Midwest/Southeast Tornadoes and Derecho

Losses, 2024 dollars

$3.9 billion

Losses at the time

$2.8 billion

Deaths

9

The losses and deaths are NCEI’s, counting everything the disaster did. The episodes below are only what the Weather Service filed in its Storm Events record, which counts damage differently and often not at all, so the two never add up and are shown apart.

• Hail in Wisconsin, April 3, 20111 in hail · 6 eventsA warm front lifted north across central Wisconsin during the morning hours of April 3rd.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Wisconsin, April 3 to 4, 20111 death · 2 injured · $12,000 · 2.75 in hail · 18 eventsTwo rounds of thunderstorms affected southern Wisconsin on April 3rd, as low pressure moved northeast from Iowa across Wisconsin.
• Hail in Illinois, April 3, 2011$100,000 · 1.75 in hail · 13 eventsStrong to severe thunderstorms moved across northern Illinois during the late evening hours of April 3rd.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Kansas, April 3, 20112.75 in hail · 88 eventsDuring the day on Sunday, temperatures warmed to record highs across northeast Kansas before a powerful storm system moved through Sunday afternoon and evening.
• Hail in Iowa, April 3, 2011$13,000 · 1.75 in hail · 10 eventsA strong push of warm air took place during the day on the 3rd in advance of a strong low pressure area. Temperatures warmed in to the mid to upper 80s across a large part of the state, with dewpoint readings in the mid 50s to low 60s.
• Hail and Damaging Wind in Iowa, April 3, 2011$2.0 million · 3.5 in hail · 54 eventsA warm front lifted northward across the region during the morning of April 3, allowing for strong southerly winds behind the front to bring warmer air into the region.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Kansas, April 3, 2011$23,000 · 2 in hail · 31 eventsA strong cold front surged into Central Kansas during the evening hours of Sunday April 3rd, 2011. Strong south winds throughout the day transported unseasonably rich moisture into the eastern half of Kansas as this front moved into Central Kansas.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Missouri, April 3, 20111 injured · $7.1 million · 3 in hail · 60 eventsApril 3, 2011, was an abnormally warm day, with high temperatues in the 80s and 90s. Record high temperatures were broken in several locations.
• Hail in Pennsylvania, April 3, 20111 in hail · 1 eventElevated thunderstorms ahead of a warm front produced isolated large hail over northern Somerset County during the late evening.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Kansas, April 3, 2011$133,000 · 1.75 in hail · 19 eventsApril 3, 2011, was an abnormally warm day, with high temperatues in the 80s and 90s. Record high temperatures were broken in several locations.
• Hail in Nebraska, April 3, 20111.25 in hail · 1 eventIsolated severe thunderstorms developed along and just behind a cold front that raced across southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa during the evening of April 3rd.
• Hail in Wisconsin, April 3, 2011$10,000 · 1.75 in hail · 4 eventsA low pressure system moved across southern Wisconsin during the evening hours of April 3rd. Severe thunderstorms developed over eastern Iowa and tracked northeast into extreme southwest Wisconsin.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Illinois, April 3, 2011$5,000 · 1.75 in hail · 22 eventsA warm front lifted northward across the region during the morning of April 3, allowing for strong southerly winds behind the front to bring warmer air into the region.
• Hail in Iowa, April 3, 20111 in hail · 1 eventIsolated severe thunderstorms developed along and just behind a cold front that raced across southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa during the evening of April 3rd.
• Hail in Missouri, April 3, 20110.88 in hail · 2 eventsNon-severe hail fell in Memphis, MO during the evening of April 3.
• Hail in Texas, April 3, 20111.75 in hail · 1 eventAn isolated supercell thunderstorm formed along the dryline and produced large hail in the City of Abilene.
