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* [http://www.uspln.com/index2.html WSI Lightning Networks – USPLN, NAPLN and GLN] – Lightning map
* [http://www.uspln.com/index2.html WSI Lightning Networks – USPLN, NAPLN and GLN] – Lightning map
* [http://www.tornadomonologues.com The Tornado Monologues] – April 2011 Tornado Story Archive
* [http://www.tornadomonologues.com The Tornado Monologues] – April 2011 Tornado Story Archive
* [http://thehistorytavern.blogspot.com/2011/06/worst-tornado-outbreaks-in-history_7834.html] - Worst Tornado Outbreaks in History



{{Tornadoes by year}}
{{Tornadoes by year}}

Revision as of 11:42, 2 June 2011

Tornadoes of 2011
A graph of the 2011 United States tornado count as of May 24
TimespanJanuary 2011 – ongoing
Maximum rated tornadoEF5 tornado
Tornadoes in U.S.1,007
Damage (U.S.)~$16 billion (Estimate as of May 28)
Fatalities (U.S.)518 [1]
Fatalities (worldwide)537
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This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 2011. Extremely destructive tornadoes form most frequently in the U.S., Bangladesh and Eastern India, but they can occur almost anywhere under the right conditions. Tornadoes also appear regularly in neighboring southern Canada during the Northern Hemisphere's summer season, and somewhat regularly in Europe, Asia, and Australia.

As of June 1, there have been 1,415 tornadoes reported in the US in 2011 (of which at least 1,007 were confirmed). 2011 has been an exceptionally destructive and deadly year for tornadoes; worldwide, at least 537 people perished due to tornadoes: 12 in Bangladesh, one in New Zealand, one in the Philippines and an estimated 518 in the United States (compared to 564 US deaths in the 10 years prior) [1]. Due in large part to several extremely large tornado outbreaks in the middle and end of April and in late May, the year is currently on record pace. It is also the deadliest year in the United States since 1936, due mostly to the 322 tornadic deaths in the April 27 outbreak and the 140+ tornadic deaths in the May 22 outbreak.[2]

Synopsis

Location of fatal tornadoes in the United States during 2011

An ongoing outbreak at the end of 2010 continued into the first three hours of 2011. During that period seven tornadoes touched down in Mississippi. However, during the remainder of the month, tornadic activity was supressed by a cold air mass, with nine additional tornadoes taking place.[3] This inactivity continued through much of February before a pattern shift. Two consecutive outbreaks took place on February 25 and 27 – 28, producing a combined 55 tornadoes. Overall, 59 tornadoes were confirmed in the month, ranking it as the fourth-busiest February on record.[4] Activity in March was split between the start and end of the month, with a total of 57 tornadoes touching down, which ran near normal for the month.

In early April, a prolific severe weather event produced at least 42 tornadoes among more than 1,200 reports of wind damage.[5] Several major tornado outbreaks followed thereafter in the remainder of April, including two extreme multi-day tornado outbreaks that were among the largest in US history (one of them also one of the deadliest), and combined they resulted in an incredibly active month from start to finish; it was the most active month for tornadoes on record and by far the most active April, more than doubling the previous record with over 650 tornadoes touching down.[6]

In an abrupt reversal, the activity did not continue into May (normally the most active month for tornadoes), however, and the first half was remarkably quiet and one of the least active Mays on record as of the middle of the month. That continued for three weeks until significant severe weather returned on May 21, and an extremely deadly tornado hit the following day in a major outbreak. The outbreak continued for the next several days, with over 130 confirmed touchdowns. However, the month as a whole remained somewhat below average.

The first day of June brought a rare outbreak into Massachusetts, where several tornadoes touched down.

