Tropical Storm Lee (2011)

Basin

North Atlantic

Dates

September 2, 2011 to September 6, 2011

Peak strength

Tropical Storm, 50 kt (58 mph)

Lowest pressure

986 mb (29.12 inHg)

Landfall

Yes

Accumulated cyclone energy

0.6

Tropical-storm-force wind reached

250 nmi (463 km, 288 mi) from the center at its widest

Eyewall radius at its peak

120 nmi (222 km, 138 mi)

Overall size

325 nmi (602 km, 374 mi) to the outermost closed isobar

Peak gust in the best track

60 kt (69 mph)

Fastest the center moved

19 kt (22 mph)

Identifier

AL132011

Radar at KLCH as it neared land, Sep 4, 10:30 UTC

The sources count different things and are not added together.

Landfall points the US agencies flagged in the best track. The nearest town is named from the site’s gazetteer, not from the report.

NOAA’s Storm Events database, the record National Weather Service offices compile months after a storm, as compiled March 2026.

Deaths

19 (17 direct, 2 indirect)

Injuries

16

Property damage

$1.4 billion

Crop damage

$755,000

Events recorded

927 in 71 reports from 23 states and marine areas

State by state

What was recorded

290 flash flood, 197 flood, 155 tropical storm, 121 thunderstorm wind, 56 strong wind, 26 tornado, 22 storm surge/tide, 18 heavy rain, 15 marine thunderstorm wind, 9 coastal flood, 6 funnel cloud, 4 lightning, 4 high wind, 1 high surf, 1 debris flow, 1 rip current, 1 hail.

26 tornadoes recorded in the United States, strongest first.

The Weather Prediction Center attributes 4,505 rain gauge totals over the contiguous United States to this storm. The wettest reached 20.96 inches (532 mm).

WPC’s storm rainfall file, 1900 to 2020, compiled by David Roth.

The strongest winds National Weather Service offices recorded with this storm. An estimated figure is a forecaster’s judgment from the damage, not an instrument reading.

From the Storm Events narratives, unedited.

A tornado touchdown occurred near the intersection of Pilate Lane and Bayou Road. The tornado touched down near the flood wall and moved NNE across Pilate Lane. It caused significant damage to one trailer, separating the roof from the walls. It also snapped several large tree branches, downed a wooden fence, and destroyed a wooden shed. Near Bayou Road, the tornado caused minor damage to a brick home and snapped an 18 inch diameter tree near the base. From there, the tornado continued NNE into a marshy area where damage was observed in the tree tops. Total surveyed path was roughly 0.5 miles, but the path may have been longer through the marshy area into Lake Borgne. Maximum sustained winds were estimated at 100 mph. Path width 50 yards.

St. Bernard, Louisiana · Tornado · Sep 4, 01:50 UTC

A tornado moved onshore near the mouth of East Fowl River on Byrnewood road and tracked northwest to the end of Pioneer Road in the Bellefontaine community. The tornado produced extensive damage to trees consistent with EF-1 type damage and winds between 86 MPH and 110 MPH. Four residences and one large barn had structural damage in the area between Bay Road and Pioneer Road. Of those structures, one mobile home was almost completely destroyed from a large tree that fell on it, with minor damage to mostly roofing shingles and window panes observed with the other three homes. The barn received minor structural damage on an exterior wall with three large roll-up doors completely blown out.

Mobile, Alabama · Tornado · Sep 4, 06:02 UTC

The tornado moved off the Gulf of Mexico in Perdido Key, then continued north northwest causing more pronounced damage at Inerarity Point. The tornado continued across Perdido Bay into Baldwin County Alabama near Lillian. the most extensive damage was at Inerarity Point to a residence on Dune Avenue. The home lost the north half of its roof, resulting in partial collapse of the walls. the roof appeared to be straight nailed with no hurricane straps. Other homes suffered minor roof damage. At approximately one mile north northwest of Dune Avenue on Garcon Boulevard, an aluminum carport with steel poles was destroyed.

Escambia, Florida · Tornado · Sep 4, 08:10 UTC

The remnants of Tropical Storm Lee impacts north and central Georgia with one EF1 tornado and modest to heavy rainfall across the northwest half of the state. Rainfall ranged from near eight inches in parts of northwest Georgia to less than one inch in the southeast part of the county warning area. An EF1 tornado caused extensive damage in Cherokee county during the afternoon of September 5th. The annual Atlanta Motor Speedway event on Sunday September 4th was rained out and had to be postponed to a later date. Winds associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee were generally less than 20 mph by the time it reached the region.