• Hail in Kansas, April 3, 20111 in hail · 1 eventThunderstorms moving into the region formed into a linear line of strong to severe storms. The storms produced up to quarter size hail.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Missouri, April 3 to 4, 20111.5 in hail · 11 eventsA strong cold front moved through the area, triggering showers and thunderstorms. A few of the storms produced large hail and damaging winds.
• Hail in Missouri, April 3, 20111 in hail · 1 eventThunderstorms moving into the region formed into a linear line of strong to severe storms. The storms produced up to quarter size hail.
• Tornadoes and Hail in Tennessee, April 4, 20112 injured · $2.0 million · EF1 · 69 eventsFrom the morning through mid afternoon hours on Monday, April 4th, a line of showers and thunderstorms moved across Middle Tennessee ahead of the passage of a strong surface and upper level frontal system.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, April 4, 2011$75,000 · 1.75 in hail · 24 eventsSevere storms erupted overnight ahead of a strong cold front moving through north Texas. These storms developed into a line that moved east and southeast through mainly the eastern half of north Texas.
• Flash Flood in Michigan, April 4, 2011$1.0 million · 1 eventThunderstorms produced one to three inches of rainfall over three to six hours. The heavy rain combined with melting snow to produce flash flooding of small creeks and streams from Hesperia in Oceana County east-northeast through central Mecosta County and into western Isabella…
• Damaging Winds in Indiana, April 4, 2011$6,000 · 65 kt wind · 5 eventsA fast moving line of thunderstorms entered western Indiana ahead of a cold front and began to intensify. While widespread severe weather did not occur, pockets of locally damaging winds did result in some sporadic tree damage.
• Tornado and Hail in Arkansas, April 4, 20113 injured · $1.8 million · EF1 · 44 eventsA strong cold front pushed into Arkansas on the 4th. In advance of the front, warm, moist air was in place. The atmosphere was more unstable than it had been any time so far this year. As a result, severe thunderstorms erupted along and ahead of the cold front.
• Hail in Illinois, April 4, 20110.75 in hail · 1 eventA strong cold front triggered scattered thunderstorms across central Illinois during the evening of April 3rd into the early morning hours of April 4th. A few of the storms produced gusty winds of between 45 and 55 mph and hail up to 3/4 in diameter.
• Hail in Texas, April 4, 20111 in hail · 5 eventsAn upper level trough of low pressure pushed a cold front through South Central Texas during the morning April 4th. A prefrontal surface trough caused a line of thunderstorms that moved through the northeast part of our forecast area.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, April 4, 2011$70,000 · 1.75 in hail · 11 eventsA strong upper level short wave move from west to east across the Central Plains states of the U.S. driving a cold front southeast into the Four State Region. Strong to severe thunderstorms formed in the unstable air mass ahead of the cold front.
• Hail in Indiana, April 4, 20110.75 in hail · 1 eventA line of storms moved through during the morning hours. The main threat from these storms was hail.
• Tornadoes and Hail in Kentucky, April 4, 20119 injured · $3.0 million · EF2 · 15 eventsThunderstorms gradually intensified along and ahead of a cold front from Arkansas into western Kentucky.
• Hail in Ohio, April 4, 20111 in hail · 3 eventsA line of storms moved through during the morning hours. The main threat from these storms was hail.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Arkansas, April 4, 20111 injured · 1 in hail · 7 eventsA strong low pressure system tracked northeast from Western Kansas into the Great Lakes during the time period from April 2nd-April 4th, 2011. As a result, a trailing cold front moved through the Mid-South during the morning and early afternoon hours of April 4th.
• Tornadoes and Hail in Arkansas, April 4, 20112 injured · $2.3 million · EF2 · 17 eventsA strong upper level short wave move from west to east across the Central Plains states of the U.S. driving a cold front southeast into the Four State Region. Strong to severe thunderstorms formed in the unstable air mass ahead of the cold front.
• Damaging Winds in Pennsylvania, April 4, 2011$2,000 · 50 kt wind · 2 eventsDuring the evening hours of April 3rd, an area of low pressure over Iowa moved northeast toward northern Michigan. A warm front extending east from the low across southern Ohio lifted north. By daybreak on the 4th, the warm front was located along the Lake Erie shoreline.
