2011 Hurricane Season Journal - Atlantic Basin

Get your FREE downloadable NHC Hurricane Tracking Chart for the Atlantic Basin and be ready to follow all of the 2011 tropical activity as it occurs.

For a complete list of names, see Atlantic Basin 2011 Hurricane Names.



The dates and storm strength for each name used is also listed.

Photo: my own (all rights reserved)

The information here is NOT a forecast or prediction. It is simply a description of some TYPICAL hurricane season activity.

Graphic: NOAA (public domain)

June 1 - Nov 30: Official dates of Hurricane Season. Hurricanes can't read calendars.

August - October: "Peak season," when the bulk of tropical activity usually occurs, with the first three weeks of September sometimes being the very busiest.

August - September: Months in which 'Cape Verde' storms usually form, although they can form earlier or later. These systems are born near the Cape Verde Islands, and track westward across the Atlantic. In general, they tend to be larger, and more intense than 'home grown' systems that begin life in the western Atlantic, Caribean, or Gulf of Mexico.

See Predictions for the 2011 Hurricane Season for the specific predictions from various professional weather forecasting organizations, including the National Hurricane Center.

06/28/2011 - Tropical Storm Arlene formed in the Bay of Campeche. Arlene has maximum sustained winds of 40 mph, with gusts to 50 mph.

6/30/2011 - Tropial storm Arlene made landfall near Cabo Rojos, MX, before dawn, with winds of 65 mph.

07/01/2011 - Arlene was declared a remnant Low, and continued bringing needed rainfall to Mexico.

Jul 17, 2011 - Tropical Depression Two -L forms NW of Great Abaco, and is upgraded to Tropical Storm Bret at 8 PM

JUL 18, 2011 - Bret 's winds strengthened to 65 mph as he moved away from The Bahamas. Tropical Storm Warnings canceled.

JUL 19, 2011 - Bret has weakened some. Top winds now 50 mph
JUL 20, 2011 - Maximum sustained winds have decreased to 45 mph winds.

JUL 22, 2011 - Brett weakens to a Tropical Depression (35 mph winds), having passed W of Bermuda, then degenerated into a remnant low later in the day

image courtesy NASA, PD

Jul 20, 2011 - Tropical Storm Cindy has formed out in the open Atlantic, was never a threat to land as she tracked farther seaward.

Jul 22, 2011- Cindy maintained Tropial Storm strength until the morning of the 22nd, but weakened rapidly over the cold waters of the North Atlantic. The final advisory was issued at 11 PM. So long, Cindy.

image from NOAA, PD

JUL 27, 2011 - Hurricane Hunters confirmed the formation of Tropical Storm Don, in the southern Gulf of Mexico.

JUL 28, 2011 - Tropical Storm Don did not undergo significant strengthening, and remained a 45 - 50 mph storm until shortly before landfall.

JUL 29, 2011 - Small Tropical Storm Don weakened as he made contact with the coast, becming a Tropical Depression by landfall the evening of 7/30 near Baffin Bay. Because of rapid deterioration due to shear and extreme dry air, Don did NOT bring badly needed drought relief.

PD image from NOAA satellite

Aug 1, 2011 - Tropical Storm Emily forms at the NE edge of the Caribbean. Tropical Storm Watches and Warnings have been issued. Maximum sustained winds are 40 mph, and movement is to the W

Aug 2 - 3 Emily strengthened a bit, now with top winds of 50 mph, but continued to struggle with orgainzation,

Aug 4 - Emily is meanders S of Hispanola, but still has winds of 50 mph. She is still S of Hispanola this morning.

Aug 5 - Emily degenerates into a remnant low yesterday over eastern Cuba and the southerastern Bahamas.

Aug 6-7, 2011 - Remanats of Tropical Storm Emily The remnants of T.S. Emily regenerated into a tropical depression, moved NE, and gradually fell apart.

Emily on 08/02/2011 - Photo from NOAA, p.d.