Events

See also: List of United States tornadoes from January to March 2011, List of United States tornadoes in April 2011, List of United States tornadoes in May 2011, List of United States tornadoes in June 2011, and List of European tornadoes in 2011

United States yearly total

Unofficial totals through June 1 (final through February)

Confirmed tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita rating
EFU EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5 Total
0 325 450 159 51 17 5 1007

January

See also: List of United States tornadoes from January to March 2011

There were 29 tornadoes reported in the US in January, of which 16 were confirmed.[3]

January 1

Main article: 2010 New Year's Eve tornado outbreak
EFU EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5
0 0 4 1 2 0 0

A late-season deadly tornado outbreak continued though the early hours of January 1, with seven tornadoes touching down in Mississippi over three hours. The strongest of these, rated EF3 with winds of 145 mph (233 km/h), reached 0.75 mi (1.21 km) in width along its 23.45 mi (37.74 km) track and caused significant damage along Mississippi Highway 19. Several structures were damaged or destroyed and two people were injured. Near Mississippi Highway 35, thousands of trees were uprooted by the tornado. Another EF3 touched down near Macon, damaging or destroying several structures and one person was injured. Overall damage in the state from tornadoes amounted to $10.4 million.[7]

January 24 – 25 (Southeastern Europe)

FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 0 2 1 0 0 0

In late January, three tornadoes touched down in eastern Europe: two in Turkey and one in Greece. In Kemalpaşa, Turkey, an F1 tornado caused the wall of an industrial building to collapse. Several other structures sustained roof damage. The strongest of these tornadoes was an F2 that touched down in northern Rhodes, destroying small structures and killing several heads of cattle. Hail up to 5 cm (2.0 in) in diameter fell in some places, damaging farmland and greenhouses. Accumulations of hail also reached 15 cm (5.9 in) in Mersin Province, Turkey.[8]

February

See also: List of United States tornadoes from January to March 2011

There were 61 tornadoes reported in the US in February, of which 63 were confirmed. The higher final total is due to a large number of late reports.[3]

In addition to the events listed below, there was an F2 tornado in Greece on February 23 that destroyed a restaurant.[8]

February 24

EFU EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5
0 3 6 5 0 0 0

Several tornadoes touched down across parts of the Southern United States. The most significant tornado was in the southeastern part of Nashville, Tennessee where significant damage was reported near Hickory Hollow Mall and near Percy Priest Lake in the evening (with widespread wind damage all across Middle Tennessee), and a tornado emergency was declared shortly thereafter for areas to the northeast in Wilson County where another tornado touched down with injuries. Both tornadoes were rated EF2. Other tornadoes touched down with varying degrees of damage in the Missouri Bootheel, West Tennessee, Mississippi, southwestern Kentucky and parts of Arkansas including three others rated EF2.[9]

February 27 – 28

EFU EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5
0 11 21 7 1 0 0
A home destroyed by an EF2 tornado in Dubois County, Indiana

Another severe weather event developed on February 27 and continued into February 28 across the Midwest and South. While a large portion of the damage was due to damaging straight-line winds, at least 35 tornadoes were reported across several states. The most destructive tornado was in Franklin County, Tennessee on the afternoon of February 28 where one person was killed by an EF2 tornado. It was the first killer tornado of 2011. Another strong tornado, rated EF3, resulted in houses destroyed near Eminence, Kentucky.[10][11] Concentrated tornado activity also occurred in parts of Missouri and Illinois with 22 tornadoes in the region, some as strong as EF2, related to a series of squall lines with many embedded tornadoes. None of those tornadoes resulted in any fatalities.[12]

March

See also: List of United States tornadoes from January to March 2011

There were 95 tornadoes reported in the US in March, of which at least 57 were confirmed.[3]

March 5 – 6

EFU EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5
0 7 2 1 0 0 0

One confirmed EF0 tornado hit the town of Crowley, Louisiana. Another reportedly hit Greene County, Mississippi on March 5. It formed in a squall line, which hit portions of Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana. A deadly EF2 tornado struck Rayne, Louisiana early that afternoon, killing a mother while she protected her daughter.[13] At least 12 others were injured. Initial assessments indicate that 62 homes were destroyed and 50 more damaged. Two EF0 tornadoes were also confirmed in eastern North Carolina.