• Damaging Winds and Heavy Rain in Illinois, April 4, 2011$27,000 · 61 kt wind · 4 eventsThunderstorms gradually intensified along and ahead of a cold front from Arkansas into southwest Illinois. The storms occurred in a moist and strongly sheared environment, resulting in line segments that produced a couple short swaths of wind damage.
• Hail in Pennsylvania, April 4, 20111.75 in hail · 6 eventsIsolated severe thunerstorms developed ahead of a strong cold front moving across the Upper Ohio Valley.
• Flash Flood and Hail in Missouri, April 4, 2011$22,000 · 1.75 in hail · 4 eventsA strong low pressure system tracked northeast from Western Kansas into the Great Lakes during the time period from April 2nd-April 4th, 2011. As a result, a trailing cold front moved through the Mid-South during the morning and early afternoon hours of April 4th.
• Tornadoes and Hail in Louisiana, April 4, 2011$325,000 · EF2 · 8 eventsA strong upper level short wave move from west to east across the Central Plains states of the U.S. driving a cold front southeast into the Four State Region. Strong to severe thunderstorms formed in the unstable air mass ahead of the cold front.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Tennessee, April 4, 20111 death · 1 in hail · 19 eventsA strong low pressure system tracked northeast from Western Kansas into the Great Lakes during the time period from April 2nd-April 4th, 2011. As a result, a trailing cold front moved through the Mid-South during the morning and early afternoon hours of April 4th.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Mississippi, April 4, 20111.75 in hail · 19 eventsA strong low pressure system tracked northeast from Western Kansas into the Great Lakes during the time period from April 2nd-April 4th, 2011. As a result, a trailing cold front moved through the Mid-South during the morning and early afternoon hours of April 4th.
• Hail in Arkansas, April 4, 20111 in hail · 1 eventA powerful storm system took shape across the central United States and clashed with a warm and unstable airmass. An extensive and intense squall line resulted which quickly pushed eastward across the eastern half of the country.
• Tornadoes and Hail in Kentucky, April 4, 2011EF1 · 33 eventsA cold front moved in from the west during the day on April 4. Ahead of the cold front both speed and directional shear were noted across central Kentucky with a 50-60 kt low-level jet. A QLCS with damaging winds and embedded tornadoes tracked across south-central Kentucky.
• Tornadoes and Hail in Louisiana, April 4, 20111 injured · $4.8 million · EF2 · 17 eventsA powerful storm system took shape across the central United States and clashed with a warm and unstable airmass. An extensive and intense squall line resulted which quickly pushed eastward across the eastern half of the country.
• Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Mississippi, April 4, 20111 death · $6.5 million · EF1 · 66 eventsA powerful storm system took shape across the central United States and clashed with a warm and unstable airmass. An extensive and intense squall line resulted which quickly pushed eastward across the eastern half of the country.
• Tornado and Flash Flood in Ohio, April 4, 2011$96,000 · EF0 · 13 eventsSevere thunderstorms moved through during the afternoon hours of April 4th. Damaging wind was the main threat with these storms.
• Flash Flood and Hail in Alabama, April 4, 2011$601,000 · 1.5 in hail · 66 eventsA strong cold front produced a squall line across the Ohio, Tennessee and lower Mississippi Valleys during the afternoon and evening hours of the 4th. Ahead of the front, windy conditions developed with wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph.
• Flash Flood and Damaging Wind in Kentucky, April 4, 2011$2,000 · 50 kt wind · 2 eventsSevere thunderstorms moved through during the afternoon hours of April 4th. Damaging wind was the main threat with these storms.
• Hail in West Virginia, April 4, 20111 in hail · 1 eventIsolated severe thunerstorms developed ahead of a strong cold front moving across the Upper Ohio Valley.
