{{Short description|none}} [[File:The Super Outbreak of 2011 (50700830202).jpg|thumb|The extratropical cyclone that produced the 2011 Super Outbreak, the largest and deadliest tornado outbreak of 2011.]] [[File:Water distribution in Horn of Africa.jpg|right|thumb|Water distribution in southern Ethiopia, amid the East Africa drought that killed over 50,000 people]] The following is a list of weather events that occurred in 2011. The year began with La Niña conditions. There were several natural disasters around the world from various types of weather, including blizzards, cold waves, droughts, heat waves, tornadoes, and tropical cyclones.
==Global conditions== There was a strong La Niña event that began in 2010, and continued into 2012, which affected global weather conditions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wmo.int/news/media-centre/la-nina-has-developed|title=La Niña has developed|date=October 29, 2020|website=World Meteorological Organization}}</ref> The year was the second-wettest on record, only behind 2010, although some areas, such as the Horn of Africa, were drier than normal. The increased precipitation caused global sea level to drop by {{convert|5|mm|in|abbr=on}}. The global land temperature was the 8th warmest on record at the time, 0.8 °C (1.49 °F) above the 20th century average, and was also the warmest ever during a La Niña event.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Monthly Climate Reports {{!}} National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) | url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/global/201113 | access-date=2025-08-17 | website=www.ncei.noaa.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://phys.org/news/2012-10-la-nina-global-sea.html|title=La Nina caused global sea level drop|website=phys.org}}</ref>
== Deadliest events == {| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;" |+ Deadliest meteorological events during 2011 |- ! scope="col" style="width:2%; text-align:center;"| Rank ! scope="col" text-align:center;"| Event ! scope="col" text-align:center;"| Date(s) ! scope="col" text-align:center;"| Deaths (+Missing) ! scope="col" style="width:2%; text-align:center;"| Refs |- | style="background:#DDDDFF" |1 | East Africa drought | July 2011 – 2012 | 50,000+ | <ref name="eaf">{{cite news|title=East Africa's drought: the avoidable disaster|date=January 18, 2011|accessdate=July 25, 2023|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jan/18/east-africa-drought-disaster-report|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> |- | style="background:#DDDDFF" |2 | Tropical Storm Washi | December 13–19 | 1,257 | <ref name="phil"/> |- | style="background:#DDDDFF" |3 | 2011 Super Outbreak | April 25–28 | 324 | <ref name="events"/> |- | style="background:#DDDDFF" |4 | Deep Depression BOB 04 | October 19–20 | 215 | <ref name="mya"/> |- | style="background:#DDDDFF" |5 | Tornado outbreak sequence of May 21–26, 2011 | May 21–26 | 178 | <ref name="events"/> |- | style="background:#DDDDFF" |6 | | | | |- | style="background:#DDDDFF" |7 | | | | |- | style="background:#DDDDFF" |8 | | | | |- | style="background:#DDDDFF" |9 | | | | |- | style="background:#DDDDFF" |10 | | | | |- |}
==Types== The following listed different types of special weather conditions worldwide.
===Droughts and heat waves=== The deadliest weather event of the year was the East African drought, with the resulting food shortages and famine killing more than 50,000 people, many of them children.<ref name="eaf"/> From March to August, a heat wave and drought persisted across much of the central United States, causing US$12 billion in damage and 95 deaths.<ref name="events"/> <div style="clear:both;"></div>
===Tornadoes=== [[File:Joplin_2011_tornado_damage.jpg|right|thumb|Aerial footage after the EF5 Joplin, Missouri tornado, which became the deadliest single tornado in more than 61 years]] {{main|Tornadoes of 2011}} Throughout the year, there were 1,706 tornadoes in the United States, the third-highest on record. There were 553 deaths from tornadoes, making it the deadliest year for tornadoes in the country since modern records began in 1950.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Monthly Climate Reports {{!}} National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) | url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/tornadoes/202213 | access-date=2025-08-17 | website=www.ncei.noaa.gov}}</ref> In late April, the U.S. experienced its most substantial tornado outbreak on record, with 360 confirmed tornadoes, including four EF5 tornadoes. The event resulted in 324 fatalities and US$10.2 billion in damage.<ref name="events"/> A month later, an EF5 tornado hit Joplin, Missouri, killing 158 people, making it the deadliest tornado since 1950.<ref name="events"/> <div style="clear:both;"></div>
