tropical cyclones and mid-latitude cyclones, drawing a portion of their energy through the evaporation and condensation of ocean water, and some through horizontal temperature gradients in the atmosphere. ... The Saint Lawrence River (French fleuve Saint-Laurent) is a large west-to-east flowing river in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. ...

Preparations

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's Norfolk bureau as "the most thorough ever seen" at the time.^[4] September 19 is the 262nd day of the year (263rd in leap years). ... The National Weather Service (NWS) is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the United States government. ...

The National Weather Service, in anticipation of a possible landfall in the Carolinas, issued a gale warning and a hurricane watch from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to Norfolk, Virginia on September 18 (tropical storm warnings were not issued at the time).^[5] A 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. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Severe weather terminology. ... See Severe weather terminology for a comprehensive article on this term and related weather terms. ... Location Location of Myrtle Beach in South Carolina Coordinates , Government County Horry Mayor John Rhodes Geographical characteristics Area     City 43. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... September 18 is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years). ... See Severe weather terminology for a comprehensive article on this term and related weather terms. ... Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point is a United States airfield located in Havelock, North Carolina, in the eastern part of the state. ... September 19 is the 262nd day of the year (263rd in leap years). ... September 20 is the 263rd day of the year (264th in leap years). ... Cape May City highlighted in Cape May County. ... September 19 is the 262nd day of the year (263rd in leap years). ... September 20 is the 263rd day of the year (264th in leap years). ...

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.^[6] 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 over Nantucket and weakened to a tropical storm, and all warnings were discontinued on September 22 after the storm moved away from the coast.^[7] 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.^[8] Mercator projection of Long Island Long Island is an island in New York, USA. At 1,377 square miles (3567 km²) and is home to 7. ... Nickname: P-town Settled: 1700 â€“ Incorporated: 1727 Zip Code(s): 02657 â€“ Area Code(s): 508 / 774 Official website: http://www. ... September 20 is the 263rd day of the year (264th in leap years). ... Eastport is a city located in Washington County, Maine. ... September 21 is the 264th day of the year (265th in leap years). ... September 21 is the 264th day of the year (265th in leap years). ... September 22 is the 265th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (266th in leap years). ... September 25 is the 268th day of the year (269th in leap years). ...

Impact

North Carolina and Virginia

In North Carolina, the outer edges of Esther brought sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) with gusts up to 60 mph (95 km/h). A storm surge of 6 feet (1.8 m) was reported in Wilmington, North Carolina. The storm surge caused minor flooding and beach erosion in the Outer Banks.^[4] Property damage was minimal, and the storm's effects in the Wilmington area were compared to those of "a good nor'easter" by the local weather bureau.^[9] Southeastern Virginia experienced storm surge flooding of 2 to 4 ft (0.6 to 1.2 m) above normal, which flooded some coastal highways in the Hampton Roads area. There was some minor beach erosion in the Norfolk area due to turbulent seas.^[4] Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Area  Ranked 28th  - Total 53,865 sq mi (139,509 km²)  - Width 500 miles (805 km)  - Length 150 miles (240 km)  - % water 9. ... ... For other places called Wilmington, see Wilmington Wilmington is a city located in New Hanover County, North Carolina. ... North Carolinas Outer Banks separating the Atlantic Ocean (east) from Albemarle Sound (north) and Pamlico Sound (south). ... Noreaster is a colloquial term for a macro scale storm whose winds come from the northeast, especially in the coastal areas of the Northeastern United States and Atlantic Canada. ... Official language(s) English Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Area  Ranked 35th  - Total 42,793 sq mi (110,862 km²)  - Width 200 miles (320 km)  - Length 430 miles (690 km)  - % water 7. ... This article is about a foot as a unit of length. ... The metre, or meter (symbol: m) is the SI base unit of length. ... Hampton Roads, Virginia 1858 Hampton Roads is the name of both a body of water and the land areas which surround it in southeastern Virginia in the United States. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Mid-Atlantic

Rainfall totals from Hurricane Esther.

