Louisiana, 2011

Tropical Storm in Louisiana, September 2 to 5, 2011

September 2 to 5, 2011 · NWS LIX · 33 events in 28 counties and zones

Tropical Storm Lee initially developed as Tropical Depression Thirteen in middle Gulf of Mexico on Thursday evening September 1st. The depression moved slowly north and gradually strengthened, eventually reaching tropical storm strength just south of Louisiana coast on Friday afternoon September 2nd.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 17 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$315,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
33

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS LIX wrote it up.

Tropical Storm Lee initially developed as Tropical Depression Thirteen in middle Gulf of Mexico on Thursday evening September 1st. The depression moved slowly north and gradually strengthened, eventually reaching tropical storm strength just south of Louisiana coast on Friday afternoon September 2nd. Tropical Storm Lee made only slow and haltingly northward progress over the next 24 hours eventually moving onshore the Louisiana coast Saturday night, September 3rd, with a maximum sustained wind estimated around 60 mph. Lee moved slowly inland to north of Baton Rouge late Sunday September 4th, and eventually weakened to a tropical depression Sunday evening.

Tropical Depression Lee then moved steadily northeast throughout Monday, September 5th, taking on extra-tropical characteristics over the next 24 hours as it interacted with an upper level disturbance moving through the region. The maximum sustained wind observed in Louisiana was a south wind of 40 kts ( 46 mph) at New Orleans Lakefront Airport on September 4th at 0528CST. The highest gust was recorded at the same location and time of 50 kts (58 mph) on September 4th at 0528CST. Lowest minimum central pressure was 993.2 mb at Baton Rouge Ryan Field at Sept 4 at 0959CST. As Tropical Depression Lee was moving northeast and taking on mid-latitude characteristics, strong northerly winds were experienced across the region, occasionally gusting to higher levels than experienced when Lee was characterized as a tropical storm.

No fatalities or injuries were associated with any Tropical Storm Lee hazards.

The main impacts associated with Tropical Storm Lee were associated with storm surge and rainfall. Both of these impacts were related to its slow forward speed as it crossed the region which allowed the circulation to linger over the area for several days. Storm surge associated with Lee caused tide values to be 3 to 5 feet above normal causing low land flooding. Additional detailed information is contained in the separate storm surge report. Four day storm total rainfall ranged between 7 and 15 inches across the area. A maximum of 15.48 inches was recorded near Holden in Livingston Parish. Due to dry antecedent conditions, river flooding was minimal for the amount of rainfall that occurred.

Wind impacts were generally minimal due to only tropical storm strength winds recorded, resulting in tree limbs being blown down, and weak trees toppling causing power outages.

Damage estimates are very rough and preliminary. All of the hazards associated with TS Lee resulted in an estimated $3.0 million in property damage. The majority of the damage, approximately $2 million, was associated with storm surge flooding impacts. Flash flooding resulted in an estimated $75,000 in damages. There was one confirmed tornado touchdown in Saint Bernard Parish resulting in $10,000 in property damage.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS New Orleans, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Sep 2, 3:19 PM CST, 41 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 2, 3:19 PM CST, 41 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 2, 4:00 PM CST, 0 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
500 PM CDT FRI SEP 2 2011

