WMO Statement on the Status of the Global Climate in 2011

This technical document is part of an annual series published by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on the status of the global climate. It notes that the year 2011 was a year of climate extremes around the world. Precipitation extremes, many of them associated with one of the strongest La Niña events of the past 60 years, had major impacts on the world. Significant flooding occurred in many places throughout the world, while major droughts affected parts of East Africa and North America. Global mean temperatures in 2011 did not reach the record-setting levels of 2010, but were still the highest observed in a La Niña year, and Arctic sea-ice extent fell to near-record-low levels. Global tropical cyclone activity was below average, but the United States had one of its most destructive tornado seasons on record.