March 8 – 9

EFU EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5
0 5 10 5 0 0 0

Several tornadoes touched down once again on March 8 into March 9 from North Texas eastward to the Florida Panhandle, with Louisiana hardest hit. The most destructive tornadoes, rated EF2, touched down just north of New Orleans in St. Tammany Parish.[14]

March 21 – 23

EFU EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5
0 1 4 3 1 0 0

A tornado developed in the afternoon of March 21 near Maxwell, California, and it crossed Interstate 5, but however caused no known damage, as it was on the ground for only a few minutes. The same system produced more severe weather ahead of a dry line across eastern Nebraska, where tornadoes were reported northeast of Omaha. Later, a cluster of supercells began producing tornadoes in south-central Iowa, where a tornado was reported in Greenfield, Iowa, and at least 2 tornadoes were reported near Winterset, Iowa. Several funnel clouds were reported in Des Moines, where there was a possible touchdown. These funnels were associated with the storm that produced the first tornado to hit Greenfield and Winterset.

On March 23, more tornadoes and severe weather developed with the most significant tornadoes touching down in East Tennessee where significant damage was reported. Near Greenback in Blount County, a EF3 tornado was confirmed with severe damage in the area. Another notable tornado touched down in southwestern Pennsylvania, most notably in Hempfield Township, Pennsylvania. It was rated EF2.

March 31

EFU EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5
0 0 4 0 0 0 0
Damage from one of the tornadoes near Tampa.

A series of tornadoes touched down in west central Florida on March 31, embedded in a larger damaging wind field. Four tornadoes, all rated EF1, were confirmed. They resulted in several houses damaged and significant damage at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport. Seven people were injured when one of the tornadoes hit a local festival.[15]

April

See also: List of United States tornadoes in April 2011

There were 875 tornadoes reported in the United States in April, of which at least 673 were confirmed.[3]

Based on preliminary totals, that set a new all-time monthly record, breaking the previous record of 552 in May 2003 and more than doubling the old record for April (267 in 1974).[16] In Alabama, the monthly (for April) and yearly record was broken with 89 and 98 tornadoes respectively.[17]

April 4 – 5

Main article: April 4-5, 2011 derecho and tornado outbreak
EFU EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5
0 8 32 6 0 0 0

Several storms started to develop in the evening on April 3. Storms in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Illinois brought severe thunderstorms to the areas. A tornado watch was issued for Iowa and Illinois as the storms rolled through, and later a severe thunderstorm watch for northeastern Illinois and southeastern Wisconsin. However, there were no reported tornadoes.[18] Continuing eastward, the system entered an environment favoring tornadic development. Two tornadoes were reported in Kentucky during the early afternoon, both rated EF2 and resulting in injuries.[5] Near Hopkinsville, a tornado, confirmed by local emergency services, caused significant damage to a manufacturing plant.[19] Numerous buildings were reported to be destroyed, trapping residents within debris.[20] In addition to the tornadoes, there was widespread wind damage (over 1,400 severe weather reports were received by the Storm Prediction Center, with the vast majority being damaing winds) as an extremely large squall line/serial derecho tracked across the southern United States with wind gusts as high as 90 mph (145 km/h) reported across 20 states,[5] killing at least 9 people, one of the deaths was as a result of an EF2 tornado in Dodge County, Georgia. Numerous power outages also took place due to the extensive wind damage. Nearly 100,000 and 147,000 residences lost power in Tennessee and Georgia respectively.[21][22]

April 4 (Bangladesh)

During the afternoon of April 4, a powerful tornado struck seven districts in northern Bangladesh. At least 12 people were killed and more than 150 injured as the tornado destroyed hundreds of homes and uprooted large swaths of vegetation.[23]

