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HurriTracker

1981 Atlantic hurricane season

Jun 1, 1981 – Nov 30, 1981 · Season ended

The 1981 Atlantic hurricane season produced 12 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 14.4, 7.2 and 3.2. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 100, 82% of the average.

1980 season1982 seasonAll Atlantic seasons
Named storms
12
Avg 14.4 (1991–2020)
Hurricanes
7
64 kt or stronger · avg 7.2
Major (Cat 3+)
3
Avg 3.2 per season
Accumulated energy
82% of normal
ACE 100 vs 1991–2020 avg 123
Loading map…
Tracks colored by peak strengthTDTSC1C2C3C4

1981 season at a glance

  • Named storms: 12 (1991–2020 average 14.4).
  • Hurricanes (64 kt+): 7 (average 7.2).
  • Major, 96 kt+: 3 (average 3.2).
  • Accumulated cyclone energy: 100.3, 82% of the 123 average.
  • Named-storm days: 66.0, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
  • First named storm: Arlene, May 7.
  • First hurricane: Dennis, August 20.
  • First major storm: Floyd, September 7.
  • Last storm to dissipate: Tropical Storm 22L, November 17.
  • All systems tracked: 22, including 10 that stayed below tropical-storm strength.

Counts use 1-minute best-track winds: named storms reached 34 kt (39 mph), the next column 64 kt (74 mph) and major storms 96 kt (111 mph).

Every storm of the 1981 season

StormDatesPeakMin pressureLandfall
TD 1L – TD——
TD 2L – TD——
Arlene – TS999 mbSanta Cruz del Sur, Cuba
TD 4L – TD—Bay City, United States
TD 5L – TD——
Bret – TS996 mbAshland, United States
TD 7L – TD—North Miami, United States
TD 8L – TD—San Fernando, Mexico
Cindy – TS1002 mb—
Dennis – C1995 mbAguada de Pasajeros, Cuba
TD 11L – TD——
TD 12L – TD—Aldama, Mexico
Emily – C1966 mb—
Floyd – C3975 mb—
Gert – C2988 mbBayamón, Puerto Rico
Harvey – C4946 mb—
TD 17L – TD——
Irene – C3959 mb—
TD 19L – TD——
Jose – TS998 mb—
Katrina – C1980 mbFlorida, Cuba
TD 22L – TS978 mb—
  • TD 1L: This system formed in the Atlantic in April 1981 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 1 day.
  • TD 2L: This system formed in the Atlantic in April 1981 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph (45 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
  • Arlene: Arlene formed in the Atlantic in May 1981 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 999 mb. It made landfall near Santa Cruz del Sur, Cuba. The system was tracked for 3 days.
  • TD 4L: This system formed in the Atlantic in June 1981 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). It made landfall near Bay City, United States. The system was tracked for 3 days.
  • TD 5L: This system formed in the Atlantic in June 1981 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
  • Bret: Bret formed in the Atlantic in June 1981 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 996 mb. It made landfall near Ashland, United States. The system was tracked for 2 days.
  • TD 7L: This system formed in the Atlantic in July 1981 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). It made 3 landfalls, first near North Miami, United States and last near Beaufort, United States. The system was tracked for 2 days.
  • TD 8L: This system formed in the Atlantic in July 1981 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). It made landfall near San Fernando, Mexico. The system was tracked for 2 days.
  • Cindy: Cindy formed in the Atlantic in August 1981 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1002 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
  • Dennis: Dennis formed in the Atlantic in August 1981 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 995 mb. It made 3 landfalls, first near Aguada de Pasajeros, Cuba and last near Silver Lake, United States. The system was tracked for 15 days.
  • TD 11L: This system formed in the Atlantic in August 1981 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
  • TD 12L: This system formed in the Atlantic in August 1981 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). It made landfall near Aldama, Mexico. The system was tracked for 3 days.
  • Emily: Emily formed in the Atlantic in August 1981 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 966 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 12 days.
  • Floyd: Floyd formed in the Atlantic in September 1981 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 975 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
  • Gert: Gert formed in the Atlantic in September 1981 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 988 mb. It made landfall near Bayamón, Puerto Rico. The system was tracked for 9 days.
  • Harvey: Harvey formed in the Atlantic in September 1981 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 946 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
  • TD 17L: This system formed in the Atlantic in September 1981 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
  • Irene: Irene formed in the Atlantic in September 1981 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 959 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 12 days.
  • TD 19L: This system formed in the Atlantic in September 1981 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
  • Jose: Jose formed in the Atlantic in October 1981 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 998 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
  • Katrina: Katrina formed in the Atlantic in November 1981 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 980 mb. It made landfall near Florida, Cuba. The system was tracked for 5 days.
  • TD 22L: This system formed in the Atlantic in November 1981 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 978 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.

Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.

Strongest storm of 1981

Hurricane Harvey was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 130 mph (215 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 946 mb, on September 15. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

76 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 8 matched it. It produced 16% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.

Landfalls in 1981

9 of the season’s 22 systems made landfall, none of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.

  • May 8: Arlene near Santa Cruz del Sur, Cuba, 45 mph (tropical storm)
  • June 5: TD 4L near Bay City, United States, 30 mph (tropical depression)
  • July 1: Bret near Ashland, United States, 30 mph (tropical depression)
  • July 2: TD 7L near North Miami, United States, 30 mph (tropical depression)
  • July 3: TD 7L near Titusville, United States, 30 mph (tropical depression)
  • July 3: TD 7L near Beaufort, United States, 30 mph (tropical depression)
  • July 26: TD 8L near San Fernando, Mexico, 30 mph (tropical depression)
  • August 15: Dennis near Aguada de Pasajeros, Cuba, 40 mph (tropical depression)
  • August 17: Dennis near Marathon, United States, 40 mph (tropical storm)
  • August 20: Dennis near Silver Lake, United States, 60 mph (tropical storm)
  • August 28: TD 12L near Aldama, Mexico, 30 mph (tropical depression)
  • September 8: Gert near Bayamón, Puerto Rico, 55 mph (tropical storm)
  • November 6: Katrina near Florida, Cuba, 65 mph (tropical storm)

How 1981 ranks since 1980

The season ranks 27th of 47 Atlantic seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 3 other seasons), 19th for hurricanes (tied with 7 other seasons) and 27th for accumulated cyclone energy.

The record since 1980 is 30 named storms, in 2020, and the highest ACE is 250, in 2005.

1981 storm names

The 1981 season used 11 names: Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Dennis, Emily, Floyd, Gert, Harvey, Irene, Jose, Katrina.

11 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.

Atlantic and East Pacific lists repeat every six years. See how storms are named.

1981 season FAQ

How many named storms were there in 1981?

The 1981 Atlantic hurricane season had 12 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes, from 22 systems tracked in all. The 1991–2020 average is 14.4 named storms, 7.2 at 64 kt or more and 3.2 major per season. The first to form was Arlene and the last was Tropical Storm 22L.

What was the strongest storm of 1981?

Hurricane Harvey. It peaked at 130 mph (215 km/h, 115 kt) with a lowest pressure of 946 mb on September 15. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 76 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 16% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.

When did the 1981 season end?

The official season ended on November 30, 1981, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Tropical Storm 22L, dissipated on November 17. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 6 Atlantic storms since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.