Tropical Storm Lee

Losses, 2024 dollars

$3.5 billion

Losses at the time

$2.5 billion

Deaths

21

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.

• Flooding in New Jersey, September 1 to 5, 20115 eventsWhile all the highest crests with Irene occurred in August, river and creek flooding persisted into September in parts of Atlantic, Burlington, Cumberland, Morris and Salem Counties.
• Flooding in Iowa, September 1 to 28, 2011$3.1 million · 4 eventsA record rain event in May in eastern Montana combined with high water from other storms in April and May, plus snow melt from a much above normal snow pack, to bring record high water to the Missouri River chain of reservoirs by late Spring.
• Flooding in Nebraska, September 1 to 30, 2011$1.6 million · 9 eventsA record rain event in May in eastern Montana combined with high water from other storms in April and May, plus snow melt from a much above normal snow pack, to bring record high water to the Missouri River chain of reservoirs by late Spring.
• Flooding in South Dakota, September 1 to 28, 20114 eventsMissouri River flooding decreased steadily during September, and ended over most of the river late in the month.
• Flooding in South Dakota, September 1 to 30, 20113 eventsMinor flooding of the James River decreased slowly during September, with continued abatement of road, farmland, and other lowland flooding along the river.
• Flooding in South Dakota, September 1 to 30, 20112 eventsThe James River continued to flood throughout September across Brown and much of Spink counties. Several roads along with agricultural and pastureland remained flooded.
• Flooding in South Dakota, September 1 to 17, 20112 eventsReleases on the Oahe Dam north of Pierre continued to decrease in September allowing the Missouri River at Pierre to continue to fall. The river finally fell to below the flood stage of 13 feet on September 17th.
• Flood in Nebraska, September 1 to 20, 20111 eventMissouri River flooding decreased steadily during September, and ended late in the month. The flooding was already minor at the start of the month. The decreasing and ending of the flooding continued to reveal effects and damage caused by the record floods earlier in the year.
• Flood in Guam, September 2, 2011$100,000 · 1 eventA tropical disturbance brought heavy rain and local flooding to Guam on the morning of Friday September 2nd.
• Tornado in Montana, September 1, 2011EF0 · 1 eventAn upper level trough moved over northwest Montana with very cold air aloft. This interacted with the warmer and moist air over Flathead Lake to produce some cumulonimbus clouds. A waterspout extended out of one of these clouds over Skidoo Bay.
• Tornado in Arizona, September 1, 2011EF0 · 1 eventA thunderstorm produced a brief tornado near Holbook.
• Heavy Rain in Florida, September 1, 20113 eventsAbundant moisture in place over the region with weak steering flow produced scattered slow moving thunderstorms with heavy rain. This resulted in some localized flooding.
• Flash Flooding in Vermont, September 1, 20113 eventsA thunderstorm developed over the high terrain of Windham County late Thursday afternoon, September 1st. The storm remained nearly stationary for about 2 hours as it was hung up on the terrain.
• Flash Flood in New Mexico, September 1, 2011$3,000 · 1 eventHigh pressure to the east of New Mexico allowed a modest amount of moisture to work north into the state. This allowed for some heavy rain and isolated flash flooding. State Highways 4 and 502 east of Los Alamos were temporarily closed due to mud and rock slides.
• Flash Flood and Hail in North Carolina, September 2, 2011$370,000 · 1 in hail · 33 eventsEnergy associated with the approach of an upper storm system arrived during the peak heating of the day. This combined with plenty of low level moisture across the region helped to generate numerous showers and storms.
• Storm Surge in Louisiana, September 2 to 6, 2011$2.0 million · 14 eventsThe circulation around Tropical Storm Lee affected southeast Louisiana from late on September 2nd through September 4 with primarily onshore southeast and south wind flow.
• Tropical Storm in Louisiana, September 2 to 5, 2011$315,000 · 33 eventsTropical Storm Lee initially developed as Tropical Depression Thirteen in middle Gulf of Mexico on Thursday evening September 1st.
