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. 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 5 mm (0.20 in). 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.
Deadliest events
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. 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.
Tornadoes
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. 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. A month later, an EF5 tornado hit Joplin, Missouri, killing 158 people, making it the deadliest tornado since 1950.
Tropical and subtropical cyclones
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 920 hectopascals (27 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. 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. 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. Outside of the official tropical cyclone basins, there was also an unusual system in the Mediterranean, Tropical Storm Rolf, which struck southern France.
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.
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. February 9–19 – Cyclone Bingiza struck Madagascar in three different locations, dropping heavy rainfall across the island which caused 34 fatailties.
March
April April–May – Floods along the Mississippi River killed nine people and left US$3 billion in damage. April 4–5 – A derecho and tornado outbreak across the southeastern United States killed nine people and left US$2.8 billion in damage. 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. 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.
May May–June – Floods along the Missouri River, related to melted snowpack, killed five people and left US$2 billion in damage. May 5–12 – Tropical Storm Aere dropped heavy rainfall in the eastern Philippines, killing 35 people. May 19–29 – Typhoon Songda brushed the eastern Philippines, causing four fatalities. 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.
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. June 16–22 – A deep depression hit eastern India, causing 12 fatalities, with hundreds of houses collapsed due to heavy rains. June 18–22 – A tornado outbreak across the central United States resulted in US$1.5 billion in damage and three deaths. June 19–22 – Hurricane Beatriz killed four people when it hit southern Mexico. June 20–27 – Tropical Storm Meari moved from the Philippine Sea to the East China Sea, with 12 fatalities in the Philippines. June 28–July 1 – Tropical Storm Arlene struck the gulf coast of Mexico, killing 22 people.
July July 10–11 – A derecho moved across the central United States, killing two people and leaving US$1.2 billion in damage. July 24–31 – Tropical Storm Nock-ten hit the Philippines, China, and later Vietnam, resulting in at least 77 fatalities along its path. 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.
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