• Flash Flood and Hail in Alabama, April 4, 2011$291,000 · 1.75 in hail · 91 eventsA line of showers and thunderstorms moved across central Alabama on April 4th, out ahead of a strong cold front. This line of storms produced widespread damaging winds and large hail.
• Tornado and Hail in Tennessee, April 4, 2011$154,000 · EF0 · 24 eventsA boundary across the area triggered severe thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening hours. Storm reports were mainly damaging thunderstorm wind and hail, but one tornado was also reported.
• Tornadoes and Hail in Kentucky, April 4, 20112 injured · $774,000 · EF1 · 79 eventsWidespread wind damage occurred across eastern Kentucky as a squall line moved across the area.
• Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in Tennessee, April 4, 2011$60,000 · 52 kt wind · 10 eventsA strong cold front produced a squall line across the Ohio, Tennessee and lower Mississippi Valleys during the afternoon and evening hours of the 4th. Ahead of the front, windy conditions developed with wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph.
• Damaging Winds in Ohio, April 4, 2011$2,000 · 50 kt wind · 2 eventsA strong wind flow existed ahead of a cold front. Thunderstorms were racing northeast at speeds over 60 mph.
• Damaging Winds in Louisiana, April 4, 2011$64,000 · 65 kt wind · 18 eventsAn extensive squall line of severe thunderstorms affecting much of the eastern United States on April 4. The southwestern extent of this squall line brought damaging winds to much of southwest Louisiana during the afternoon hours.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in West Virginia, April 4, 2011$383,000 · 61 kt wind · 16 eventsA strong wind flow existed ahead of a cold front. Thunderstorms were racing northeast at speeds over 60 mph. The strongest storms moved from Wayne and Lincoln Counties on through Kanawha County to Braxton County.
• Tornadoes and Hail in Georgia, April 4 to 5, 20115 deaths · 3 injured · $16 million · EF2 · 107 eventsAn extremely progressive and highly kinematic upper flow remained in place across the U.S. A deep, full-latitude negatively tilted trough and associated strong Pacific cold front swept through the eastern U.S. April 4th into April 5th.
• Damaging Wind in Kentucky, April 4, 2011$5,000 · 50 kt wind · 1 eventA strong wind flow existed ahead of a cold front. Thunderstorms were racing northeast at speeds over 60 mph.
• Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Louisiana, April 4, 2011$476,000 · EF1 · 47 eventsA strong storm system over the middle Mississippi River Valley pushed a cold front through southeast Louisiana. A squall line developed in advance of the front and produced numerous reports of severe weather.
• Damaging Winds in Virginia, April 4, 2011$43,000 · 55 kt wind · 5 eventsA boundary across the area triggered afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Most reports were damaging thunderstorm winds.
• Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Mississippi, April 4, 2011$148,000 · EF1 · 10 eventsA strong storm system over the middle Mississippi River Valley pushed a cold front through southern Mississippi. A squall line developed in advance of the front and produced numerous reports of severe weather.
• Tornado and Damaging Winds in Mississippi, April 4, 2011$551,000 · EF1 · 9 eventsDuring the late afternoon and evening of 4 April 2011, a fast moving and intense cold front moved southeast into a very warm, moist and unstable air mass over interior southeast Mississippi.
• Damaging Wind in West Virginia, April 4, 201150 kt wind · 1 eventA strong upper level low pressure system and cold front moved across the region on the night of the 4th into early on the 5th of April. A line of showers and thunderstorms accompanied this front producing isolated wind damage.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Alabama, April 4, 201150 kt wind · 19 eventsDuring the evening of 4 April 2011, a fast moving and intense cold front moved southeast into a very warm, moist and unstable air mass over interior southwest Alabama.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, April 4 to 5, 20111 death · $1.1 million · 1.25 in hail · 39 eventsA fast moving line of thunderstorms swept across much of the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia during the late evening hours of the 4th and early morning hours of the 5th.