Esther mainly produced heavy rainfall and gale force wind gusts along the coasts of Maryland and Delaware. These areas also experienced storm surges of 6-7 feet (approximately 2 m) above normal. Wind gusts to 45 mph (70 km/h) were observed at Ocean City, Maryland, and storm surge flooding caused damage to the city's sea wall and boardwalk.^[2] Image File history File links Download high resolution version (880x680, 150 KB) Summary Rainfall totals from Hurricane Esther link:http://www. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (880x680, 150 KB) Summary Rainfall totals from Hurricane Esther link:http://www. ... Official language(s) None (English, de-facto) Capital Annapolis Largest city Baltimore Area  Ranked 42nd  - Total 12,417 sq mi (32,160 km²)  - Width 90 miles (145 km)  - Length 249 miles (400 km)  - % water 21  - Latitude 37°53N to 39°43N  - Longitude 75°4W to 79°33... Official language(s) None Capital Dover Largest city Wilmington Area  Ranked 49th  - Total 2,491 sq mi (6,452 km²)  - Width 30 miles (48 km)  - Length 100 miles (161 km)  - % water 21. ... ... Flag Seal Nickname: The White Marlin Capital of the World Location Location in Maryland Coordinates , Government County Worcester County Founded Incorporated 1875 1880 Mayor Rick Meehan Geographical characteristics Area     City 94. ...

Minor to moderate damage was reported along the New Jersey and New York coasts, with the most extensive damage on Long Island. A wind gust of 69 mph (111 km/h) was reported in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and a gust to 100 mph (160 km/h) was reported at the Fire Island Coast Guard station. These strong winds downed power lines and caused extensive power outages on Long Island, leaving an estimated 280,000 homes without power. Downed power lines and minor flooding also caused public transportation delays on Long Island. Minor flooding was also reported in Queens and Brooklyn.^[2] Official language(s) None, English de facto Capital Trenton Largest city Newark Area  Ranked 47th  - Total 8,729 sq mi (22,608 km²)  - Width 70 miles (110 km)  - Length 150 miles (240 km)  - % water 14. ... Official language(s) None, English de facto Capital Albany Largest city New York City Area  Ranked 27th  - Total 54,520 sq mi (141,205 km²)  - Width 285 miles (455 km)  - Length 330 miles (530 km)  - % water 13. ... Mercator projection of Long Island Long Island is an island in New York, USA. At 1,377 square miles (3567 km²) and is home to 7. ... Flag Seal Location Map of Atlantic City in Atlantic County Coordinates , Government Country  State   County United States  New Jersey   Atlantic Incorporated March 1854 Mayor Bob Levy Geographical characteristics Area     City 44. ... Fire Island There is also a Fire Island, Alaska Fire Island is a barrier island, approximately 30 mi (48 km) long and 0. ... Coast Guard Seal The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is a military branch of the United States involved in maritime law, mariner assistance and search and rescue, among other duties of any coast guard. ... Queens Borough in New York City, in yellow Queens is the largest in area and second most populous of the five boroughs of New York City. ... A map of New York City, highlighting Brooklyn. ...

New England

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 1 inch (25 mm) in southern Maine to around 6 inches (150 mm) in the Boston area.^[2] In all, Esther caused an estimated $6 million (1961 USD, $37.4 million 2005 USD) in damage. Official language(s) English Capital Boston Largest city Boston Area  Ranked 44th  - Total 10,555 sq mi (27,360 km²)  - Width 183 miles (295 km)  - Length 113 miles (182 km)  - % water 13. ... Official language(s) English Capital Concord Largest city Manchester Area  Ranked 46th  - Total 9,359 sq. ... Official language(s) None Capital Augusta Largest city Portland Area  - Total   - Width   - Length    - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 39th 33,414 sq mi  86,542 km² 190 miles  305 km 320 miles  515 km 13. ... Flag Seal Nickname: City on a Hill, Beantown, The Hub of the Universe (The State House, according to Oliver Wendell Holmes, is the hub of the Solar System), Athens of America Location Location in Massachusetts Government Counties Suffolk County Mayor Thomas Menino (Dem) Geographical characteristics Area     City 232. ...