Banks, Georgia · Tropical Storm · Sep 4, 16:00 UTC

The remnants of Tropical Storm Lee impacts north and central Georgia with one EF1 tornado and modest to heavy rainfall across the northwest half of the state. Rainfall ranged from near eight inches in parts of northwest Georgia to less than one inch in the southeast part of the county warning area. An EF1 tornado caused extensive damage in Cherokee county during the afternoon of September 5th. The annual Atlanta Motor Speedway event on Sunday September 4th was rained out and had to be postponed to a later date. Winds associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee were generally less than 20 mph by the time it reached the region.

Baldwin, Georgia · Tropical Storm · Sep 4, 16:00 UTC

A woman was killed when a tree fell on a car the woman was trying to relocate in her driveway. Her house was in the East Brainerd area or about 6 miles ESE of downtown Chattanooga and about 2 miles south of the airport. The remnants of Tropical Storm Lee had moved northward from the Gulf of Mexico to southwest of Atlanta, GA. Heavy rains had moved into the region with a long duration of rains in the Chattanooga area. As of midnight EDT Monday night/Tuesday morning, 9.5��� of rain had fallen over the past 30 hours. The rain-soaked grounds made trees more susceptible to toppling. Winds at the Chattanooga airport were from the north at 21G31kt near the time of the incident.

Hamilton, Tennessee · Strong Wind · Sep 6, 04:05 UTC

Moderate flooding occurred on the Housatonic River in Licthfield County. The Falls Village river gage located near Water Street in Falls Village exceeded its 7 foot flood stage at 5 pm EST September 6th, its 10 foot moderate flood stage at 11:49 pm September 8th, it crested at 13.47 feet at 6 am September 9th, then remained above its moderate flood stage until 7:15 am September 11th, and finally fell below flood stage at 2:34 pm September 12th. The Gaylordsville river gage located near Route 7, Kent Road, less than a mile north of the Village of Gaylordsville exceeded its 8 foot flood stage at 6 pm EST September 6th, its 10 foot moderate flood stage at 5 pm September 7th, then remained above its moderate flood stage until 9 am September 11th, and finally fell below flood stage at 3 pm September 12th. The crest time and level are unknown.

Litchfield, Connecticut · Flood · Sep 6, 22:00 UTC

The first round of widespread heavier rain that started on the 6th caused creek flooding concentrated in the southwest half of Delaware County. The Brandywine Creek at Chadds Ford was above its 9 foot flood stage from 225 a.m. EDT through 448 p.m. EDT on the 7th. It crested at 10.14 feet at 1230 p.m. EDT. The Chester Creek at Chester was above its 8 foot flood stage from 828 p.m. EDT through 1115 p.m. EDT on the 6th. It crested at 8.39 feet at 1015 p.m. EDT. The Chester Creek at Chester was above its 8 foot flood stage again from 328 a.m. EDT through 721 a.m. EDT on the 7th. It crested at 9.43 feet at 530 a.m. EDT. The Crum Creek at Newtown Square was above its 6 foot flood stage from 325 a.m. EDT through 649 a.m. EDT on the 7th. It crested at 7.07 feet at 430 a.m. EDT.

Delaware, Pennsylvania · Flood · Sep 7, 00:28 UTC

Minor flooding occurred on the Esopus Creek upstream of the Ashokan Reservoir. The Mount Temper/Cold Brook river gage located on the left bank at the downstream side of the bridge on Nissen Road in Coldbrook, 1.5 miles upstream from the Ashokan Reservoir, and 2.5 miles south of Mount Tremper exceeded its 11 foot flood stage at 3:44 am EST September 7th, it crested at 14.21 feet at 6:45 am (moderate flood stage is 15 feet), dropped below flood stage at 3:12 pm September 7th. It went back above flood stage at 5:57 am September 8th, crested just above flood stage at 11.79 feet at 7:45 am and dropped back below flood stage at 10:19 am September 8th.

Ulster, New York · Flood · Sep 7, 08:44 UTC

Moderate flooding occurred on the Espous downstream from the Ashokan Reservoir. The Mount Marion river gage located on left bank at downstream side of bridge on Glasco Turnpike, 0.8 miles east of Mount Marion, and 1.6 miles downstream from Plattekill Creek exceeded its 20 foot flood stage at 6:35 am EST September 7th, its 22 foot moderate flood stage at 3:21 am September 8th, it crested at 23.53 feet at 11 am September 8th (major flood stage is 24 feet), and dropped below flood stage at 5:45 am September 10th. The Ashokan Reservoir East gage exceeded its 589 foot flood stage at 12:50 pm September 7th, it crested at 589.56 feet at 3:10 pm September 8th, and dropped below flood stage at 8:59 am September 9th.