April 8 – 9 (Eastern United States)

EFU EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5
0 3 1 1 0 0 0

A large storm system with an associated frontal boundary moved northward and eastward across the central United States beginning on April 8. While initial severe weather was limited, a lone supercell broke out ahead of a mesoscale convective system in Pulaski County, Virginia on the eastern end of the warm front that evening. Two tornadoes were confirmed, one of which was an EF2 that caused severe damage in Pulaski, Virginia. Numerous houses were damaged and eight people were injured.[24] During the afternoon of April 9, supercells developed along the warm front, and tracked through parts of Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina, generating softball sized hail, and at least four tornadoes.[25]

April 9 – 11 (Midwestern United States)

Main article: April 2011 Iowa-Wisconsin tornado outbreak
EFU EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5
0 2 20 7 4 1 0
Damage from the EF3 Mapleton tornado

During the evening of April 9, several severe thunderstorms developed across Nebraska, South Dakota and Iowa. A single supercell became tornadic over extreme western Iowa, producing a family of ten tornadoes over the course of five hours.[25] The first was 0.75 mi (1.21 km) wide and struck Mapleton, Iowa,[26] destroying about 100 homes. Due to a 20 minute warning time, no fatalities took place and only 14 to 16 people were injured. Officials blocked off the town and Governor Terry Branstad issued a disaster proclamation for the town.[27]

Additional tornadic activity developed on April 10 across Wisconsin with several more tornadoes reported there.

April 14 – 16

Main article: April 14–16, 2011 tornado outbreak
EFU EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5
0 43 75 30 14 0 0
File:Tushka, Oklahoma tornado April 14, 2011.jpg
The Tushka, Oklahoma tornado.

During the afternoon of April 14, a possible significant tornado outbreak started setting up. A PDS (Particularly dangerous situation) tornado watch was issued for much of eastern Oklahoma.[28] Supercells explosively developed over central Oklahoma. Storm chasers in the region reported several funnel clouds and two touchdowns, neither of which resulted in damage. Several tornadoes were confirmed through storm chaser video and local emergency management services. A large, intense tornado caused severe damage in the towns of Atoka and Tushka where many houses were destroyed or flattened. Numerous injuries were reported in the latter of these areas.[29] Two people were killed and 25 more injured in Tushka.[30][31] In Arkansas, strong winds produced by thunderstorms killed at least seven people,[32] it is unclear if they were caused by tornadoes or straight-line winds.[33]

During the late-night hours into the morning of April 15, tornadic activity lessened. However, by the late morning hours, supercell thunderstorms developed again over parts of Mississippi, and tornadoes began to touch down again. A tornado emergency was declared for the northern Jackson metropolitan area as a result at shortly after 11:00 am CDT (1600 UTC). A destructive tornado moved across the area with severe damage and possible injuries and reports of two fatalities according to WLBT coverage. That afternoon, Mississippi State University spotters confirmed a large tornado in east-central Mississippi and west-central Alabama and another tornado emergency was issued. ABC 33/40 coverage reported that the tornado was 3/4 mile (1.2 km) in width. Over 90 tornado sightings were reported that day and at least eight people were killed in Mississippi and Alabama.

On April 16, another PDS tornado watch, along with a "high risk" alert from the SPC were issued for central and eastern North Carolina. At least 24 died and 135 were seriously injured in what became North Carolina's worst tornado outbreak in 25 years; tornadoes also struck South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania.[34] Twelve of the North Carolina deaths took place in Bertie County; tornado emergencies were issued for Raleigh, Snow Hill, and Wilson at the height of the outbreak. In North Carolina, twelve supercells produced at least 25 tornadoes, with at least 32 counties affected. A total of 21 businesses and 440 homes were destroyed, 63 of those homes in Raleigh; about 92 businesses and 6,189 homes suffered significant damage, 184 of those homes in Raleigh.[34][35][36]