Navy plane crash

While over open waters, Esther caused seven indirect deaths when a Navy P5M aircraft crashed about 120 miles (195 km) north of Bermuda. A merchant ship, the African 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..."^[10] The captain of the Pilot diverted the ship in order to assist the Coast 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. ^[10] The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations. ... US Coast Guard Martin P5M-2G Marlin The Martin P5M Marlin, built by the Glenn L. Martin Company of Middle River, Maryland, was the last flying boat in service with the United States Navy and the US armed forces in general. ... Coast Guard Seal The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is a military branch of the United States involved in maritime law, mariner assistance and search and rescue, among other duties of any coast guard. ...

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 the bomb 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 and perished. The three survivors were then attacked by sharks before being rescued.^[10] A bomb bay is an openable hatch in the floor of a bomber aircraft, that the bombs are dropped through. ...

Lack of retirement

Because the storm damage was not extreme, the name Esther was not retired. However, the name has not been used since, as it was removed when formal hurricane name lists were created in 1970. Because of their long-term persistence, and the need for a unique identifier in issuing forecasts and warnings, tropical cyclones are given names. ...

Project Stormfury

Eye of Hurricane Esther viewed from a Navy plane.

Main article: Project Stormfury

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 (645 km) northeast of Puerto Rico, and began to drop silver iodide crystals into the storm.^[11] 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.^[1] The aircraft returned the next day to seed again, but the seeding canisters fell outside the 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.^[12] Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1800x1225, 956 KB) Summary Eye of Hurricane Esther viewed from Hurricane Hunter Plane. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1800x1225, 956 KB) Summary Eye of Hurricane Esther viewed from Hurricane Hunter Plane. ... Project Stormfury was an attempt to weaken hurricanes by using cloud seeding in the eyewall of these storms. ... September 16 is the 259th day of the year (260th in leap years). ... Silver iodide (chemical symbol: AgI) is a chemical compound used in photography and cloud seeding. ... Eye of Category 4 Hurricane Isabel seen from the International Space Station on September 15, 2003 The eye is a region of mostly calm weather found at the center of strong tropical cyclones. ... Project Stormfury was an attempt to weaken hurricanes by using cloud seeding in the eyewall of these storms. ...

See also

Tropical cyclones Portal

• List of notable tropical cyclones
• List of New England hurricanes

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1000x662, 320 KB) http://eol. ... This is a list of notable tropical cyclones, subdivided by basin and reason for notability. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Notes

2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... July 4 is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 180 days remaining. ... The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a scientific agency of the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 9 is the 160th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (161st in leap years), with 205 days remaining. ... The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a scientific agency of the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 9 is the 160th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (161st in leap years), with 205 days remaining. ... The National Weather Service (NWS) is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the United States government. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 9 is the 160th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (161st in leap years), with 205 days remaining. ... The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a scientific agency of the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... July 3 is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 181 days remaining. ... The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a scientific agency of the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... July 3 is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 181 days remaining. ... The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a scientific agency of the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... July 3 is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 181 days remaining. ... The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a scientific agency of the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... July 3 is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 181 days remaining. ... The National Weather Service (NWS) is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the United States government. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 9 is the 160th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (161st in leap years), with 205 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 10 is the 130th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (131st in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... July 4 is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 180 days remaining. ... USA Today is a national American newspaper published by the Gannett Corporation. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 10 is the 130th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (131st in leap years). ...

External links

• NHC Preliminary Storm Report
• BBC Weather: Can hurricanes be stopped?
• Hurricane Esther
• Inside Hurricane Esther (NOAA Photo 1)
• Inside Hurricane Esther (NOAA Photo 2)
• Inside Hurricane Esther (NOAA Photo 3)
• Inside Hurricane Esther (NOAA Photo 4)