Weather of 2021

The following is a list of weather events that occurred in 2021. The year began with La Niña conditions. There were several natural disasters around the world from various types of weather, including blizzards, cold waves, droughts, heat waves, tornadoes, and tropical cyclones. In December, powerful Typhoon Rai moved through the southern Philippines, killing 410 people and becoming the deadliest single weather event of the year. The costliest event of the year, and the costliest natural disaster on record in the United States, was from a North American cold wave in February 2021, which caused $196.4 billion (USD) in damage; the freezing temperatures and widespread power outages in Texas killed hundreds of people. Another significant natural disaster was Hurricane Ida, which struck southeastern Louisiana and later flooded the Northeastern United States, resulting in $70 billion (USD) in damage. December saw two record-breaking tornado outbreaks, only four days apart from each other. In Europe, the European Severe Storms Laboratory documented 1,482 weather-related injuries and 568 weather-related fatalities. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration documented 796 weather-related fatalities and at least 1,327 weather-related injuries in the United States and the territories of the United States.
The year began with La Niña conditions that developed the previous year. This was reflected in cooler than normal sea surface temperatures in the south Pacific Ocean. However, conditions were unlike typical La Niña events, with above normal temperatures in the United States in January, but colder than normal temperatures in February. By March and April, the La Niña conditions had begun to weaken. On May 13, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) assessed that the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) transitioned into its neutral phase. However, following cooler than normal temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean, NOAA declared that the global weather conditions shifted back to La Niña by October.
In January, at least 70 people in Japan died while removing snow, related to a blizzard that dropped 2.49 m (8.2 ft) of snowfall. At least 1,500 people were stranded on a highway.
In February, extreme cold affected much of North America. During much of the winter, a high pressure system existed over southeastern Canada and Greenland, while lower than normal pressure existed over northeastern Asia into Alaska. A winter storm left more than 9 million people without power from northern Mexico to the northeastern United States; nearly half of the power outages were in Texas. There were 172 deaths in the United States, The system is estimated to have cost over $196.5 billion (2021 USD) in damages, including at least $195 billion in the United States and over $1.5 billion in Mexico, making it the costliest winter storm on record, as well as the costliest natural disaster recorded in the United States. It is also the deadliest winter storm in North America since the 1993 Storm of the Century, which killed 318 people. Another winter storm added on to the effects, leading to 29 deaths and $2 billion in damage, and caused 4 million power outages.
At the same time, a cold wave impacts Greece. This cold wave resulted in 3 deaths, and resulted in Greece getting their heaviest snowfall since 2008. Temperatures dropped as low as −19.9 °C (−3.8 °F).
In March, a record-breaking blizzard affects the Rocky Mountains. Although no one died, the system caused $75 million in damage. Cheyenne, Wyoming saw their largest two-day snowfall on record. It also became Denver's fourth largest blizzard. The storm caused car crashes which resulted in 22 injuries.
A drought in western North America began in 2020 and continued into 2021. A 20-month period from January 2020 to August 2021 recorded the least rainfall since 1895. Lake Powell hit record low levels in July 2021, and due to Lake Mead dropping so low, water restrictions were imposed. By mid-August 2021, Iowa was facing extreme drought. Drought also affected over 85% of Mexico.
In March, a multi-day rain event caused significant flooding for many parts of Eastern and Central Australia from the March 17–21, being called a 1 in 100-year event. Comboyne, New South Wales reported a four-day total of 853 mm (33.6 in) Significant flooding occurred along the Mid North Coast and Central Australia. The Manning River at Taree equalled its 1929 record, Wingham, New South Wales saw its highest levels since 1978, The Gwydir River was 0.2m short of its 1955 record and the Mehi River in Moree, New South Wales was 0.4m below its 1955 peak. One man died due to his car losing control in Mona Vale, New South Wales, a bodyboarder who disappeared on the Coffs Harbour seashore is presumed dead. 2 more fatalities confirmed on the 24th and a woman went missing on the 26th and later discovered. In addition, floods in Hawaii left a person missing, caused $49 million in damage, and caused 1,300 power outages. Haiku recorded 7.5 inches (19 cm) of rain, and parts of the state receive 16 inches (41 cm). David Ige declared a state of emergency due to the floods.
In July, a storm system stalled over Germany, producing torrential rainfall and flash flooding. With at least 184 deaths, the floods are the deadliest natural disaster in Germany since the North Sea flood of 1962. There were also 42 deaths in Belgium. Then, floods in Henan result in at least 302 deaths. Most of the deaths and damage were in Zhengzhou. At the end of the month, floods in Afghanistan cause 113 deaths.
On August 21, severe flash flooding impacted Middle Tennessee. The state set a 24-hour precipitation record of 20.73 inches (52.7 cm), and resulted in 20 deaths. The death toll was initially 22, but was lowered when more accurate counts were published. The flooding also affected Kentucky but to a much lesser extent.
On September 1 and 2, major flash flooding affected the Northeastern United States due to the remnants of Hurricane Ida. This causes 55 deaths and around $20 billion in damage. Before the storm, the Weather Prediction Center issued a high risk for flash flooding. This became New York's 9th wettest tropical cyclone on record. New York City got its first flash flood emergency. Between 8:51 p.m. and 9:51 p.m. on September 1, New York City saw 3.15 inches (8.0 cm) of rain, its wettest hour on record.