===Tropical and subtropical cyclones=== [[File:Sendon Memorial.jpg|right|thumb|A memorial in the Philippines to commemorate the deadly flooding from Tropical Storm Washi, known locally as Sendong]] {{see also|Tropical cyclones in 2011}} The Japan Meteorological Agency tracked 21 tropical storms in the western Pacific during the year, making it the fourth-quietest season since accurate records began in 1951. Of these, eight attained typhoon status, the strongest of which, Songda, attained 10 minute sustained winds of 195 km/h (120 mph) and a minimum pressure of {{convert|920|hPa|inHg}}. The first named storm, Aere, was named on May 7, while the final, Tropical Storm Washi, dissipated on December 19, days after causing damaging and deadly floods in the Philippines. Washi, known locally as Sendong, killed at least 1,257 people in the Philippines.<ref name="wmo">{{Cite web| title=Summary of the 2011 typhoon season | url=https://www.typhooncommittee.org/44th/Docs/item4_teco/item%204.1%20RSMC/4.1%20add2%20Review%202011%20Typhoon%20Season-RSMC.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826161805/http://www.typhooncommittee.org/44th/Docs/item4_teco/item%204.1%20RSMC/4.1%20add2%20Review%202011%20Typhoon%20Season-RSMC.pdf | archive-date=2014-08-26}}</ref><ref name="phil"/> The National Hurricane Center followed 19 tropical storms in the Atlantic Ocean, 10 becoming hurricanes, as well as 11 tropical storms in the eastern Pacific Ocean, 7 becoming hurricanes. In July, Hurricane Dora became the year's strongest tropical cyclone in the western hemisphere, with 1 minute sustained winds of 250 km/h (155 mph). Hurricane Irene was the year's costliest and deadliest for the Atlantic Ocean, killing 48 people and leaving US$13.5 billion in damage as it moved from the Caribbean up the East Coast of the United States.<ref>{{cite report|title=2011 Atlantic Basin Tropical Cyclones|date=January 26, 2012|url=https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/summary_atlc_2011.pdf|format=PDF|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=July 25, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite report|title=2011 Eastern North Pacific Basin Tropical Cyclones|date=February 3, 2012|url=https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/summary_epac_2011.pdf|format=PDF|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=July 25, 2023}}</ref><ref name="itcr"/> In October, the North Indian Ocean spawned its first cyclonic storm, Keila offshore Oman. The only other cyclonic storm, Thane, struck southeastern India in December.<ref name="imd"/> Outside of the official tropical cyclone basins, there was also an unusual system in the Mediterranean, Tropical Storm Rolf, which struck southern France.<ref name="October surprise"/>
===Wildfires=== Amid widespread drought conditions, there were widespread wildfires across the southern and southwestern United States from June to November, causing US$1.8 billion in damage and five deaths.<ref name="events"/>
==Timeline== This is a timeline of deadly weather events during 2011.
===January=== ===February=== *February 1–3 – The Groundhog Day blizzard killed 36 people across the central and northeastern United States, with damage estimated at US$1.8 billion.<Ref name="events"/> *February 9–19 – Cyclone Bingiza struck Madagascar in three different locations, dropping heavy rainfall across the island which caused 34 fatailties.<ref>{{cite news|title=First trip to Madagascar for ShelterBox following Cyclone Bingiza|at=ReliefWeb|work=ShelterBox|date=March 3, 2011|accessdate=July 25, 2023|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/madagascar/first-trip-madagascar-shelterbox-following-cyclone-bingiza}}</ref>
===March=== ===April=== *April–May – Floods along the Mississippi River killed nine people and left US$3 billion in damage.<ref name="events"/> *April 4–5 – A derecho and tornado outbreak across the southeastern United States killed nine people and left US$2.8 billion in damage.<Ref name="events"/> *April 14–16 – A tornado outbreak swept across the central United States, with 178 confirmed tornadoes; there were 38 deaths and US$2.1 billion related to the event.<Ref name="events"/> *April 25–28 – A widespread and deadly tornado outbreak affected much of the eastern United States, with more than 343 tornadoes confirmed, resulting in 324 fatalities and US$10.2 billion in damage. It was the largest tornado outbreak on record in the United States.<ref name="events"/>