Ulster, New York · Flood · Sep 7, 11:35 UTC

The heavy rain caused widespread flooding in Sussex County. Many roadways were closed. Schools were closed on the 8th in Vernon and Sparta Townships. A few homes were flooded in Andover Township. Sections of New Jersey State Route 23 and 94 were closed in Franklin Township and Stockholm (Hardyston Township). The Flat Brook flooded a few homes in southwest Sussex County. The Flat Brook at Flatbrookville had moderate flooding and was above its 6 foot flood stage from 903 a.m. EDT on the 7th through 905 a.m. EDT on the 9th. It crested at 8.90 feet at 600 p.m. EDT on the 8th. Entire event rainfall totals included 7.93 inches in Montague Township, 7.79 inches in Wantage Township, 7.79 inches in Sussex, 7.32 inches in Andover, 7.23 inches in Pellettown, 6.89 inches in High Point and 5.53 inches in Flatbrookville.

Sussex, New Jersey · Flood · Sep 7, 13:03 UTC

A band of showers and thunderstorms with heavy rain caused flash flooding of smaller streams as well as poor drainage flooding in Philadelphia. It also caused the drowning death of a 27-year-old woman who was caught in flood waters in the East Germantown section of the city. She was discovered in the rear of her Sports Utility Vehicle at the intersection of Musgrave and Haines Streets on the morning of the 8th. The Wingohocking Creek, which is a creek that was buried underground during the 19th century had its waters back out of sewer grates and manhole covers in that section of the city. Godfrey Avenue and Wister Street also flooded in East Germantown. The wall of a church also collapsed. Most gaged creeks within Philadelphia flooded as well as the Schuylkill River.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · Flash Flood · Sep 8, 06:03 UTC

Cars were stuck in two feet of water at the intersection of Lamartine Street and Quinsigamond Avenue, the occupants were rescued by the fire department. Shrewsbury Street near Cristoforo Columbo Park, Roxbury, Grafton, and Millbury Streets were all flooded with at least one foot of water. Cars on Canton Street were stuck in floodwaters. Route 20 at Grafton Street was closed due to flooding. Route 148 in Oakham was closed between Ware Corner and Rutland Road due to flooding. Route 146 in Millbury was flooded with one foot of water at the Interstate 90 interchange. In addition, flooding occurred on the following small streams and rivers: the Ware River at Barre Plains and at Gibbs Crossing. No damage was reported with the flooding on these rivers.

Worcester, Massachusetts · Flash Flood · Sep 8, 12:00 UTC

Thunderstorms with torrential downpours caused flash flooding of roadways and fields in and mainly to the west of Seaford in western Sussex County. Sections of Stein Highway (Delaware State Route 20) and Figgs Road were among about a dozen roads that were closed by flash flooding. Many roadways within Seaford itself had high water on them. Delaware State Route 20 and Ellis Mill Road suffered washouts. The Seaford School District was closed the following day, September 9th. Doppler Radar storm total estimates for the entire event in the flash flood area exceeded 10 inches. Other event precipitation totals in Sussex County included 4.60 inches in Milford and 2.76 inches in Georgetown.

Sussex, Delaware · Flash Flood · Sep 8, 20:30 UTC

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• Hurricane MariaNorth Atlantic · 2011Cat 170 kt · 983 mb
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A best track is the record a warning agency settles on after the storm, not what it said at the time: position, maximum sustained wind and central pressure every six hours, revised against every observation that came in later. Category is the Saffir-Simpson scale, which runs from Category 1 at 64 kt to Category 5 at 137 kt and reads wind only, so it says nothing about surge or rain. Accumulated cyclone energy adds up the square of the wind through the storm's life, so it counts strength and duration together.

Storm history from NOAA NCEI’s International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS), which merges the official best track of every warning agency. Live storms, cones, watches and warnings from the National Hurricane Center and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Archived radar from NOAA’s Level II archive.

• Tropical cyclone report, National Hurricane Center
• Every advisory and discussion NHC issued while it was live
• Best track as KMZ, National Hurricane Center
• Wikipedia article: Tropical Storm Lee