The 2021 Pacific Northwest floods comprise a series of floods that affected British Columbia, Canada, and parts of neighboring Washington state in the United States in November and December. The flooding and numerous mass wasting events were caused by a Pineapple Express, a type of atmospheric river, which brought heavy rain to parts of southern British Columbia and northwestern United States. The natural disaster prompted a state of emergency for the province of British Columbia. Damage was at least $2.5 billion. That same month, floods in South Asia caused 41 fatalities. In addition, over 11,000 people were displaced. Over 11,000 were displaced in India due to BOB 05's rainfall impact.
At the end of the year into 2022, Malaysia experienced intense floods. 54 people died causing over $4.77 billion in damage. This was fueled by Tropical Depression 29W. Comparisons were drawn to the floods seven years prior. This was declared a once in 100 year event. This became the deadliest tropical cyclone in Malaysia since Tropical Storm Greg of 1996.
A winter heat wave in February across Eurasia. Sweden saw its highest ever February temperature at 16.8 °C (62.2 °F). Beijing also surpassed its February heat record by over five degrees when it hit 25.6 °C (78.1 °F).
An extreme heat wave affected much of Western North America from late June through mid-July 2021, resulting in the highest temperature ever measured in Canada at 49.6 °C (121.3 °F). The heat wave kills 229 Americans alone, and causes $8.9 billion in the US alone. Over 600 Canadians die, making it the deadliest weather event in the history of Canada. The heat wave breaks an all-time high temperature record in Washington and ties one in Oregon.
There were 1,374 preliminary filtered reports of tornadoes in the United States in 2021, of which at least 1,278 were confirmed. Worldwide, 151 tornado-related deaths were confirmed with 104 in the United States, 28 in China, six in the Czech Republic, four in Russia, three in Italy, two in India and one each in Canada, New Zealand, Indonesia, and Turkey. The year started well below average with the lowest amount of tornado reports through the first two months in the past 16 years and remained below-average for most of the year due to inactivity during April, June, September, and November. Despite this, several intense outbreaks occurred in March, May, July, August, and October. May, for the first time ever, had no tornadoes above EF2 status. The year ended on a destructive note, however, as December was incredibly active, more than doubling the previous record, which pushed 2021 above average. Additionally, 2021 had the most tornado fatalities in the United States since 2011. Almost all of the fatalities were due to the Tornado outbreak of December 10–11, 2021. The 2021 Western Kentucky tornado becomes the longest tracked tornado in December, and the tornado outbreak becomes the deadliest in December. The December 2021 Midwest derecho and tornado outbreak brought the first December tornadoes on record to Minnesota. This made December 2021 the most active December for tornadoes on record. In addition, 2021 saw the 2nd highest confirmed number of tornadoes in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
In the Southern Hemisphere, there were two tropical cyclones that formed in late December and persisted into January 2021 – the remnants of Tropical Storm Chalane over southern Africa, and a tropical depression east of Madagascar that would soon become Tropical Storm Danilo. In April, Cyclone Seroja produced deadly flooding in Indonesia and East Timor, killing at least 272 people. Also in the month, Typhoon Surigae in the northwest Pacific Ocean became the strongest Northern Hemisphere tropical cyclone to form before the month of May; it attained 10-minute maximum sustained winds of 220 km/h (140 mph), according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, or one-minute sustained wind of 315 km/h (196 mph) according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. In May, the Eastern Pacific basin had its earliest tropical storm on record, with Tropical Storm Andres. Also in May, Cyclone Tauktae tied a cyclone in 1998 to become the strongest cyclone to strike Gujarat, with sustained winds of 160 km/h (99 mph); Tauktae killed at least 118 people in India, with another 66 deaths after Barge P305 sank near Heera oil field, off the coast of Mumbai. In August, Hurricane Ida struck the U.S. state of Louisiana with sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h), tying 2020's Hurricane Laura and the 1856 Last Island hurricane as the strongest on record to hit the state. Throughout the United States, damage from Ida was estimated at US$64.5 billion. In December, Typhoon Rai struck the eastern Philippines, which killed 410 people.
In June, the taiga forests in Siberia and the Far East region of Russia were hit by unprecedented wildfires, following record-breaking heat and drought. For the first time in recorded history, wildfire smoke reached the North Pole. In July and August, Turkey experienced its worst ever wildfire season. The fires caused 9 deaths.
Africa was also hit by wildfires. Across Algeria, wildfires killed 90 people. On April 18, a wildfire affects Table Mountain National Park and Cape Town in South Africa. The fires injured 5 firefighters.
North America was hit extremely hard by wildfires in 2021. The United States saw 5.6 million acres burn and Canada saw 10.34 million acres burn. It was predicted to be severe as early as April 2021 due to record drought. Unhealthy air from the fires spread as far as New Hampshire. One particularly severe wildfire was the Lytton wildfire. The fires caused 2 deaths, and destroyed 90% of Lytton, British Columbia. Then, in July, the Dixie Fire became the largest single wildfire in California's history. Suppression costs alone were $637 million. When the cause was determined, PG&E pled guilty to 85 felonies. Oregon also sees a massive wildfire, the Bootleg Fire. This became the third largest in state history. The wildfire is believed to have created a fire tornado. Wildfire activity persisted into December. On December 15, the December 2021 Midwest derecho and tornado outbreak caused strong, dry winds across Kansas, leading to wildfires that kill two. On December 30, the Marshall Fire became the most destructive fire in Colorado history, causing over $513 million in damage. The fire was extinguished by January 1, 2022, due to heavy snow.
This is a timeline of weather events during 2021.