NOTE: that this is NOT an official weather site. Please see the National Hurricane Center site for the latest official information. (Feed below)

Aug 12 -Tropical Depression number 06 forms north of Bermuda, with winds of 35 mph. The system is NOT expected to threaten land.
Aug 13 - Tropical Depression Six strengthens to become Tropical Storm Franklin.
Aug 14 - Over the cold waters of the North Atlantic, Franklin has lost tropical characteristics and has begun to dissipate.

Aug 14 - Tropical Depression Seven formed late last night, and strengthened to Tropical Storm Gert today, SSE of Bermuda. Tropical Storm watches put in place in Bermuda

Aug 15 - Tropical Storm warnings dropped as Gert, now with 60 MPH winds, begins turning NNE, away from land.

Aug 16 - Gert weakens to a minimal tropical storm, and then to a post tropical low out in the north Atlantic, well NE of Bermuda.

Satellite Image of Gert, NOAA, p.d.

Aug 18 - Tropical Depression Eight forms in the SW Caribbean, E of Nicaragua / Honduras border.

Aug 19 - Tropical Storm Harvey, with winds of 50 mph, is passes over Roatan and the other Bay Islands overnight, and then continues on towards Belize.

AUG 20 - Tropical Storm Harvey, with 60mph winds, makes landfall near Dangriga Town, in Belize. .

Aug 21 - 22 Harvey becomes a Tropical Depression Harvey, with winds of 35 mph, is transversing Mexico, just below the Bay of Campeche, and then degenerates into a remnant low.
Remnant Low.

Aug 20 - Tropical Storm Irene, the ninth named storm of the Atlantic Basin Hurricane Season, forms east of the Leeward Islands, with winds of 50 mph.

Aug 21 - Tropical Storm Irene enters the Caribbean. Tropical Storm warnings expanded, Hurricane watches added as center shifts slightly northward

AUG 22 - Landfall, Puerto Rico, as a Tropical Storm, at 1:25 AM. Strengthens to Hurricane Irene by 5 AM - still over Puerto Rico - and to By a Cat. 2 hurricane, with winds of 100 mph, by evening

Aug 23 - Irene weakened back down to a Cat 1, then regained Category 2 status as she hit the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Aug 24 - Irene becomes a Major Category Three Hurricane, with winds of 115 mph, as she begins her track through The Bahamas.

Aug 25 - Irene, still a Category Three, leaves a path of damage behind her in The Bahamas, and heads for the US Atlantic Seaboard. States of Emergency declared in several coastal areas,

Aug 26 - Irene closes in on North Carolina, evacuation orders cover portions of six states. New York City is solidly in the cone.
SIZE: Irene is over 400 miles across.

Aug 27 - Llandfall in North Carolina, leaving 430,000 without power in NC and VA, with damage from tornadoes and flooding, roof damage, and downed trees.

Aug 28 - Landfall in NJ, NYC as a Cat 1 hurricane. Downgraded to a Tropical Storm shortly thereafter NYC landfall.

Aug 29, 2011 - Irene transitioned to a Post-Tropical Cyclone over northern New Hampshire.

Satellite image, NOAA

In the US, there were 39 direct and 2 indirect storm related deaths from Irene, widespread flooding, road and bridge damage, as well as homes with roof and water damage.

Damage spread from North Carolina to the Canadian border as the storm tracked along the eastern seaboard.

Homes swept into the sea in The Bahamas. Waist high flooding inside some other structures
The Dominican Republic reports three deaths and significant damaghe to over 2,000 homes.
Flooding in Puerto Rico is apparently widespread.

The name Irene will NOT be used again,
It has been retired, and replaced by Irma.

Aug 28, 2011 - Tropical Storm Jose - Tropical Storm Jose has formed just to the SSW of Bermuda, with sustained wins of 40 mph, and is moving north. Bermuda placed under tropical storm warnings.

Aug 29 - 30 - Tropical Stsorm Jose moves into colder waters beyond Bermuda and dissipates, without ever having made landfall.

Image courtesy of NOAA

Aug 29 - Tropical Depression Twelve forms near the Cape Verde islands.

Aug 30 - T.D. 12 strengthens into Tropical Storm Katia, with winds sof 45 mph. Now over the eastern Atlantic, the sytem is moving WNW, and could approach the Northern Lesser Antilles in three or four days.