===May=== *May–June – Floods along the Missouri River, related to melted snowpack, killed five people and left US$2 billion in damage.<ref name="events"/> *May 5–12 – Tropical Storm Aere dropped heavy rainfall in the eastern Philippines, killing 35 people.<Ref name="phil"/> *May 19–29 – Typhoon Songda brushed the eastern Philippines, causing four fatalities.<ref name="phil"/> *May 22–27 – A tornado outbreak across the central United States spawned 180 tornadoes, resulting in US$9.1 billion in damage and 178 deaths. Among the tornadoes was an EF5 tornado that struck Joplin, Missouri, which killed 158 people, making it the deadliest tornado in the country since 1947, as well as the costliest single tornado in the country.<ref name="events"/>
===June=== *June 1 – A rare tornado outbreak impacted New England, particularly in Massachusetts where an intense and long track tornado killed 3. *June 8–11 – Tropical Storm Sarika developed west of the Philippines and moved into southeastern China, killing nine people.<ref>{{cite news|title='Dodong' brings floods; death toll: 9|newspaper=The Philippine Daily News|date=June 10, 2011|accessdate=July 24, 2023|url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/13620/%E2%80%98dodong%E2%80%99-brings-floods-death-toll-9| first = Leila B. | last = Salaverria}}</ref> *June 16–22 – A deep depression hit eastern India, causing 12 fatalities, with hundreds of houses collapsed due to heavy rains.<ref name="imd">{{cite report|title=WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones Annual Review 2011|publisher=India Meteorological Department|accessdate=July 25, 2023|editor=B.K. Bandyopadhyay|url=https://rsmcnewdelhi.imd.gov.in/report.php?internal_menu=Mjk=}}</ref> *June 18–22 – A tornado outbreak across the central United States resulted in US$1.5 billion in damage and three deaths.<ref name="events"/> *June 19–22 – Hurricane Beatriz killed four people when it hit southern Mexico.<ref>{{cite report|url=https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/EP022011_Beatriz.pdf|title=Hurricane Beatriz Tropical Cyclone Report|publisher=National Hurricane Center|date=October 27, 2011|access-date=July 18, 2023|first=Todd B. | last =Kimberlain}}</ref> *June 20–27 – Tropical Storm Meari moved from the Philippine Sea to the East China Sea, with 12 fatalities in the Philippines.<ref name="phil"/> *June 28–July 1 – Tropical Storm Arlene struck the gulf coast of Mexico, killing 22 people.<ref>{{cite report|url={{NHC TCR url|id=AL012011_Arlene}}|title=Tropical Storm Arlene Tropical Cyclone Report|publisher=National Hurricane Center|access-date=July 7, 2023|last=Beven | first = John}}</ref>
===July=== *July 10–11 – A derecho moved across the central United States, killing two people and leaving US$1.2 billion in damage.<ref name="events"/> *July 24–31 – Tropical Storm Nock-ten hit the Philippines, China, and later Vietnam, resulting in at least 77 fatalities along its path.<ref name="phil"/> *July 27–August 9 – Typhoon Muifa moved across the western Pacific, eventually striking near the border of China and North Korea; it killed eight people in the Philippines.<Ref name="phil"/>
===August=== *August 2–7 – While Tropical Storm Emily moved through the Caribbean, a man died from electrocution related to a downed wire.<ref>{{cite report|url={{NHC TCR url|id=AL052011_Emily}}|title=Tropical Cyclone Report Tropical Storm Emily (AL052011): 2–7 August 2011|last1=Kimberlain|first1=Todd B|last2=Cangialosi|first2=John P.|date=2012-01-13|publisher=National Hurricane Center|issue=|doi=|volume=|pmid=|access-date=July 7, 2023|format=PDF}}</ref> *August 19–22 – Tropical Storm Harvey struck Belize and Mexico, killing five people in the latter country.<ref>{{cite report|first=Eric S. | last = Blake|date=November 30, 2011|title=Tropical Storm Harvey Tropical Cyclone Report|access-date=July 7, 2023|url={{NHC TCR url|id=AL082011_Harvey}}|format=PDF|publisher=National Hurricane Center}}</ref> *August 21–28 – Hurricane Irene moved through the Caribbean and up the East Coast of the United States, killing 48 people and leaving US$13.5 billion in damage.<ref name="itcr">{{cite report|last1=Avila | first1 = Lixion A.| last2=Cangialosi | first2 = John|date=December 14, 2011|title=Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Irene: August 21 – 28, 2011|publisher=United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service|format=PDF|work=National Hurricane Center|access-date=July 19, 2015|url={{NHC TCR url|id=AL092011_Irene}}|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518194722/https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/AL092011_Irene.pdf|archive-date=May 18, 2024}}</ref><ref name="Costliest TC's">{{cite report|archive-date=January 27, 2018|url-status=live|date=January 12, 2018|title=Costliest U.S. tropical cyclones tables update|access-date=January 12, 2018|publisher=United States National Hurricane Center|url=https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/news/UpdatedCostliest.