Typhoon Hester (1952)

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale

Map key

Saffir–Simpson scale

  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown

Storm type

Tropical cyclone

Subtropical cyclone

Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

Hester was first tracked by the JTWC and the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) at 1800 UTC of December 27, 1952.[1] According to JTWC, the storm was located southeast of Majuro,[2] and had winds of 100 km/h (60 mph).[1] JMA located the storm south of Ebeye, as a tropical depression with a surface pressure of 1,000 hectopascals (30 inHg), and upgraded it to a tropical storm six hours later at 0000 UTC of December 28.[3] JTWC upgraded the storm to a typhoon at the same time, with winds of 75 mph (120 km/h). On the next day, Hester strengthened to 90 mph (145 km/h) west of Marshall Islands. The storm began to rapidly intensify, as it moved north of the Caroline Islands. At 0000 UTC of December 30, Hester became a Category 5 typhoon on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale, with winds up to 160 mph (255 km/h).[1] It soon peaked in intensity on the next day at 1200 UTC, just south of the Mariana Islands. The storm had winds at 185 mph (295 km/h) and began to turn northwest.[2][1] On New Year's Day, the JMA recorded Hester's lowest pressure of 950 hPa (28 inHg).[3]

Hester began to weaken later that day, with winds down to 170 mph (275 km/h). By 0600 UTC of January 2, the winds lowered down to 150 mph (240 km/h), equivalent of a Category 4 typhoon.[1] Hester began to curve eastward and weaken rapidly.[2] On January 3, Hester continued to weaken to 110 mph (175 km/h), and eighteen hours later, it was down to 80 mph (130 km/h). It soon became a tropical storm on January 4, and soon dropped to a tropical depression later that day.[1] JTWC ceased tracking the storm near Minami-Tori-shima.[2] JMA downgraded the system to a tropical depression at 1200 UTC of January 5, and declared it extratropical twelve hours later. At 0600 UTC of January 6, JMA stopped tracking the cyclone northeast of Wake Island.[2][3]

Enewetak Atoll in the 1950s

In Guam, underground shelters were open to residents, and hospitals were evacuated by December 31. All government offices and businesses were closed on the island. Roadblocks were placed by the police to keep vehicles off the road. A gale alert was issued for the Mariana Islands.[4] Due to the storm, a Pan American flight flew directly from Wake Island to Manila instead of stopping at Guam.[5] Four days later, shipping was warned for the area southeast of Formosa, as Hester approached the area.[6]

The northwest quadrant of Hester passed over Enewetak at 5:13 p.m in Marshall Islands Time (5:13 a.m UTC) on December 28, 1952. The United States Navy estimated that Hester generated winds around 70 mph (110 km/h), and generated waves up to 30 feet (9.1 m) high on Enewetak. There were no direct reports on the island, where it was mostly underwater when the storm passed it. The hospital, mess halls, and clubs were damaged by the winds. Tents on the island were also destroyed.[7] A Coast Guard LORAN station on the island suffered extensive damage.[8] Overall, eighteen people were injured on Enewetak, and there were no fatalities.[9] The nearby atoll of Ujelang, received stronger winds than Enewetak, as it was closer to the center of Hester.[7] Hester passed south of Guam by 130 miles (210 km), and no damage to military facilities were reported.[8] Storm surge reached 200 feet (61 m) inland, to about 10 feet (3.0 m) above sea level.[10] The only damage reported were crops being lashed by the waves on the south side of the island,[8] and a new section of highway near Ylig River was washed away. Two shore wave recorders installed by the University of California, Berkeley, located in Tarague Beach and Ylig River, were destroyed.[10] There were no casualties on the island.[8]

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• Moore, Frank; Moore, Bill (January 9, 1953). "With a Grain of Salt". Redlands Daily Facts. Redlands, California. Redlands Daily Facts. p. 8. Retrieved November 20, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.