Sept 1 - Hurricane Katia - Katia, with winds of 75 mph, and well east of the Leeward Islands, becomes the second hurricane of the season, but weakens to Tropical Storm Status, with 70 mph winds in the evening..

Hurricane Katia Track on 090911

SEPT 2 - 4 - Hurricane Katia fluctuates in strength several times before becoming a Category Two Hurricane, with winds of 105 mph on the 4th.

SEPT 5 - Hurricane Katia becomes a Major Hurricane - and intensifies to a Category FOUR, with winds of 135 mph

SEPT 6 - 8 Hurricane Katia weakens to a Category 2, then a Category 1 and passes between the US Atlantic coast and Bermuda on Sept 7 - 8, btringing dangerous surf to the US and tropical storm force winds to Bermuda.

SEPT 9 - Category One Hurricane Hurricane Katia, with winds of 85 mph over the open Atlantic, heading ENE

SEPT 10 - Katia loses tropical characteristids, retains powerful 80 mph winds, heads towards Great Britian as a post tropical cyclone.

FATALITY - A 35 year old man drowned in the rough surf at Galveston Island.

TIMELINE
Sept 1 - Tropical Depression Thirteen forms off the coast of Louisiana.

Sept 2 - Hurricane Hunters find a center, and Tropical Depression Thirteen becomes Tropical Storm Lee, with 40 mph winds The system moves slowly, dropping copious amounts of rain. State of Emergency declared in Lousisana

TS Lee Makes Landfall, Courtesy NOAA

SEPT 3 - Tropical Storm Lee now has sustained winds of 60 mph, and is very near landfall in southern Louisiana. He is still moving slowly, and flooding is a real concern. Tropical Storm force winds can be felt as far as 200 miles out from the center.

Sept 4 - After hovering near the coast all night, Tropical Storm Lee came ashore this morning about 50 miles west of Morgan City, LA producing heavy rain a tornadic threats as far east as Destin, Florida.

SEPT 5 - Lee degenerates into a Tropical Depression, and then into a post tropical remnant low, though with a continued threat of flooding and tornadoes for areas along the path of the remnants, from Louisiana northeastward.

TIMELINE:
SEPT 6 - Tropical Depression Fourteen forms well east of the Lesser Antilles.

SEPT 7 - Tropical Storm Maria becomes the 13th named storm of 2011,

SEPT 8 and 9 - Tropical Storm Maria continues to move westward, Tropical Storm Watches issued for parts of the Antilles.

Hurricane Maria on 091611, courtesy NOAA

SEPT 10 and 11 - Watches and warnings dropped as the center of Tropical Storm Maria moves N of the Antilles

SEPT 12 - Tropical Storm Maria loses organization, maintains winds of 50 mph, slows.

SEPT 13 - With winds of 50 mph, a disorganized Tropical Storm Maria moves slowly NNW. Bermuda is under a Tropical Storm Watch.

SEPT 15 - Maria becomes the 3rd hurricane of the 2011 Atlantic season, tracks east of Bermuda, heads towards SE Newfoundland.

SEPT 16 - Hurricane Maria makes landfall on Newfoundland's Avalon Peninsula, and loses tropical characteristics..

SEPT 7 - Tropical Storm Nate forms in the Bay of Campeche. Moving slowly ESE with winds of 45 mph.
Sept 8 - Tropical Storm Nate is barely moving this morning, and bringing tropical storm conditions to areas south and east of the Bay of Campeche
SEPT 9 - Tropical Storm Nate, with winds of 65mph, moves little; Forecast track shifts west towards the central Mexican coast

Tropical Storm Nate, courtesy of NOAA

SEPT 10 - Tropical Storm Nate moves slowly towards the Mexican coast with winds of 60 mph.
SEPT 11 - Tropical Storm Nate makes landfall north of Veracruz.. weakens, moves westward, and degenerates.

Sept 20 - The fifteenth named storm of the season - Tropical Storm Ophelia - has formed in the tropical Atlantic.

SEPT 21 - Ophelia moves westward, winds strengthen to 60 mph.

