The tornadoes that occurred during the spring of 2011 were deadly, record-breaking, and heart-breaking. Below we have listed the most significant outbreaks so far this year, along with links and information, and some of NSSL's research products that have been used in assessing the outbreaks. We will update this page as numbers become confirmed.
April 14-16, 2011
At least 200 tornadoes were confirmed across 16 states killing an estimated 38 people. The three-day outbreak spread from the Great Plains on the first day, to Mississippi and Alabama the second, then swept through the Carolinas and Virginia on the third.
- NSSL Rotation Tracks file for April 16 (Eastern U.S., .kmz, 10.81 MB)
- Preliminary Tornado Tracks (4/16/2011) in the Raleigh area (click on tracks to see storm survey information)
- Outbreak Summary, Blacksburg, VA NWSFO
April 27-28, 2011
The April 27-28 tornado outbreak will go on record as the deadliest two-day period for tornadoes since 1936. More than 300 people were killed in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee by an estimated 305 tornadoes. The outbreak of tornadoes began during the early morning of April 27 and ended during the early morning hours of April 28.
- NSSL Rotation Tracks file for April 27 (Continental U.S., .kmz, 15.1 MB)
- Preliminary Tornado Tracks (4/24–4/29/2011), NWS Southern Region HQ
- Tuscaloosa-Birmingham Tornado Summary, Birmingham, AL NWSFO
- Cordova Tornado Summary, Birmingham, AL NWSFO
- Outbreak Summary, Blacksburg, VA NSWFO
- NOAA Aerial Imagery of Storm Damage
May 22, 2011
Devastating tornadoes hit southeast Kansas and southwest Missouri on this Sunday afternoon. The city of Joplin, Mo., experienced a tornado that destroyed a significant amount of the city and left an estimated 151 people dead. The Joplin tornado is the deadliest single tornado since 1950. The tornado has been rated an EF-5.
The deadliest tornado on record in the U.S. was on March 18, 1925. The "Tri-State Tornado" (MO, IL, IN) had a 291 mile path, was rated F5 based on a historical assessment, and caused 695 fatalities.
- NSSL Rotation Tracks file for May 22 (Joplin, MO, .kmz, 10.81 MB)
- Joplin Tornado Event Summary, Springfield, MO NSWFO
- Severe Weather/Heavy Rain Event, Little Rock, AR NWSFO
- Joplin tornado offers important lessons for disaster preparedness (article on NOAA website)
- NWS final assessment report (.pdf, 2.0 MB)
May 24, 2011
Deadly tornadoes tore through Oklahoma, Kansas, and Arkansas claiming 18 additional lives. Several of these tornadoes received ratings of EF-5.
- NSSL Rotation Tracks for May 24 (Eastern U.S., .kmz, 10.69 MB)
- Preliminary Information for the Tornado Outbreak of May 24, 2011, Norman, OK NSWFO
- NSSL Briefings: NSSL Scientists Study Tornadoes in Their Own Back Yard
- NOAA Technology Helps American Red Cross Respond Faster
- PAR Captures Long-lived Tornado in May 24, 2011 Outbreak
More info....
- NOAA 2011 Tornado Information Page
- NOAA Knows... Tornado Forecasting and Warnings (.pdf, 1.4 MB)
- Enhanced F Scale for Tornado Damage (EF-0 to EF-5)