April 19 – 20

Main article: April 19–20, 2011 tornado outbreak
EFU EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5
0 21 29 10 1 1 0

Yet another severe weather event developed across the Midwest and southern Great Plains on April 19 as another dynamic low pressure system tracked across the area. Thunderstorms began in the late afternoon and early evening with large hail and several tornadoes. Significant damage was reported near Bowling Green, Missouri and Girard, Illinois as a result of tornadoes, the latter of which was rated EF3. Another large tornado was reported near Octavia, Oklahoma before the supercells merged into a very large squall line. Overnight, the squall line tracked eastward with widespread wind damage and many embedded tornadoes across several states, a few as strong as EF2 but most were brief and weak. In the early hours of April 20, 2011, a tornado tore through a neighborhood in Oregon, Ohio leaving some significant damage and no injuries. Also, 3 tornadoes hit New Albany, Indiana, and Jeffersonville, Indiana. Both cities are just north of Louisville, Kentucky[37] On April 22, the outbreak continued with several tornadoes causing damage in the Midwest, the most notable being a violent EF4 that struck St. Louis, Missouri, causing extensive damage. A few more tornadoes were reported on April 23–24, however most did not cause any severe damage, though one EF2 tornado caused structural damage in the town of Bardwell, Kentucky.

April 22

EFU EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5
0 5 3 3 0 1 0
Main article: 2011 St. Louis tornado

Severe weather once again developed across parts of the Midwest on April 22. The hardest-hit area was parts of the St. Louis metropolitan area. A destructive tornado tracked across the region with severe damage in several communities including houses destroyed in communities such as Bridgeton, Ferguson, Florissant, Hazelwood, Maryland Heights and New Melle. Lambert-St. Louis International Airport was hard hit with severe damage to numerous facilities there and injuries reported. Windows were blown out of the terminals there and airplanes were flipped in the field. The airport has been closed as officials investigate the damage, but should be partially operational by the end of April 23 (the heavily damaged Concourse C will be closed indefinitely).[38] The tornado has been given a preliminary rating of EF4 based on finding of flattened houses in Bridgeton. Following assessments by the local National Weather Service, it was determined that a single tornado tracked for 22 mi (35 km) through parts of Missouri and Illinois. It reached a maximum width of 0.4 mi (0.64 km).Elsewhere, there were several reported tornadoes, including an EF2 which tracked through Henderson, Webster and Union County.[39]

April 25 – 28

Main article: April 25–28, 2011 tornado outbreak
EFU EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5
0 108 134 51 22 12 3
File:Tuscaloosatornadodamage15thstreet1.jpg
Tornado damage in Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Between April 25 and 28, a historic tornado outbreak now known as the 2011 Super Outbreak took place across much of the Southern United States as well as parts of the Midwest and Northeast. With over 300 confirmed tornadoes and 317 tornadic fatalities, the outbreak ranks as one of the worst in United States history. More than three dozen tornadoes were confirmed each day of the event, with 39 on April 25, 55 on April 26, a record 188 in 24 hours on April 27 and 45 on April 28. In terms of violent tornadoes, the event ranks third with 15 EF4/5 storms, behind the 1974 Super Outbreak and 1965 Palm Sunday outbreak.

A large outbreak was possible for April 25–27 as the SPC issued a moderate risk of severe weather for three consecutive days, centered over Arkansas through Tennessee. By the late-afternoon hours of April 25, several tornadoes had been reported across a few states, including two which caused significant damage in Oklahoma and Texas. At 3:25 pm CST (2025 UTC), the SPC issued a PDS tornado watch for much of Arkansas and parts of Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana.[40] Tornadoes were scattered that day until early evening, when an intense tornadic cell tracked near the Little Rock metropolitan area and a tornado emergency was declared for Vilonia, Arkansas. A 0.5 mile (0.80 km) wide EF2 tornado then caused extensive damage in Vilonia. At least four people are known to have died in the town with many more injured.