SEPT 23 Tropical Storm Ophelia fluctuates in strength, turns WNW. No watches or warnings have been issued.

Hurricane Ophelia 093011, courtesy NOAA

SEPT 22 - Tropical Storm Ophelia, less than 1000 miles ESE of the Leeward Islands, moves west, with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph.

SEPT 24- 25: Tropical Storm Opheila turns NW, weakens to a remnant low, east of the Leeward Islands.

SEPT 27 - 28: Ophelia regenerates, sgtrengthens to a Tropical Storm once again.

Sept 29 - The system strengthens throughout the day, becoming Hurricane Ophelia by lat evening.

SEPT 30 - Ophelia becomes the third Major Hurricane of the season, with Category Three winds of 115 mph, which had increased to 125 mph by Oct 2, as she headed generally towards Bermuda, then turns N, and finally NNE, missing Bermuda.

OCT 3 - Tropical Storm Ophelia arrives in Canada's Maritime Provinces, with near hurricane strength winds. The system quickly weakens and dissipates in the hostile environment.

TIMELINE
SEPT 24 - Tropical Depression number 17 forms, and strengthens into Tropical Storm Phiippe, south of the Cape Verde Islands. .

SEPT 25-27: Tropical Storm Philippe strengthens to 60 mph, then weakens, continues moving through the eastern Atlantic.

SEPT 28-29: Tropical Storm Philippe moves WNW through the Eastern Atlantic, with maximum sustained winds of 40mph. A turn to the NW, and then to the W, is forecast.

SEPT 30-Oct 1: SEPT 30 Tropical Storm Philippe continues moving NW through the Atlantic, with winds of 45 mph.

Hurricane Philippe

SEPT 2: Philippe flirts briefly with hurricane strength, as winds reach 70 mph.

Oct 3 - 4: Tropical Storm Philippe meanders a bit, heading W, then WSE, then W again, with winds of 65 mph.

OCT 5 - Tropical Storm Philippe, SSE of Bermuda, WNW, with winds of 65 mph, appears poised to strengthen into a hurricane.

OCT 6 - Hurricane Philippe now has winds of 85 mph, and moves NE, away from Bermuda.

OCT 8 - Philippe weakens to a tropical storm.

OCT 9 - Philippe loses his tropical characteristics, and becomes a post tropical cyclone.

TIMELINE
OCTOBER 23 - Tropical Depression Eighteen forms in the northwest Caribbean Sea, and report the depression is already nearing Tropical Storm strength. A Tropical Storm Watch has been posted for portions of the coast of Honduras.
OCTOBER 24 - Tina becomes a Hurricane and strengthens. .
OCTOBER 25 - Hurricane Rina, moving slowly, strengthens to a Category 2.

Hurricane-Rina-on1026, courtesy NOAA

OCTOBER 26 - Hurricane Rina, moving slowly westward, with winds of 110 mph. Watches and warnings issued for portions of the Yucatan, Belize, and the Bay Islands of Honduras..
OCT 27 - Rina weakens to a Category 1 hurricane, then a Tropical Storm, passes over or near Cozumel enroute to a visit to the extreme northeastern Yucatan Peninsula.
OCT 28 - Tropical Storm Rina exits the Yucatan, and ionce back over water, weakens to a tropical de;pressionas she interacts with a cold front. The shear and dry air from the cold rond spell Rina's demise as she loses tropical characteristics and becomes post tropical.

.

TIMELINE
NOV 8 - Subropical Storm Sean forms in the Atlantic, between The Bahnamas and Bermuda, with winds of 45 mph, and transitions to Tropical Storm Sean.

NOV 9 - Tropical Storm Sean strenthens, turns NNW, continues moving slowly. Bermuda posts Tropical Storm Warnings.

NOV 10 - Tropical Storm Sean's winds increase to 65 mph as the system turns NNE. Tropical Storm Warnings for Bermuda

NOV 11 - Traveling ENE, Tropical Storm Sean passes to the NW of Bermuda, and merges with a cold front before midnight. Good night, Sean.

TS Sean passes Bermuda, Nov 11 courtesy NOAA