1981 East Pacific hurricane season
May 15, 1981 – Nov 30, 1981 · Season ended
The 1981 East Pacific hurricane season produced 15 named storms, 8 hurricanes and 1 major hurricane, against a 1991–2020 average of 15.6, 8.4 and 4.4. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 73, 57% of the average.
1981 season at a glance
- Named storms: 15 (1991–2020 average 15.6).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 8 (average 8.4).
- Major, 96 kt+: 1 (average 4.4).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 72.9, 57% of the 127 average.
- Named-storm days: 58.0, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Adrian, May 31.
- First hurricane: Beatriz, June 30.
- First major storm: Norma, October 10.
- Last storm to dissipate: Otis, October 30.
- All systems tracked: 15, every one of which reached 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
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adrian | – | TS | — | Río Grande, Mexico |
| Beatriz | – | C1 | — | — |
| Calvin | – | TS | — | — |
| Dora | – | C1 | — | — |
| Eugene | – | TS | — | — |
| Fernanda | – | C2 | — | — |
| Greg | – | C1 | — | — |
| Hilary | – | C1 | — | — |
| Irwin | – | TS | — | Las Veredas, Mexico |
| Jova | – | C1 | — | — |
| Knut | – | TS | — | La Cruz, Mexico |
| Lidia | – | TS | — | Las Veredas, Mexico |
| Max | – | TS | — | — |
| Norma | – | C3 | — | La Cruz, Mexico |
| Otis | – | C1 | — | Isla del Bosque, Mexico |
- Adrian: Adrian formed in the East Pacific in May 1981 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h). It made landfall near Río Grande, Mexico. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Beatriz: Beatriz formed in the East Pacific in June 1981 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Calvin: Calvin formed in the East Pacific in July 1981 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Dora: Dora formed in the East Pacific in July 1981 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Eugene: Eugene formed in the East Pacific in July 1981 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Fernanda: Fernanda formed in the East Pacific in August 1981 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Greg: Greg formed in the East Pacific in August 1981 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Hilary: Hilary formed in the East Pacific in August 1981 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Irwin: Irwin formed in the East Pacific in August 1981 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h). It made landfall near Las Veredas, Mexico. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Jova: Jova formed in the East Pacific in September 1981 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Knut: Knut formed in the East Pacific in September 1981 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h). It made landfall near La Cruz, Mexico. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Lidia: Lidia formed in the East Pacific in October 1981 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h). It made 2 landfalls, first near Las Veredas, Mexico and last near San Miguel Zapotitlán, Mexico. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Max: Max formed in the East Pacific in October 1981 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Norma: Norma formed in the East Pacific in October 1981 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h). It made landfall near La Cruz, Mexico. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Otis: Otis formed in the East Pacific in October 1981 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h). It made landfall near Isla del Bosque, Mexico. The system was tracked for 6 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1981
Hurricane Norma was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 125 mph (205 km/h), on October 10. That is Category 3 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
144 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 15 matched it. It produced 15% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1981
6 of the season’s 15 systems made landfall, 1 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- June 4: Adrian near Río Grande, Mexico, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- August 30: Irwin near Las Veredas, Mexico, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- September 21: Knut near La Cruz, Mexico, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- October 7: Lidia near Las Veredas, Mexico, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- October 8: Lidia near San Miguel Zapotitlán, Mexico, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- October 12: Norma near La Cruz, Mexico, 105 mph (Category 2)
- October 30: Otis near Isla del Bosque, Mexico, 65 mph (tropical storm)
How 1981 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 31st of 47 East Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 2 other seasons), 28th for hurricanes (tied with 2 other seasons) and 42nd for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 25 named storms, in 1992, and the highest ACE is 294, in 2018.
1981 storm names
The 1981 season used 15 names: Adrian, Beatriz, Calvin, Dora, Eugene, Fernanda, Greg, Hilary, Irwin, Jova, Knut, Lidia, Max, Norma, Otis.
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 East Pacific hurricane season had 15 named storms, 8 hurricanes and 1 major hurricane, from 15 systems tracked in all. The 1991–2020 average is 15.6 named storms, 8.4 at 64 kt or more and 4.4 major per season. The first to form was Adrian and the last was Otis.
What was the strongest storm of 1981?
Hurricane Norma. It peaked at 125 mph (205 km/h, 110 kt) on October 10. That is Category 3 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 144 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 15% 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, Otis, dissipated on October 30. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 1 East Pacific storm since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.