• Tropical Storm in Mississippi, September 2 to 5, 2011$55,000 · 7 eventsTropical Storm Lee initially developed as Tropical Depression Thirteen in middle Gulf of Mexico on Thursday evening September 1st.
• Storm Surge in Mississippi, September 2 to 5, 2011$30,000 · 3 eventsThe circulation around Tropical Storm Lee affected coastal Mississippi from late on September 2nd through September 4 with primarily onshore southeast and south wind flow.
• Heavy Rain in Arizona, September 2, 20117 injured · $50,000 · 1 eventEnough left over moisture interacted with a shortwave trough to produce isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms across southern Arizona. Some of the storms produced heavy rainfall.
• Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Alabama, September 3 to 5, 2011$247,000 · EF1 · 8 eventsTropical Storm Lee began as a tropical wave in the Caribbean Sea during the last week of August. By the evening of Thursday, 1 September 2011, the tropical wave further developed into Tropical Depression 13.
• Tornadoes and Storm Surge in Florida, September 3 to 6, 2011$226,000 · EF0 · 44 eventsA fairly widespread outbreak of severe thunderstorms occurred on Labor Day across much of the NWS Tallahassee County Warning Area (CWA). This event was forced by unseasonably strong wind fields associated with a potent extra-tropical cyclone that was formerly Tropical Storm Lee.
• Storm Surge in Louisiana, September 3 to 4, 20114 eventsTropical Storm Lee produced minor coastal flooding in Cameron, Vermilion, Iberia, and St. Mary Parishes. Tides ran betwen 1-2 feet above normal in Cameron Parish, resulting in water approaching Highway 82 near Holly Beach. In Vermilion, Iberia, and St.
• Flash Flooding in Louisiana, September 3 to 4, 2011$75,000 · 2 eventsVery heavy rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Lee caused flash flooding in several locations.
• Tornado and Tropical Storm in Louisiana, September 3 to 4, 2011$275,000 · EF0 · 19 eventsTropical Storm Lee made landfall south of Intracoastal City in Vermilion Parish on September 4th. No deaths or injuries were reported.
• Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Mississippi, September 3 to 5, 20111 injured · $1.8 million · EF1 · 64 eventsTropical Depression 13 formed on the evening of September 1, 2011 about 225 miles southwest of the mouth of the Mississippi River with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph. The depression moved very slowly, around 2 mph, across northern portions of the Gulf of Mexico.
• Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Tennessee, September 3 to 5, 20111 death · $60,000 · 65 kt wind · 16 eventsSevere convection formed along an outflow boundary which originated over the higher terrain along the Tennessee and North Carolina border.
• Flash Flood in Mississippi, September 3, 2011$25,000 · 1 eventVery heavy rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Lee caused flash flooding in several locations.
• Tornado in Louisiana, September 3, 2011$10,000 · EF1 · 1 eventTropical Storm Lee initially developed as Tropical Depression Thirteen in middle Gulf of Mexico on Thursday evening September 1st.
• Tropical Storm in Louisiana, September 3, 2011$10,000 · 1 eventTropical Storm Lee did not make landfall across the south central/southeast Louisiana coast until September 4th but the storms large wind field were felt well north of the center of circulation. Strong winds downed a tree in Jena, Louisiana and this tree fell on a house.
• Tornadoes in Mississippi, September 3 to 4, 2011$100,000 · EF1 · 3 eventsTropical Storm Lee initially developed as Tropical Depression Thirteen in middle Gulf of Mexico on Thursday evening September 1st.
• Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Florida, September 4 to 5, 2011$295,000 · EF1 · 12 eventsTropical Storm Lee began as a tropical wave in the Caribbean Sea during the last week of August. By the evening of Thursday, 1 September 2011, the tropical wave further developed into Tropical Depression 13.
• Tropical Storm in Georgia, September 4 to 5, 201197 eventsTropical Storm Lee moved slowly onshore the Louisiana coast on Friday September 2nd and then grudgingly moved northeast through Sunday September 4th before finally becoming caught up in an eastward advancing upper trough and associated frontal system.