On April 27, a large tornado struck Tuscaloosa, Alabama, killing at least 41 people. The Tuscaloosa mayor called the damage "catastrophic." A large tornado from the same supercell—possibly the same tornado—hit the northern suburbs of Birmingham, Alabama, shortly thereafter. Television reporters in Birmingham, filming the tornado, reported that even from miles away, the funnel was so wide that they could not zoom their cameras out far enough to get the entire funnel into the frame at once. According to reports on The Weather Channel on the morning of April 28, the parent supercell of the Tuscaloosa and Birmingham tornadoes was responsible for a long string of tornadoes, first forming over Mississippi and persisting across Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina before finally dissipating in southern North Carolina. Dr. Greg Forbes, TWC Severe Weather Expert, stated over the course of the outbreak, his radars kept showing pink debris balls in the supercell thunderstorms in Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi. He also said that he lost count of how many he had seen on the radar and that he saw more debris ball signatures on the 27th, than his entire career at the Weather Channel which began back in 1999.

In an interview with Jim Cantore on The Weather Channel at 8:34 AM EDT on April 28, a Tuscaloosa resident stated that "the hospitals are full" to the point of telling people not to go to them for simple broken bones, as there was no space or manpower available to treat non-life threatening injuries. Cantore also said that this outbreak will rival that of the 1974 Super Outbreak and he called it "The Super Outbreak II".

Over 180 tornadoes were reported during the SPC's reporting day of 1200Z April 27 to 1200Z April 28.[41] Over 305 deaths have been reported as a result of the outbreak, with as many as 204 in Alabama alone.The Wall Street Journal put out an article at 10:05 ET on April 28. The article states that The overall toll includes 34 deaths in Tennessee, 33 in Mississippi, 14 in Georgia, 12 in Arkansas, five in Virginia, two in Missouri, and one in Kentucky, according to state officials. Two tornadoes were reported in Boone County Indiana, an EF1 and an EF0.

On April 27 President Barack Obama approved Governor Robert Bentley's request for emergency federal assistance including search and rescue support.

On April 28, 2011, The National Weather Service had sent out people to survey the damage; however, with the large tornadoes across Alabama, the reports may not be finalized for weeks to come. It will take time because of the large amount of land and because of the scope of tornadoes. One team will cover Bibb County. One team will cover Marion and Walker, and the other team will work Tuscaloosa and Jefferson counties. On April 30, the death toll from Wednesday/Thursday's severe weather stood at more than 340 people across six states.

May

See also: List of United States tornadoes in May 2011

There were 355 tornadoes reported in the United States in May, of which at least 204 were confirmed.

In addition to the events listed below, two other tornadoes, one in the Philippines and Taiwan, also touched down.[42] The former of these resulted in significant damage and killed one person in Calumpit, Bulacan.[43]

May 10 (New Zealand)

The Albany tornado caused significant damage to roofs of buildings in its path.

On May 3, a line of showers and thunderstorms tracked into the Northland from the Tasman Sea, bringing unsettled weather to much of the region. The Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited (MetService) mentioned the possibility of strong thunderstorms being embedded within the line, producing small hail and gusty winds. Significant upward motion in the atmosphere developed in the region surrounding Auckland, prompting the MetService to issue a high-risk of thunderstorms in the area. With low-level wind shear and helicity, the possibility of tornadic activity was present. At 2:55 pm NZST, a hook echo was apparent on the weather radar, indicating strong rotation and a likely tornado.[44]

