New Storm Moves Towards U.S.

Press, Volume C, Issue 29623, 20 September 1961, Page 15

New Storm Moves Towards U.S.

(N'Z Press Association—Copyright) MIAMI (Florida), September 19. A severe tropical storm, “Esther,” whirled towards the North Carolina coast today. The United Stales Weather Bureau said it might be issuing hurricane warnings for that area bv noon todav.

The big and dangerous storm, with winds up to 150 miles an hour near the centre and hurricane force wind--74 miles an hour or moreextending 280 miles around it, was moving on a northwest course at 15 miles an hour. The forward speed bad dropped slightly from the 16 miles an hour reported yes-

terday. Early this morning, the giant storm was about 460 miles south-east of Cape Hatteras. North Carolina, and 600 miles due east of Jacksonville Florida The Georgia and Florida coasts were clear of the storm but residents from Savannah. Georgia, northward were told to listen for future weather bulletins The Weather Bureau said indications were the storm would continue on its present path for the next few hours with no important

changes in size or direction

Persons in fie path of the storm already were taking precautions. The United States Navy sent 240 aircraft to inland fields and a number of ships left Norfolk. Virginia, as precautionary measures.

The aircraft carriers Randolph, Wasp, and Valley Forge put to sea and other naval vessels headed for anchorage in Chesapeake Bay to escape the fury of the winds Two "Texas towers" off the New England coast were evacuated in the possibility that the storm might lash that area The towers are radar stations that form part of the United States-Canadian defence warning system. The towers are on shoals 80 to 100 miles offshore. A similar tower off the New Jersey coast collapsed during a storm last January with a loss of 28 lives.