GMZ530-532-534-536-538-550-552-555-557-570-572-575-577-LAZ034>037-
039-040-046>050-056>072-MSZ068>071-077-080>082-031800-
LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN AND LAKE MAUREPAS-MISSISSIPPI SOUND-
LAKE BORGNE-CHANDELEUR SOUND-BRETON SOUND-
COASTAL WATERS FROM PORT FOURCHON TO LOWER ATCHAFALAYA RIVER OUT
20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
TO PORT FOURCHON OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM BOOTHVILLE LA TO THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM PASCAGOULA MS TO STAKE ISLAND LA OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM PORT FOURCHON TO LOWER ATCHAFALAYA RIVER FROM
20 TO 60 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
TO PORT FOURCHON FROM 20 TO 60 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM STAKE ISLAND LA TO THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER FROM 20 TO 60 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM PASCAGOULA MS TO STAKE ISLAND LA FROM 20 TO
60 NM-POINTE COUPEE-WEST FELICIANA-EAST FELICIANA-ST. HELENA-
WASHINGTON-ST. TAMMANY-IBERVILLE-WEST BATON ROUGE-
EAST BATON ROUGE-ASCENSION-LIVINGSTON-ASSUMPTION-ST. JAMES-
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST-UPPER LAFOURCHE-ST. CHARLES-UPPER JEFFERSON-
ORLEANS-UPPER PLAQUEMINES-UPPER ST. BERNARD-UPPER TERREBONNE-
LOWER TERREBONNE-LOWER LAFOURCHE-LOWER JEFFERSON-
LOWER PLAQUEMINES-LOWER ST. BERNARD-NORTHERN TANGIPAHOA-
SOUTHERN TANGIPAHOA-WILKINSON-AMITE-PIKE-WALTHALL-PEARL RIVER-
HANCOCK-HARRISON-JACKSON-
500 PM CDT FRI SEP 2 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF COASTAL WATERS
OF SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA AND SOUTH MISSISSIPPI...SOUTHEAST
LOUISIANA AND SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA
AND COASTAL AND SOUTHWEST MISSISSIPPI. FOR MORE DETAILED HAZARD
INFORMATION...REFER TO THE LATEST LOCAL HURRICANE STATEMENTS.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY EVENING IN
ANTICIPATION OF FREQUENT HEAVY RAINS FROM TROPICAL SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS. THE WATCH AREA INCLUDES ALL OF SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA AS
WELL AS COASTAL AND SOUTHWEST MISSISSIPPI. WIDESPREAD RAINFALL
AMOUNTS OF 10 TO 15 INCHES WITH ISOLATED 20 INCH AMOUNTS WILL BE
POSSIBLE THROUGH MONDAY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST
LOUISIANA AND COASTAL AND SOUTHWEST MISSISSIPPI THROUGH MONDAY
EVENING. FOR MORE DETAILED HAZARD INFORMATION...REFER TO THE LATEST
LOCAL HURRICANE STATEMENTS.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY EVENING IN
ANTICIPATION OF FREQUENT HEAVY RAINS FROM TROPICAL SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS. THE WATCH AREA INCLUDES ALL OF SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA AS
WELL AS COASTAL AND SOUTHWEST MISSISSIPPI. WIDESPREAD RAINFALL
AMOUNTS OF 10 TO 15 INCHES WITH ISOLATED 20 INCH AMOUNTS WILL BE
POSSIBLE THROUGH MONDAY.

WATERSPOUT AND TORNADO ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DEVELOPING AS
THE CENTER OF THE TROPICAL STORM LEE MOVES CLOSER TO SHORE. THIS
THREAT WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MONDAY.

MINOR STORM SURGE FLOODING WILL BE POSSIBLE IN AREAS OUTSIDE OF THE
HURRICANE PROTECTION LEVEES...IN AREAS AROUND LAKES PONTCHARTRAIN
AND MAUREPAS...AND ALONG THE IMMEDIATE MISSISSIPPI COAST AND BAYS
THROUGH MONDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS MAY BE NEEDED THIS WEEKEND...PRIMARILY
FOR COASTAL FLOODING AND FLASH FLOODING CONCERNS. EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS SHOULD CLOSELY MONITOR THE WEATHER SITUATION
AND BE PREPARED TO ACTIVATE FOR TROPICAL WEATHER OPERATIONS.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

33 tropical storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Tropical Storm, Ascension

When
September 2, 4:00 PM CST to September 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Ascension forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager

Tropical Storm, Assumption

When
September 2, 4:00 PM CST to September 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Assumption forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
29.901, -91.063 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, East Baton Rouge

When
September 2, 4:00 PM CST to September 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where
East Baton Rouge forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
30.538, -91.096 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, East Feliciana

When
September 2, 4:00 PM CST to September 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where
East Feliciana forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
30.845, -91.045 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Iberville

When
September 2, 4:00 PM CST to September 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Iberville forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
30.259, -91.349 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Livingston