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127083930/https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/news/UpdatedCostliest.pdf|df=mdy-all}}</ref> *August 21–31 – Typhoon Nanmadol brushed the northern Philippines before striking Taiwan and mainland China. There were 36 fatalities in the Philippines.<ref name="phil"/> *August 29–September 10 – Hurricane Katia killed four people as it moved around the Atlantic Ocean through the British Isles.<ref>{{cite report|first=Stacy R. | last = Stewart|title=Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Katia|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/AL122011_Katia.pdf|publisher=National Hurricane Center|date=January 16, 2012|access-date=October 7, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| first=Saul | last =Saenz|title=Tampa man killed while swimming at Ormond Beach|url=http://www.baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/news/article.html/content/news/articles/ot/both/2011/09/05/Tampa_man_killed_while_swimming_at_Ormond_Beach.html|newspaper=Bay News 9|date=September 4, 2011|access-date=October 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170122114823/http://www.baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/news/article.html/content/news/articles/ot/both/2011/09/05/Tampa_man_killed_while_swimming_at_Ormond_Beach.html|archive-date=January 22, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| first=Abigail | last = Curtis|title=Search suspended for man swept to sea off Monhegan Island|url=http://bangordailynews.com/2011/09/11/news/midcoast/search-suspended-for-man-swept-to-sea-off-monhegan-island/|newspaper=Bangor Daily News|date=September 11, 2011|access-date=October 13, 2016}}</ref>
===September=== *September 2–7 – Tropical Storm Lee struck Louisiana and later produced widespread flooding across the northeastern United States. The storm killed 21 people and damaged more than 5,000 houses, incurring about $2.5 billion in damage.<ref name="events">{{cite web|title=U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters|year=2023|accessdate=July 3, 2023|publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information|url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/billions/events/US/2011?disasters}}</ref><ref>{{cite report |last=Brown|first=Daniel P. |title=Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Storm Lee|url={{NHC TCR url|id=AL132011_Lee}} |publisher=National Hurricane Center |date=15 December 2011|access-date=28 February 2021}}</ref> *September 7–12 – Hurricane Nate struck the Mexican state of Veracruz, killing five people.<ref>{{cite report| first=Todd B.|last = Kimberlain|title=Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Nate|url={{NHC TCR url|id=AL152011_Nate}}|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|work=National Hurricane Center|date=November 18, 2011|access-date=February 26, 2014|format=PDF|location=Miami, Florida}}</ref> *September 22–23 – A depression dropped heavy rainfall across eastern India, killing 38 people.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Outlook India|date=September 28, 2011|access-date=November 11, 2011|title=Orissa Flood Toll Mounts to 38, Relief Operation Begins|url=http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=736543|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614061349/http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=736543|archive-date=June 14, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> *September 24–30 – Typhoon Nesat moved through the Philippines and later struck China. In the Philippines, the typhoon killed 85 people and left ₱15.6 billion (US$356 million) in damage.<Ref name="phil"/><ref name="wmo"/> *September 26–October 5 – Typhoon Nalgae followed Nesat just days later, striking the Philippines and southern China, killing 17 people.<ref name="phil"/><ref name="wmo"/>
===October=== *October 6–12 – Hurricane Jova moved ashore southwestern Mexico, leading to nine fatalities.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brennan |first1=Michael |title=Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Jova (EP102011) |url=https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/EP102011_Jova.pdf |publisher=National Hurricane Center |access-date=July 18, 2023 |date=May 18, 2012}}</ref> *October 9–14 – Tropical Storm Banyan moved through the Philippines, killing ten people.<ref name="phil"/> *October 12 – Tropical Depression Twelve-E made landfall in southeastern Mexico, producing heavy rainfall across Central America as part of a broader monsoonal system. The floods killed at least 36 people across the region.