1981 tropical cyclone seasons worldwide
In 1981, 89 storms reached tropical-storm strength across the six ocean basins. 48 of them reached hurricane or typhoon strength (64 kt) and 18 became major storms (96 kt or more). The strongest was Super Typhoon Elsie in the West Pacific, at 175 mph. The Southern Hemisphere figures are the 1980–81 season, which IBTrACS files under 1981.
1981 at a glance
- Storms at tropical-storm strength (34 kt+): 89, from 110 systems tracked.
- Hurricanes and typhoons (64 kt+): 48.
- Major storms (96 kt+): 18, 1 of them at Category 5 strength.
- Accumulated cyclone energy, all basins: 619, 77% of the 800 that the six basins produce in an average year (1991–2020).
- Strongest storm worldwide: Super Typhoon Elsie, West Pacific, 175 mph (150 kt), 895 mb.
- Most active basin against its average: Southern Hemisphere, with 91% of its average accumulated cyclone energy.
- Least active against its average: Central Pacific, at 0%.
Each basin in 1981
Counts against each basin’s 1991–2020 average. Open a basin for its 1981 track map, every storm and its landfalls.
Atlantic hurricane season
1981 season
12 named (average 14.4), 7 hurricanes (average 7.2). Strongest: Hurricane Harvey, 130 mph.
East Pacific hurricane season
1981 season
15 named (average 15.6), 8 hurricanes (average 8.4). Strongest: Hurricane Norma, 125 mph.
Central Pacific hurricane season
1981 season
No storms recorded.
West Pacific typhoon season
1981 season
29 named (average 25.5), 17 typhoons (average 15.8). Strongest: Super Typhoon Elsie, 175 mph.
North Indian cyclone season
1981 season
3 named (average 6.3), 2 at hurricane strength (average 2.0). Strongest: Cyclone 2B, 85 mph.
Southern Hemisphere cyclone season
1980–81 season
30 named (average 26.7), 14 at hurricane strength (average 13.8). Strongest: Cyclone Carol, 145 mph.
Strongest storms of 1981
| Storm | Basin | Peak wind | Min pressure | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elsie | West Pacific | C5 175 mph | 895 mb | – |
| Irma | West Pacific | C4 155 mph | 905 mb | – |
| Carol | Southern Hemisphere | C4 145 mph | 940 mb | – |
| Clara | West Pacific | C4 140 mph | 925 mb | – |
| Adelaide | Southern Hemisphere | C4 140 mph | 940 mb | – |
Peak winds are 1-minute sustained winds from the NHC and JTWC best tracks, so storms in different basins compare on the same scale.