2011 Atlantic hurricane season
Jun 1, 2011 – Nov 30, 2011 · Season ended
The 2011 Atlantic hurricane season produced 19 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 14.4, 7.2 and 3.2. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 126, 103% of the average.
2011 season at a glance
- Named storms: 19 (1991–2020 average 14.4).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 7 (average 7.2).
- Major, 96 kt+: 4 (average 3.2).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 126.2, 103% of the 123 average.
- Named-storm days: 89.8, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Arlene, June 28.
- First hurricane: Irene, August 22.
- First major storm: Irene, August 24.
- Last storm to dissipate: Sean, November 12.
- All systems tracked: 20, including 1 that stayed below tropical-storm strength.
Counts use 1-minute best-track winds: named storms reached 34 kt (39 mph), the next column 64 kt (74 mph) and major storms 96 kt (111 mph).
Every storm of the 2011 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arlene | – | TS | 993 mb | Tamiahua, Mexico |
| Bret | – | TS | 995 mb | — |
| Cindy | – | TS | 994 mb | — |
| Don | – | TS | 997 mb | Kingsville, United States |
| Emily | – | TS | 1003 mb | — |
| Franklin | – | TS | 1004 mb | — |
| Gert | – | TS | 1000 mb | — |
| Harvey | – | TS | 994 mb | Dangriga, Belize |
| Irene | – | C3 | 942 mb | Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands |
| TD 10L | – | TD | 1006 mb | — |
| Jose | – | TS | 1006 mb | — |
| Katia | – | C4 | 942 mb | — |
| TD 20L | – | TS | 1002 mb | — |
| Lee | – | TS | 986 mb | Abbeville, United States |
| Maria | – | C1 | 983 mb | Conception Bay South, Canada |
| Nate | – | C1 | 994 mb | Gutiérrez Zamora, Mexico |
| Ophelia | – | C4 | 940 mb | — |
| Philippe | – | C1 | 976 mb | — |
| Rina | – | C3 | 966 mb | Puerto Aventuras, Mexico |
| Sean | – | TS | 982 mb | — |
- Arlene: Arlene formed in the Atlantic in June 2011 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 993 mb. It made landfall near Tamiahua, Mexico. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Bret: Bret formed in the Atlantic in July 2011 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 995 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Cindy: Cindy formed in the Atlantic in July 2011 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 994 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Don: Don formed in the Atlantic in July 2011 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 997 mb. It made landfall near Kingsville, United States. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Emily: Emily formed in the Atlantic in August 2011 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1003 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Franklin: Franklin formed in the Atlantic in August 2011 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1004 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Gert: Gert formed in the Atlantic in August 2011 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Harvey: Harvey formed in the Atlantic in August 2011 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 994 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Dangriga, Belize and last near San Andrés Tuxtla, Mexico. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Irene: Irene formed in the Atlantic in August 2011 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 942 mb. It made 7 landfalls, first near Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands and last near Brooklyn, United States. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- TD 10L: This system formed in the Atlantic in August 2011 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1006 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Jose: Jose formed in the Atlantic in August 2011 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1006 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Katia: Katia formed in the Atlantic in August 2011 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 942 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 16 days.
- TD 20L: This system formed in the Atlantic in August 2011 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1002 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Lee: Lee formed in the Atlantic in September 2011 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 986 mb. It made landfall near Abbeville, United States. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Maria: Maria formed in the Atlantic in September 2011 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 983 mb. It made landfall near Conception Bay South, Canada. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Nate: Nate formed in the Atlantic in September 2011 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 994 mb. It made landfall near Gutiérrez Zamora, Mexico. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Ophelia: Ophelia formed in the Atlantic in September 2011 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 940 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 14 days.
- Philippe: Philippe formed in the Atlantic in September 2011 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 976 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 16 days.
- Rina: Rina formed in the Atlantic in October 2011 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 966 mb. It made landfall near Puerto Aventuras, Mexico. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Sean: Sean formed in the Atlantic in November 2011 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 982 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2011
Hurricane Ophelia was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 140 mph (220 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 940 mb, on October 2. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
61 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 14 matched it. It produced 15% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2011
8 of the season’s 20 systems made landfall, 1 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- June 30: Arlene near Tamiahua, Mexico, 65 mph (tropical storm)
- July 30: Don near Kingsville, United States, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- August 20: Harvey near Dangriga, Belize, 65 mph (tropical storm)
- August 21: Irene near Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, 70 mph (tropical storm)
- August 22: Harvey near San Andrés Tuxtla, Mexico, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- August 22: Irene near Humacao, Puerto Rico, 70 mph (tropical storm)
- August 24: Irene, 115 mph (Category 3)
- August 25: Irene near George Town, Bahamas, 110 mph (Category 2)
- August 25: Irene, 105 mph (Category 2)
- August 25: Irene near Marsh Harbour, Bahamas, 105 mph (Category 2)
- August 27: Irene near Morehead City, United States, 85 mph (Category 1)
- August 28: Irene near Atlantic City, United States, 70 mph (tropical storm)
- August 28: Irene near Brooklyn, United States, 65 mph (tropical storm)
- September 4: Lee near Abbeville, United States, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- September 11: Nate near Gutiérrez Zamora, Mexico, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- September 16: Maria near Conception Bay South, Canada, 70 mph (tropical storm)
- October 28: Rina near Puerto Aventuras, Mexico, 60 mph (tropical storm)
How 2011 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 5th of 47 Atlantic seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 3 other seasons), 19th for hurricanes (tied with 7 other seasons) and 22nd for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 30 named storms, in 2020, and the highest ACE is 250, in 2005.
2011 storm names
The 2011 season used 18 names: Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Don, Emily, Franklin, Gert, Harvey, Irene, Jose, Katia, Lee, Maria, Nate, Ophelia, Philippe, Rina, Sean.
2 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
Atlantic and East Pacific lists repeat every six years. See how storms are named.
The WMO later retired the name Irene, so it will not be used again.
2011 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2011?
The 2011 Atlantic hurricane season had 19 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes, from 20 systems tracked in all. The 1991–2020 average is 14.4 named storms, 7.2 at 64 kt or more and 3.2 major per season. The first to form was Arlene and the last was Sean.
What was the strongest storm of 2011?
Hurricane Ophelia. It peaked at 140 mph (220 km/h, 120 kt) with a lowest pressure of 940 mb on October 2. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 61 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 15% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2011 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 2011, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Sean, dissipated on November 12. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 6 Atlantic storms since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.