<ref>{{cite report|url=https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/EP122011_Twelve-E.pdf|format=PDF|publisher=National Hurricane Center|date=January 5, 2012|author=Todd B. Kimberlain|title=Tropical Cyclone Report:Tropical Depression Twelve-E (EP122011)|accessdate=July 18, 2023}}</ref> *October 19–20 – A deep depression struck Bangladesh, with its heavy rains causing floods in Myanmar that killed at least 215 people.<ref name="mya">{{cite web|author=Than Win Htut|publisher=Democratic Voice of Burma|date=October 24, 2011|access-date=November 11, 2011|title=Burma flooding deaths top 200|url=http://www.dvb.no/news/burma-flooding-deaths-top-200/18344|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111229070738/http://www.dvb.no/news/burma-flooding-deaths-top-200/18344|archive-date=December 29, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> *October 29–November 4 – Cyclone Keila developed and looped just off the coast of Oman, causing flash floods that killed 14 people, as well as another five deaths due to a shipwreck.<ref name="imd"/><ref name="deaths">{{cite news|last=BNO News|title=Keila kills 14, injures hundreds in Oman|url=http://channel6newsonline.com/2011/11/tropical-storm-keila-kills-14-injures-hundreds-in-oman/|access-date=April 19, 2016|newspaper=Channel 6 News|date=November 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406132259/http://channel6newsonline.com/2011/11/tropical-storm-keila-kills-14-injures-hundreds-in-oman/|archive-date=April 6, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Vaidya|first=Sunil K.|title=Nine sailors missing as an Indian ship sinks|url=http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/oman/nine-sailors-missing-as-indian-ship-sinks-off-oman-coast-1.924666|access-date=7 November 2011|newspaper=Gulf News|date=November 5, 2011}}</ref>
===November=== *November 7–10 – An unusual Mediterranean tropical-like cyclone, named Tropical Storm Rolf, struck France, killing 12 people.<ref name="October surprise">{{cite news|url=https://weather.com/news/weather/news/medicane-tropical-storm-mediterranean-sea-31oct2016|title=Halloween Surprise: Rare Tropical Storm Forms in Mediterranean Sea|first=Jon | last = Erdman|website=weather.com|publisher=The Weather Company|date=October 31, 2016|access-date=April 23, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=Sensitivity of a Mediterranean Tropical-Like Cyclone to Different Model Configurations and Coupling Strategies|journal=Atmosphere|volume=8|issue=12|pages=92|last1=Mazon | first1 = J.| last2=Lupo | first2 = A.|publisher=MDPI|date=20 May 2017|doi=10.3390/atmos8050092|bibcode=2017Atmos...8...92R|doi-access=free|url=https://iris.unito.it/bitstream/2318/1721910/1/2017-ricchi_et_al-Sensitivity_of_Mediterranean_TLC_to_model_configurations-atmosphere.pdf}}</ref> *November 8–11 – Rip currents from Tropical Storm Sean killed a swimmer along the east coast of Florida.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=347093|title=Martin County Event Report|accessdate=July 18, 2023|publisher=National Climatic Data Center}}</ref> *November 26–December 1 – A developing deep depression in the Arabian Sea produced gusty winds and heavy rainfall over Sri Lanka, killing 20 people.<ref>{{cite report|at=ReliefWeb|accessdate=July 25, 2023|title=Inclement weather kills 20 people and leave thousands homelesswork=Sri Lanka Red Cross |date=November 28, 2011|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/sri-lanka/inclement-weather-kills-20-people-and-leave-thousands-homeless}}</ref>
===December=== *December 13–19 – Tropical Storm Washi moved through the southern Philippines, killing 1,257 people and wrecking 13,337 houses.<ref name="phil">{{cite report|date=January 6, 2012|accessdate=July 24, 2023|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/2011-top-10-philippine-destructive-tropical-cyclones|at=ReliefWeb|work=Government of the Philippines|title=2011 Top 10 Philippine Destructive Tropical Cyclones}}</ref> *December 20–22 – Rains from a subtropical depression in the Mozambique Channel caused floods in Tanzania, resulting in 43 fatalities.<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/tcp/documents/ra1_tcc-20_final_report_en.pdf | title=RA I Tropical cyclone committee for the South-West Indian Ocean twentieth session | access-date=December 6, 2015 | archive-date=March 3, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303224719/http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/tcp/documents/ra1_tcc-20_final_report_en.pdf | url-status=dead}}</ref> *December 25–31 – Cyclone Thane struck southeastern India, wrecking thousands of boats and houses, resulting in 46 deaths and damage estimated at over ₹1.3 billion (US$235 million).<ref name="imd"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Weather by year |year = 2011 }}
Category:Meteorological events in 2011 Category:Weather by year Category:2011-related lists