When
September 2, 4:00 PM CST to September 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Livingston forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager

Tropical Storm, Lower Jefferson

When
September 2, 4:00 PM CST to September 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Lower Jefferson forecast zone
Property damage
$25,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager

Tropical Storm, Lower Lafourche

When
September 2, 4:00 PM CST to September 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Lower Lafourche forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager

Tropical Storm, Lower Plaquemines

When
September 2, 4:00 PM CST to September 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Lower Plaquemines forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager

Tropical Storm, Lower St. Bernard

When
September 2, 4:00 PM CST to September 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Lower St. Bernard forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
29.874, -89.824 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Lower Terrebonne

When
September 2, 4:00 PM CST to September 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Lower Terrebonne forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager

Tropical Storm, Northern Tangipahoa

When
September 2, 4:00 PM CST to September 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Northern Tangipahoa forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
30.627, -90.406 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Orleans

When
September 2, 4:00 PM CST to September 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Orleans forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager

Tropical Storm, Orleans

When
September 2, 4:00 PM CST to September 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Orleans forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager

Tropical Storm, Pointe Coupee

When
September 2, 4:00 PM CST to September 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Pointe Coupee forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
30.709, -91.601 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Southern Tangipahoa

When
September 2, 4:00 PM CST to September 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Southern Tangipahoa forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager

Tropical Storm, Southern Tangipahoa

When
September 2, 4:00 PM CST to September 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Southern Tangipahoa forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager

Tropical Storm, St. Charles

When
September 2, 4:00 PM CST to September 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where
St. Charles forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager

Tropical Storm, St. Helena

When
September 2, 4:00 PM CST to September 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where
St. Helena forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
30.822, -90.710 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, St. James

When
September 2, 4:00 PM CST to September 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where
St. James forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
30.026, -90.796 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, St. John the Baptist

When
September 2, 4:00 PM CST to September 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where
St. John the Baptist forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
30.127, -90.471 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, St. John the Baptist

When
September 2, 4:00 PM CST to September 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where
St. John the Baptist forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
30.127, -90.471 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, St. Tammany

When
September 2, 4:00 PM CST to September 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where
St. Tammany forecast zone
Property damage
$25,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager

Tropical Storm, Upper Jefferson

When
September 2, 4:00 PM CST to September 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Upper Jefferson forecast zone
Property damage
$25,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager

Tropical Storm, Upper Lafourche

When
September 2, 4:00 PM CST to September 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Upper Lafourche forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager

Tropical Storm, Upper Plaquemines

When
September 2, 4:00 PM CST to September 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Upper Plaquemines forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager

Tropical Storm, Upper St. Bernard

When
September 2, 4:00 PM CST to September 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Upper St. Bernard forecast zone
Property damage
$25,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
29.874, -89.824 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Upper Terrebonne

When
September 2, 4:00 PM CST to September 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Upper Terrebonne forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager

Tropical Storm, Washington

When
September 2, 4:00 PM CST to September 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Washington forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
30.853, -90.040 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, West Baton Rouge

When
September 2, 4:00 PM CST to September 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where
West Baton Rouge forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
30.463, -91.313 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, West Baton Rouge

When
September 2, 4:00 PM CST to September 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where
West Baton Rouge forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
30.463, -91.313 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, West Feliciana

When
September 2, 4:00 PM CST to September 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where
West Feliciana forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
30.880, -91.420 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, West Feliciana

When
September 2, 4:00 PM CST to September 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where
West Feliciana forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
30.880, -91.420 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Tropical Storm
A tropical cyclone with sustained winds of 34 to 63 knots (39 to 73 mph).

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Louisiana in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Louisiana, September 2011The 2011 hurricane season

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 348166, 348167, 348168, 348172, 348173, 348182, 348183, 348184, 348185, 348186, 348187, 348188, 348189, 348190, 348191, 348192, 348193, 348194, 348195, 348196, 348197, 348198, 348199, 348200, 348201, 348202, 348203, 348204, 348205, 348206, 348207, 348208, 348209.