• Flood and Heavy Rain in Kentucky, September 4 to 6, 201110 eventsWidespread moderate to heavy rain showers brought heavy rain to portions of eastern KY on September 5th and 6th. The counties that received the most rain were Letcher, Bell, Lee, and Perry. Two to four inches of rain fell in these areas.
• Tornadoes and Flash Flood in New York, September 4 to 5, 20111 injured · EF1 · 21 eventsA warm, moist and unstable airmass was in place across the region with a slow moving cold front approaching from the Great Lakes Region.
• Flash Flooding and Flooding in West Virginia, September 4 to 6, 2011$15,000 · 1 in hail · 7 eventsWell to the east of a cold front in the Ohio Valley, thunderstorms formed by the afternoon on the 4th. These storms then moved north through West Virginia. The storms were supported by a strong core of winds aloft over the Great Lakes. The convection also dumped local downpours.
• Flash Flood and Damaging Wind in Tennessee, September 4, 2011$4,000 · 55 kt wind · 2 eventsA severe thunderstorm that developed during the afternoon hours on Sunday, September 4th across Fentress County caused thunderstorm wind damage.
• Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Alabama, September 4 to 7, 20112 injured · $284,000 · EF0 · 70 eventsA tropical depression developed in the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday, September 1 and strengthened as it remained nearly stationary becoming Tropical Storm Lee Friday afternoon, September 2.
• Tornado in Mississippi, September 4, 20111 injured · $100,000 · EF1 · 1 eventTropical Storm Lee began as a tropical wave in the Caribbean Sea during the last week of August. By the evening of Thursday, 1 September 2011, the tropical wave further developed into Tropical Depression 13.
• Flash Flood and Flood in West Virginia, September 4, 20112 eventsRich tropical moisture streamed northward from the Gulf of Mexico in advance of a slow-moving cold front across the Ohio Valley. Isolated showers and thunderstorms developed in areas of terrain-enhanced lift across the Potomac Highlands.
• Flooding and Strong Wind in Kentucky, September 4, 2011$1,000 · 4 eventsHeavy rain caused flooding across parts of Pike county during the late morning hours of September 4th.
• Flash Flood in Mississippi, September 4 to 5, 20111 death · $20,000 · 1 eventThe remnants of Tropical Storm Lee brought heavy rainfall to much of Northeast Mississippi during the late evening hours of September 4th, 2011 through the morning hours of September 5th, 2011.
• Flash Flooding and Flood in Alabama, September 5, 2011$100,000 · 6 eventsA cold front interacted with the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee to produce a sustained period of rainfall, beginning in some places during the evening of the 4th and not ending until midday or during the afternoon of the 6th.
• Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Georgia, September 5, 20111 injured · $20 million · EF1 · 25 eventsTropical Storm Lee formed from a persistent low pressure area off the upper Texas and Louisiana coasts on the south side of a mammoth subtropical ridge centered across the eastern Ohio valley. This occurred during the late few days of August.
• Heavy Rain in Arizona, September 5, 20112 eventsA thunderstorm produced heavy rain and street flooding near Prescott Valley.
• Tornado and Damaging Winds in South Carolina, September 5, 2011EF0 · 12 eventsBands associated with Tropical Depression Lee produced scattered severe thunderstorms and at least one confirmed tornado across the Midlands.
• Tornado and Flash Flooding in North Carolina, September 5 to 6, 2011$1.6 million · EF1 · 11 eventsRemnants of Tropical Storm Lee moved northeast through the Tennessee Valley. Strong shear on the east side of the system was responsible for generating numerous rotating thunderstorms. One rotating storm produced a tornado in Wilkes County near Abshers.
• Tornado in Virginia, September 5, 2011$10,000 · EF0 · 1 eventIsolated severe thunderstorm in advance of a cold front produced a weak tornado across portions of central Virginia.
• Tornado and Hail in North Carolina, September 5, 2011EF0 · 5 eventsAs the remnants of tropical cyclone Lee moved toward the region, increasing wind shear and instability resulted in a few low topped, rotating thunderstorms.
