2011 Atlantic hurricane season (Re-creation - Sassmaster15)

The 2011 Atlantic hurricane season was an extraordinarily active Atlantic hurricane season that tied with 1887, 1995, 2010, and the subsequent 2012 for the third-highest number of named storms on record. The dates that typically delimit tropical cyclone formation in the North Atlantic are from June 1st to November 30th, though the first storm, Arlene, did not develop until nearly a month in. The final storm, Sean, dissipated in mid-November. Despite somewhat unfavorable conditions, especially in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, seven storms attained hurricane intensity. In addition, five of those hurricanes (Irene, Katia, Maria, Ophelia, and Rina) became major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher according to the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale). Hurricane Katia peaked with the highest maximum winds (150 miles per hour), though Hurricane Irene reached overall peak with a minimum pressure of 934 millibars. Operationally, the season achieved a maximum number of 18 total storms this season plus a supplemental tropical depression, though in post-analysis the National Hurricane Center determined a previously unnamed tropical storm briefly existed near Newfoundland in late August.

Due to the presence of a La Niña in the Pacific Ocean, many pre-season forecasts called for an above-average hurricane season. In Colorado State University (CSU)'s spring outlook, the organization called for 16 named storms and 9 hurricanes, of which 4 would intensify further into major hurricanes. On May 19, 2011, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued their pre-season forecast, predicting 12–18 named storms, 6–10 hurricanes, and 3–6 major hurricanes. Following a quick start to the season, NOAA subsequently increased their outlook to 14–19 named storms, 7–10 hurricanes, and 3–5 major hurricanes on August 4; CSU made no changes to the number of cyclones forecast throughout the year.

Most tropical cyclones affected land at some point this season, though only some caused catastrophic damage. In late June, Tropical Storm Arlene caused minimal damage and up to 20 fatalities when it moved ashore eastern Mexico. Later that month, Tropical Storm Don struck Texas, causing extensive flooding in the Brownsville area. In August, Hurricane Harvey struck central America, causing up to 30 fatalities and millions of dollars in losses. In addition, Hurricane Emily struck eastern Cuba at minimal hurricane strength and caused torrential rainfall and mudslides in Haiti. In September, Hurricane Katia struck the United Kingdom as an unusually vicious extratropical cyclone, inducing widespread destruction. Later that month, Tropical Storm Lee and Hurricane Nate caused losses in the United States and Mexico, respectively. As Lee moved across Louisiana, its vast circulation dropped torrential precipitation, leading to extensive damage.

In late September, Hurricane Ophelia passed near Bermuda as a major hurricane, subjecting the territory to hurricane-force wind gusts for hours, while both Ophelia and the preceding Hurricane Maria struck Newfoundland, compounding damage from Hurricane Igor the year prior. In October, Hurricane Rina brushed the Mexican state of Quintana Roo and later made landfall near Port Charlotte, Florida at minimal hurricane strength - the first hurricane to strike the state since Hurricane Wilma. However, the costliest and deadliest hurricane this season formed east of the Leeward Islands in mid-August. Hurricane Irene struck the Bahamas at peak strength, prior to turning north and advancing up the East Coast of the United States. Irene later made landfall in North Carolina at Category 3 strength, the first storm of such a strength to strike the United States since Hurricane Wilma of 2005, ultimately resulting in the name's retirement. Collectively, the storms this season caused over $22.6 billion in damage and approximately 125 fatalities.

Storm Names
The following names were used for named storms in the North Atlantic in 2011. Names that were not assigned are marked in. This is the same list used in the 2005 season, with the exception of Don, Katia, Rina, Sean, and Whitney, which replaced Dennis, Katrina, Rita, Stan, and Wilma, respectively. The names Don, Katia, Rina, and Sean were used for the first time this year. The names not retired from this list will be used again in the 2017 season.

Retirement
On April 13, 2012, at the 34th Session of the World Meteorological Organization's Regional Association Hurricane Committee, the names Irene, Lee, and Ophelia from its rotating name lists. They will be replaced with Irma, Louis, and Oprah for the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season, respectively. Lee is one of three Atlantic tropical cyclones to have its name retired without ever reaching hurricane intensity, with others being Allison in 2001, and, eventually, Erika in 2015.