Several minutes later, around 3:00 pm NZST, a tornado struck the Auckland suburb of Albany. With winds estimated at 125 mph (201 km/h), the tornado ranked as a high-end EF2 and caused considerable damage along a 3.1 mi (5.0 km) long track in the area.[45][46] Several cars were tossed up to 20 ft (6.1 m) in the air by the storm and pieces of iron roofing were reportedly seen 300 ft (91 m) above the ground.[47] A total of 50 homes sustained varying degrees of damage along the tornado's track.[48] The most severe damage took place at a local shopping mall where large portions of the roof were torn off. One person was killed and at least 20 others were injured here.[47] Damage estimates from the storm were places in the tens of millions.[48]

May 9 – 10

EFU EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5
0 0 2 1 0 0 0
A transmission tower crumpled by an EF2 tornado northeast of Wall, South Dakota

On May 9, a strong upper-level ridge over the Mississippi River Valley produced a narrow axis of extreme instability from eastern Nebraska to central South Dakota. In light of this, the SPC issued a slight-risk of severe weather for much of South Dakota and Iowa as well as parts of Minnesota, Missouri and Nebraska.[49] Enhanced by a mid-level jet, wind shear in the region increased, providing a more favorable environment for strong thunderstorms.[50] During the course of the day, two tornadoes, rated EF1 and EF2, touched down in South Dakota. The stronger of the two crumpled a transmission tower.[51] Continuing into May 10, the system slowly moved eastward, shifting the center of severe activity in the Upper-Plains to Minnesota.[52] Thunderstorms in the state mainly produced large hail, measured up to 2.5 in (6.4 cm) in diameter; however, one EF1 tornado touched down, causing significant damage to a garage.[53]

May 11 – 13

EFU EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5
0 11 4 0 0 0 0

On May 11, an upper-level low moved out of the Four Corners Region into the Central Plains, prompting a moderate-risk of severe weather from the SPC. The main threat from these storms was expected to be large hail, with a considerable region being given a 45 percent chance of hail.[54] Later that day, the moderate-risk was discontinued and replaced by a large area under a slight-risk. According to the SPC, the issuance of a moderate risk was due to an "improper handling of ongoing storms."[55] Tornadic activity during the event was scattered and consisted of short-lived events. In all, at least nine tornadoes and a few gustnadoes touched down across four states, most of which were in Nebraska. In Iowa, twin tornadoes, rated EF0 and EF1, struck the city of Lenox, damaging several homes.[56] Continuing eastward, the low became diffuse and produced scattered severe weather on May 12 and 13.[57]

May 21 – 26

Main articles: May 21–26, 2011 tornado outbreak and 2011 Joplin tornado
EFU EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5
0 43 47 23 5 3 2

On May 21, a small system of thunderstorms began to develop in Brown County, Kansas. At the same time, another system formed to the southeast of Emporia, Kansas. The Brown county system developed into a tornado over Shawnee County, Kansas and touched down over Topeka, Kansas for several seconds causing minor damage nearby. Meanwhile the Emporia system continued to move to the northeast, where an EF3 tornado heavily damaged the town of Reading, Kansas. One person was killed there, several others were injured and at least 20 houses were destroyed.[58] After hitting Topeka it hit several towns including Oskaloosa, Kansas, doing extensive damage to that community. Several other tornadoes touched down in the region that evening.[59]

St. John's Regional Medical Center after the May 22 Joplin tornado

A moderate risk of severe weather was issued for much of the Midwest south to Oklahoma for May 22. The first tornadic supercell that day developed in the mid-afternoon hours over the western Twin Cities with a swath of damage, especially in and around Minneapolis, Minnesota.[60] An intense tornado also tracked towards Harmony, Minnesota that afternoon and a tornado emergency was issued. Late that afternoon, at about 5:15 pm CDT (2215 UTC), a very large and intense multiple-vortex tornado resulted in catastrophic damage in Joplin, Missouri. Many houses and businesses were flattened and some even were blown away in Joplin, the main hospital was heavily damaged and many people were reported to have been trapped in destroyed houses. The Weather Channel video showed entire communities flattened. Early reports suggest there were at least 125 fatalities.[61][62], with the death toll rising to at least 139, and another 1,000+ injured.[63]. This tornado was given a rating of EF5.

