NHC AL051961 · Atlantic basin
Hurricane Esther (1961)
September 10, 1961 – September 27, 1961
Hurricane Esther peaked at Category 5 with 161 mph sustained winds and passed within 75 miles of 517 US cities, 41 of them while still at hurricane strength.
- Peak strength
- Category 5
- Cities within 75 mi
- 517
- At hurricane strength
- 41
- States
- 6
161 mph
when closest
Cities Esther passed near, strongest first
Massachusetts (229)
- DennisTropical storm · overhead
- South YarmouthTropical storm · overhead
- West YarmouthTropical storm · 1 mi
- Yarmouth PortTropical storm · 1 mi
- South DennisTropical storm · 2 mi
- Dennis PortTropical storm · 4 mi
- HyannisTropical storm · 4 mi
- BarnstableTropical storm · 5 mi
- BrewsterTropical storm · 6 mi
- CentervilleTropical storm · 7 mi
- HarwichTropical storm · 7 mi
- OstervilleTropical storm · 9 mi
- West BarnstableTropical storm · 9 mi
- Marstons MillsTropical storm · 11 mi
- NantucketTropical storm · 11 mi
- CotuitTropical storm · 11 mi
- ChathamTropical storm · 12 mi
- EdgartownTropical storm · 12 mi
- East SandwichTropical storm · 12 mi
- MashpeeTropical storm · 14 mi
- SandwichTropical storm · 15 mi
- ForestdaleTropical storm · 16 mi
- East FalmouthTropical storm · 17 mi
- Sagamore BeachTropical storm · 17 mi
- Vineyard HavenTropical storm · 18 mi
- FalmouthTropical storm · 20 mi
- West TisburyTropical storm · 20 mi
- BourneTropical storm · 21 mi
- PocassetTropical storm · 21 mi
- North FalmouthTropical storm · 21 mi
- ChilmarkTropical storm · 24 mi
- East WarehamTropical storm · 24 mi
- WarehamTropical storm · 27 mi
- MarionTropical storm · 28 mi
- West WarehamTropical storm · 29 mi
- MattapoisettTropical storm · 30 mi
- RochesterTropical storm · 33 mi
- FairhavenTropical storm · 34 mi
- AcushnetTropical storm · 36 mi
- New BedfordTropical storm · 37 mi
- South DartmouthTropical storm · 37 mi
- East FreetownTropical storm · 39 mi
- DartmouthTropical storm · 39 mi
- WestportTropical storm · 44 mi
- AssonetTropical storm · 45 mi
- BerkleyTropical storm · 46 mi
- Fall RiverTropical storm · 48 mi
- DightonTropical storm · 49 mi
- SomersetTropical storm · 49 mi
- SwanseaTropical storm · 52 mi
- RehobothTropical storm · 55 mi
- SeekonkTropical storm · 59 mi
- EasthamTropical storm · 10 mi
- OrleansTropical storm · 11 mi
- PlymouthTropical storm · 23 mi
- CarverTropical storm · 30 mi
- MiddleboroTropical storm · 37 mi
- LakevilleTropical storm · 40 mi
- East TauntonTropical storm · 43 mi
- RaynhamTropical storm · 45 mi
and 169 more
Maine (138)
- Cape NeddickTropical storm · 32 mi
- YorkTropical storm · 33 mi
- KitteryTropical storm · 37 mi
- EliotTropical storm · 40 mi
- WellsTropical storm · 32 mi
- North BerwickTropical storm · 40 mi
- South BerwickTropical storm · 40 mi
- BerwickTropical storm · 44 mi
- BiddefordTropical storm · 26 mi
- ArundelTropical storm · 26 mi
- KennebunkTropical storm · 29 mi
- AlfredTropical storm · 37 mi
- SanfordTropical storm · 40 mi
- SpringvaleTropical storm · 43 mi
- LebanonTropical storm · 48 mi
- Cape ElizabethTropical storm · 15 mi
- ScarboroughTropical storm · 21 mi
- Old Orchard BeachTropical storm · 22 mi