• Damaging Wind in North Carolina, April 4, 2011$5,000 · 52 kt wind · 1 eventA boundary across the area triggered severe thunderstorm winds during the afternoon and evening hours. All of the storm reports were damaging thunderstorm wind.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Florida, April 4, 2011$28,000 · 50 kt wind · 10 eventsDuring the evening of 4 April 2011, a fast moving and intense cold front moved southeast into a very warm, moist and unstable air mass along the Alabama and northwest Florida Gulf Coasts.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in South Carolina, April 4 to 5, 20112 injured · 1 in hail · 19 eventsA fast moving line of thunderstorms swept across much of the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia during the late evening hours of the 4th and early morning hours of the 5th.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Alabama, April 4, 20114 injured · $194,000 · 55 kt wind · 22 eventsA potent squall line of severe thunderstorms raced eastward across the entire southeastern U.S. from the morning of April 4 through the afternoon of April 5, 2011.
• Tornado and Hail in North Carolina, April 4 to 5, 2011$1.0 million · EF1 · 9 eventsA strong upper level wave and cold front moved across the region on the night of the 4th into early on the 5th of April. A line of heavy showers and thunderstorms accompanied this front.
• Damaging Winds in Florida, April 4 to 5, 2011$720,000 · 75 kt wind · 37 eventsA potent squall line of severe thunderstorms raced eastward across the entire southeastern U.S. from the morning of April 4 through the afternoon of April 5, 2011.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Virginia, April 4 to 5, 2011$1.8 million · 1 in hail · 22 eventsA strong upper level low pressure system and cold front moved across the region on the night of the 4th into early on the 5th of April. A line of showers and thunderstorms accompanied this front.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Georgia, April 4 to 5, 20112 deaths · 2 injured · $1.5 million · 1.75 in hail · 25 eventsA potent squall line of severe thunderstorms raced eastward across the entire southeastern U.S. from the morning of April 4 through the afternoon of April 5, 2011.
• Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in South Carolina, April 5 to 6, 2011$2.6 million · 85 kt wind · 33 eventsAn intense squall line moved through the Carolinas and Georgia producing straight line wind damage and numerous microbursts. Numerous trees were down and many structures were severely damaged. Microburst winds were estimated to be around 100mph for some events.
• Damaging Winds in Georgia, April 5, 2011$1.1 million · 85 kt wind · 9 eventsAn intense squall line moved through the Carolinas and Georgia producing straight line wind damage and numerous microbursts. Numerous trees were down and many structures were severely damaged. Microburst winds were estimated to be around 100mph for some events.
• Damaging Winds in North Carolina, April 5, 2011$1.6 million · 52 kt wind · 31 eventsWith a strong cold front approaching the region from the west, a pre-frontal trough moved across the CWA during the overnight hours, resulting in an intense squall line tracking across the entire forecast area.
• Damaging Winds in Virginia, April 5, 2011$78,000 · 58 kt wind · 42 eventsScattered severe thunderstorms in advance of a cold front produced damaging winds across portions of central and eastern Virginia.
• Damaging Winds in Virginia, April 5, 2011$16,000 · 56 kt wind · 8 eventsA strong cold front slowly traced through the area during the morning hours of the 5th. A southerly flow ahead of the front caused copious amounts of moisture to move into the region from the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.
• Damaging Winds in Georgia, April 5, 201152 kt wind · 15 eventsThe leading edge of a pre-frontal squall line started to impact southeast Georgia and the Suwannee River Valley of north Florida prior to sunrise.
• Damaging Winds in Georgia, April 5, 2011$496,000 · 65 kt wind · 21 eventsA strong cold front moved through southeast Georgia, resulting in a round of strong to severe thunderstorms.
• Damaging Winds in South Carolina, April 5, 2011$30,000 · 60 kt wind · 9 eventsA strong cold front moved through southern South Carolina, resulting in a round of strong to severe thunderstorms.
• Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Maryland, April 5, 2011$48,000 · EF0 · 17 eventsA strong cold front slowly traced through the area during the morning hours of the 5th. A southerly flow ahead of the front caused copious amounts of moisture to move into the region from the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in South Carolina, April 5, 20111 injured · $204,000 · 74 kt wind · 48 eventsA strong cold front was approaching from the west. A long-lived and extensive squall line, well ahead of the front, moved into the area during the early morning hours and then off the coast shortly after sunrise.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Florida, April 5, 2011$16,000 · 1 in hail · 30 eventsThe leading edge of a pre-frontal squall line started to impact southeast Georgia and the Suwannee River Valley of north Florida prior to sunrise.
• Damaging Winds in North Carolina, April 5, 2011$8,000 · 50 kt wind · 4 eventsScattered severe thunderstorms in advance of a cold front produced damaging winds across portions of northeast North Carolina.
• Damaging Wind in Maryland, April 5, 201150 kt wind · 1 eventShowers and thunderstorms preceding a strong cold frontal passage exacerbated the synoptic scale wind pattern and produced damaging winds across Cecil County during the early morning of the 5th.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, April 5, 2011$700 · 60 kt wind · 19 eventsA strong cold front crossed eastern North Carolina during the late morning and early afternoon of April 5th, 2011. Bands of showers and thunderstorms along and ahead of the cold front produced several reports of damaging winds over eastern North Carolina.
• Damaging Winds in Pennsylvania, April 5, 2011$1,000 · 56 kt wind · 4 eventsShowers and thunderstorms preceding a strong cold frontal passage exacerbated the synoptic scale wind pattern and produced isolated pockets of damaging winds across Chester, Delaware and Philadelphia Counties during the morning of the 5th.
• Damaging Winds in Maryland, April 5, 2011$7,000 · 50 kt wind · 4 eventsScattered severe thunderstorms in advance of a cold front produced damaging winds across portions of the Lower Maryland Eastern Shore.
• Damaging Winds in North Carolina, April 5, 2011$42,000 · 61 kt wind · 13 eventsA strong cold front was approaching from the west. A long-lived and extensive squall line, well ahead of the front, moved into the area during the early morning hours and then off the coast shortly after sunrise.
• Damaging Wind in Delaware, April 5, 2011$10,000 · 52 kt wind · 1 eventShowers and thunderstorms preceding a strong cold frontal passage exacerbated the synoptic scale wind pattern and produced isolated pockets of damaging winds across Sussex County during the early morning of the 5th.
• Damaging Winds in Florida, April 5, 2011$52,000 · 53 kt wind · 9 eventsA squall line developed ahead of a cold front. Fast moving thunderstorms in the squall line caused pockets of wind damage mainly north of the Tampa Bay Area.
• Damaging Winds in Florida, April 5, 201152 kt wind · 3 eventsA pre-frontal squall line crossed central Florida during the morning and early afternoon. A few of the storms became strong to severe and produced high winds and a funnel cloud, primarily across Volusia and Brevard Counties.
• Damaging Wind in New Jersey, April 5, 201150 kt wind · 1 eventShowers and thunderstorms preceding a strong cold frontal passage exacerbated the synoptic scale wind pattern and produced isolated pockets of damaging winds across extreme southwest New Jersey during the morning of the 5th.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Florida, April 5, 2011$500 · 52 kt wind · 6 eventsA cold front moved through South Florida during the early evening hours. An area of strong to severe thunderstorms moved through the region preceding the front during the early to mid afternoon.
• Flash Flood and Winter Storm in Hawaii, April 6 to 9, 201114 eventsAn upper low in the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands generated heavy rain and thunderstorms over much of the Aloha State. The volcano summits on the Big Island received snow showers as well. No significant injuries or property damage were reported.

Every billion-dollar disasterEvery storm of 2011Tornadoes in 2011

NOAA NCEI, U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters (2025), https://doi.org/10.25921/stkw-7w73, and the Storm Events Database for the episodes.