• Tornado and Flash Flooding in Virginia, September 5 to 6, 20112 injured · $413,000 · EF0 · 13 eventsRemnants of Tropical Storm Lee moved northeast through the Tennessee Valley. Strong shear on the east side of the system was responsible for generating numerous rotating thunderstorms. Some of these produced severe weather in the form of damaging winds.
• Tornado in North Carolina, September 5, 2011$35,000 · EF0 · 1 eventSouthwesterly flow associated with the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Lee increased the moisture (precipitable water values exceeded 2 inches) and instability across the forecast area.
• Flash Flooding and Flooding in Pennsylvania, September 5 to 10, 20111 death · 32 eventsThe remnants of Tropical Storm Lee that interacted with a stalled frontal boundary produced several days with periods of heavy rain across Eastern Pennsylvania from the 5th into the 8th.
• Flash Flooding and Flooding in New Jersey, September 5 to 14, 2011$10 million · 23 eventsThe remnants of Tropical Storm Lee that interacted with a stalled frontal boundary produced several days with periods of heavy rain across New Jersey from the 5th into the 8th.
• Flash Flooding and Flooding in Virginia, September 5 to 6, 201121 eventsDeep tropical moisture associated with the remnants of Tropical Depression Lee interacted with a slow-moving cold front to produce widespread showers across the area.
• Flash Flooding and Flood in Maryland, September 5 to 6, 20113 eventsDeep tropical moisture associated with the remnants of Tropical Depression Lee interacted with a slow-moving cold front to produce widespread showers across the area.
• Tornado and Flash Flooding in North Carolina, September 6, 2011$100,000 · EF0 · 6 eventsAs the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee tracked along a frontal zone that extended from the southern Appalachians into central Virginia, heavy rain and severe storms spread into central North Carolina.
• Flash Flooding and Flooding in New York, September 6 to 10, 201142 eventsA slow moving frontal boundary moved eastward across New York State between Monday September 5th, and Tuesday September 6th. The front then moved south and east of the state by late Tuesday, as waves of low pressure continued to travel northeast along the boundary.
• Flash Flood in Arizona, September 6, 2011$20,000 · 1 eventA thunderstorm produce heavy rain and flash flooding in the neighborhoods below the Schultz Fire area.
• Flooding in West Virginia, September 6 to 7, 2011$37,000 · 4 eventsAn upper level trough, centered over the Ohio valley on the Sept 6th absorbed the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee allowing for deep moisture to slowly progress northward through the Mid-Atlantic states.
• Flood in Maine, September 6 to 7, 20111 eventA slow moving cold front caused 2 to 4 inches of rain over a 2-day period resulting in minor flooding on the Kennebec River at Skowhegan.
• Flash Flood and Flooding in Delaware, September 6 to 8, 20113 eventsThe remnants of Tropical Storm Lee that interacted with a stalled frontal boundary produced several days of periods of heavy rain across Delaware from the 5th into the 8th. Event precipitation totals averaged 2 to 5 inches, but exceeded 10 inches around Seaford in Sussex County.
• Flash Flood and Flood in Connecticut, September 6 to 12, 20112 eventsA slow moving frontal boundary gradually moved eastward across northwest Connecticut between Monday September 5th, and Tuesday September 6th, as waves of low pressure traveled northeast along the boundary.
• Flooding in West Virginia, September 6, 20113 eventsGulf of Mexico and Atlantic moisture associated with the remnants of Tropical Depress Lee continued to interacted with a nearly stationary boundary across West Virginia.
• Tornado in North Carolina, September 6, 2011$20,000 · EF0 · 1 eventThe remnants of Tropical Storm Lee brought a tropical environment into the area. An approaching cold front provided additional lift and shear.
• Flooding in New Jersey, September 6 to 8, 20117 eventsThe combination of showers and thunderstorms in association with a slow moving cold front and deep tropical moisture moving up the east coast from the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee, produced a prolonged period of rainfall, which led to flooding across portions of Northeast New…

Every billion-dollar disasterEvery storm of 2011The 2011 hurricane seasonTornadoes 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.