- SacoTropical storm · 26 mi
- Hollis CenterTropical storm · 35 mi
- East WaterboroTropical storm · 37 mi
- North WaterboroTropical storm · 40 mi
- WaterboroTropical storm · 41 mi
- ShapleighTropical storm · 45 mi
- ActonTropical storm · 50 mi
- South PortlandTropical storm · 17 mi
- FalmouthTropical storm · 17 mi
- PortlandTropical storm · 18 mi
- WestbrookTropical storm · 22 mi
- GorhamTropical storm · 27 mi
- BuxtonTropical storm · 33 mi
- StandishTropical storm · 33 mi
- Steep FallsTropical storm · 36 mi
- LimingtonTropical storm · 39 mi
- LimerickTropical storm · 42 mi
- BathTropical storm · overhead
- WoolwichTropical storm · 2 mi
- GardinerTropical storm · 3 mi
- HarpswellTropical storm · 3 mi
- RichmondTropical storm · 3 mi
- FarmingdaleTropical storm · 3 mi
- HallowellTropical storm · 3 mi
- BowdoinhamTropical storm · 4 mi
- BrunswickTropical storm · 5 mi
- WiscassetTropical storm · 6 mi
- TopshamTropical storm · 6 mi
- ManchesterTropical storm · 7 mi
- WhitefieldTropical storm · 8 mi
- LitchfieldTropical storm · 8 mi
- BowdoinTropical storm · 9 mi
- FreeportTropical storm · 11 mi
- WinthropTropical storm · 11 mi
- MonmouthTropical storm · 12 mi
- Lisbon FallsTropical storm · 12 mi
- JeffersonTropical storm · 13 mi
- YarmouthTropical storm · 14 mi
- DurhamTropical storm · 14 mi
- SabattusTropical storm · 15 mi
- DamariscottaTropical storm · 15 mi
- LisbonTropical storm · 15 mi
and 78 more
New Hampshire (74)
- SalemTropical storm · 59 mi
- WindhamTropical storm · 63 mi
- PelhamTropical storm · 64 mi
- HudsonTropical storm · 69 mi
- LitchfieldTropical storm · 71 mi
- NashuaTropical storm · 72 mi
- MerrimackTropical storm · 74 mi
- HamptonTropical storm · 40 mi
- SeabrookTropical storm · 41 mi
- Hampton FallsTropical storm · 43 mi
- South HamptonTropical storm · 48 mi
- NewtonTropical storm · 51 mi
- KingstonTropical storm · 52 mi
- PlaistowTropical storm · 53 mi
- East HampsteadTropical storm · 55 mi
- DanvilleTropical storm · 55 mi
- AtkinsonTropical storm · 57 mi
- HampsteadTropical storm · 58 mi
- SandownTropical storm · 58 mi
- ChesterTropical storm · 61 mi
- DerryTropical storm · 64 mi
- LondonderryTropical storm · 68 mi
- ManchesterTropical storm · 72 mi
- RyeTropical storm · 38 mi
- PortsmouthTropical storm · 39 mi
- North HamptonTropical storm · 41 mi
- GreenlandTropical storm · 42 mi
- StrathamTropical storm · 45 mi
- NewmarketTropical storm · 47 mi
- NewfieldsTropical storm · 47 mi
- ExeterTropical storm · 48 mi
- LeeTropical storm · 51 mi
- EppingTropical storm · 53 mi
- FremontTropical storm · 56 mi
- RaymondTropical storm · 60 mi
- CandiaTropical storm · 65 mi
- AuburnTropical storm · 67 mi
- HooksettTropical storm · 72 mi
- RollinsfordTropical storm · 43 mi
- DoverTropical storm · 45 mi
- MadburyTropical storm · 47 mi
- DurhamTropical storm · 48 mi
- BarringtonTropical storm · 53 mi
- NottinghamTropical storm · 56 mi
- StraffordTropical storm · 60 mi
- NorthwoodTropical storm · 61 mi
- DeerfieldTropical storm · 63 mi
- EpsomTropical storm · 69 mi
- ChichesterTropical storm · 71 mi
- PembrokeTropical storm · 72 mi
- SomersworthTropical storm · 45 mi