Late in the afternoon on May 24th, supercells began forming over western Kansas and Oklahoma, as the National Weather Service predicted a dangerous tornado outbreak. As a line of powerful cells began to take shape, trained spotters reported large tornadoes near El Reno, Oklahoma and in rural Grady County, Oklahoma. One of these swept from Binger to Guthrie, destroying many homes and causing at least nine fatalities. This tornado was rated an EF5, the fifth of the year and second of the outbreak sequence. Three other EF4 tornadoes developed among the many other tornadoes that day.

At around 10:00 p.m. EDT on May 25th, an EF2 tornado hit the city of Bedford, Indiana. U.S. Route 50 was temporarily closed due to heavy debris. Also, a tornado had reportedly touched down in Keyser,WV and tracked as far as Berkeley Springs. A funnel cloud was reported in Cumberland and the storm soon produced a tornado in Pennsylvania.

May 29

EFU EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5
0 0 4 0 0 0 0

On May 29, a moderate risk of severe weather was issued for the lower Great Lakes. Severe thunderstorm watches were in place by the late morning/early afternoon for northern Illinois and a small portion of Indiana. A severe line of thunderstorms developed in Iowa and tracked eastward. It produced scattered wind and hail over Illinois. A tornado watch was issued for southern Michigan, northern Indiana, and northern Ohio. As the storms crossed Lake Michigan, they weakened, but grew stronger and began to exhibit rotation as they moved inland over southern Michigan, resulting in numerous tornado warnings. Cities under the warnings included Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Lansing, Jackson, Ann Arbor, and Flint. A funnel cloud and possibly a brief touchdown were reported in Vicksburg, and widespread wind damage occured in Battle Creek. In Coldwater, an EF1 tornado tore roofs off of numerous buildings. An EF1 tornado was confirmed to have struck Shiawassee County, near Perry.[64] This system moved off shore and turned southward. It developed into 93L as it pushed southward and developed tropical characteristics. Currently the storm is in the Gulf of Mexico and is being monitored by the National Hurricane Center for any tropical development.

May 30

EFU EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5
0 0 1 0 0 0 0

A squall line with embedded tornadoes developed late on May 30. A moderate risk of severe weather was issued for much of the northern Plains, with both tornadoes and extreme damaging winds. At least 18 tornadoes were reported, but they were generally in open country with little damage. A PDS severe thunderstorm watch was issued, as destructive straight-line winds over 90 mph(145 km/h) were reported as they developed into a hybrid derecho.[65]

June

See also: List of United States tornadoes in June 2011

As of June 1, there have been 16 tornadoes reported in the United States in June, of which at least 0 were confirmed.

June 1

EFU EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Main article: 2011 Massachusetts tornado outbreak

In the Northeast, several severe thunderstorms began developing along the tail end of a cold front during the late morning hours of June 1. By the early afternoon, a tornado watch was issued for parts of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. A rare tornado outbreak (for the region) began late that afternoon with five possible tornadoes reported.

That afternoon, a tornado was reported in downtown Springfield, Massachusetts according to WBZ-TV and WWLP coverage. Minor damage in the area was reported; there were some roof collapses in downtown businesses and damage to the brick structures.

Numerous injuries were reported there. Significant damage was also reported in Southbridge and several other communities where houses were reported to have been destroyed or flattened. Four deaths have been attributed to the Springfield tornado thus far, the first killer tornado in Massachusetts since 1995.[66] Unrelated systems caused tornadoes elsewhere in the US in California, but they were generally minor.

See also

References

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  2. ^ US Annual Tornado Death Tolls, 1875-present
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  65. ^ SPC Storm Reports for May 30, 2011 "Storm Prediction Center 110530's Storm Reports". Storm Prediction Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 30, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  66. ^ "Death reported in tornado". WWLP.com. June 1, 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
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