- RochesterTropical storm · 51 mi
- Center BarnsteadTropical storm · 63 mi
- PittsfieldTropical storm · 68 mi
- LoudonTropical storm · 74 mi
- MiltonTropical storm · 53 mi
- UnionTropical storm · 54 mi
- FarmingtonTropical storm · 55 mi
- New DurhamTropical storm · 60 mi
- AltonTropical storm · 64 mi
and 14 more
Rhode Island (44)
- NarragansettCategory 1 · 58 mi
- WakefieldCategory 1 · 59 mi
- CharlestownCategory 1 · 61 mi
- KingstonCategory 1 · 63 mi
- WesterlyCategory 1 · 64 mi
- BradfordCategory 1 · 65 mi
- West KingstonCategory 1 · 66 mi
- AshawayCategory 1 · 67 mi
- Hope ValleyCategory 1 · 70 mi
- Little ComptonTropical storm · 47 mi
- TivertonTropical storm · 49 mi
- PortsmouthTropical storm · 53 mi
- MiddletownTropical storm · 53 mi
- NewportTropical storm · 54 mi
- BristolTropical storm · 54 mi
- WarrenTropical storm · 55 mi
- JamestownTropical storm · 57 mi
- BarringtonTropical storm · 57 mi
- RiversideTropical storm · 59 mi
- RumfordTropical storm · 60 mi
- East ProvidenceTropical storm · 61 mi
- SaunderstownTropical storm · 62 mi
- WarwickTropical storm · 62 mi
- North KingstownTropical storm · 62 mi
- ProvidenceTropical storm · 64 mi
- East GreenwichTropical storm · 64 mi
- CranstonTropical storm · 65 mi
- North ProvidenceTropical storm · 66 mi
- West WarwickTropical storm · 67 mi
- JohnstonTropical storm · 67 mi
- CoventryTropical storm · 70 mi
- ExeterTropical storm · 70 mi
- HopeTropical storm · 70 mi
- GreenvilleTropical storm · 70 mi
- West GreenwichTropical storm · 74 mi
- North ScituateTropical storm · 74 mi
- PawtucketTropical storm · 61 mi
- Central FallsTropical storm · 62 mi
- CumberlandTropical storm · 64 mi
- LincolnTropical storm · 64 mi
- ManvilleTropical storm · 67 mi
- SmithfieldTropical storm · 69 mi
- WoonsocketTropical storm · 69 mi
- North SmithfieldTropical storm · 71 mi
New York (23)
- Mastic BeachCategory 1 · 75 mi
- MontaukCategory 1 · 50 mi
- East HamptonCategory 1 · 54 mi
- Water MillCategory 1 · 57 mi
- SouthamptonCategory 1 · 59 mi
- Sag HarborCategory 1 · 59 mi
- Hampton BaysCategory 1 · 63 mi
- Shelter IslandCategory 1 · 63 mi
- East QuogueCategory 1 · 64 mi
- Westhampton BeachCategory 1 · 66 mi
- SoutholdCategory 1 · 66 mi
- CutchogueCategory 1 · 66 mi
- GreenportCategory 1 · 66 mi
- MattituckCategory 1 · 68 mi
- WesthamptonCategory 1 · 68 mi
- IslandiaCategory 1 · 69 mi
- RiverheadCategory 1 · 70 mi
- EastportCategory 1 · 70 mi
- East MorichesCategory 1 · 71 mi
- Center MorichesCategory 1 · 73 mi
- MorichesCategory 1 · 74 mi
- CalvertonCategory 1 · 75 mi
- ManorvilleCategory 1 · 75 mi
Connecticut (9)
- PawcatuckCategory 1 · 66 mi
- StoningtonCategory 1 · 67 mi
- MysticCategory 1 · 69 mi
- GrotonCategory 1 · 70 mi
- North StoningtonCategory 1 · 71 mi
- New LondonCategory 1 · 72 mi
- WaterfordCategory 1 · 73 mi
- NianticCategory 1 · 73 mi
- LedyardCategory 1 · 74 mi
About this record
The track is the National Hurricane Center's best-track record, revised after the season with every observation available. Strength at a city is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, not the wind that city measured.