1981 North Indian cyclone season
Apr–Jun · Oct–Dec · Season ended
The 1981 North Indian cyclone season produced 3 named storms, 2 at hurricane strength and 0 major storms, against a 1991–2020 average of 6.3, 2.0 and 1.0. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 15, 65% of the average.
1981 season at a glance
- Named storms: 3 (1991–2020 average 6.3).
- Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 2 (average 2.0).
- Major, 96 kt+: 0 (average 1.0).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 15.3, 65% of the 24 average.
- Named-storm days: 12.3, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Tropical Storm 1B, October 28.
- First storm at hurricane strength: Cyclone 2B, November 19.
- Last storm to dissipate: Cyclone 3B, December 10.
- All systems tracked: 3, 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). Regional agencies here use 10-minute winds (3-minute in India), so their official counts can differ.
Every storm of the 1981 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD 1B | – | TS | — | Raval, India |
| TD 2B | – | C1 | — | Cox’s Bāzār, Bangladesh |
| TD 3B | – | C1 | — | Kakdwip, India |
- TD 1B: This system formed in the North Indian in October 1981 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h). It made landfall near Raval, India. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- TD 2B: This system formed in the North Indian in November 1981 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h). It made landfall near Cox’s Bāzār, Bangladesh. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- TD 3B: This system formed in the North Indian in December 1981 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h). It made landfall near Kakdwip, India. The system was tracked for 6 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1981
Cyclone 2B was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 85 mph (140 km/h), on November 19. That is Category 1 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
51 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 3 matched it. It produced 31% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1981
3 of the season’s 3 systems made landfall, none of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
How 1981 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 43rd of 47 North Indian seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 2 other seasons), 12th for hurricane strength (tied with 10 other seasons) and 27th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 11 named storms, in 1998, and the highest ACE is 85, in 2019.
1981 storm names
No storm in the 1981 season was named.
3 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
1981 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1981?
The 1981 North Indian cyclone season had 3 named storms, 2 at hurricane strength and 0 major storms, from 3 systems tracked in all. The 1991–2020 average is 6.3 named storms, 2.0 at 64 kt or more and 1.0 major per season. The first to form was Tropical Storm 1B and the last was Cyclone 3B.
What was the strongest storm of 1981?
Cyclone 2B. It peaked at 85 mph (140 km/h, 75 kt) on November 19. That is Category 1 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 51 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 31% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1981 season end?
The North Indian Ocean has no official season, so the 1981 season is the calendar year: every storm that formed by December 31 counts. The last system, Cyclone 3B, dissipated on December 10. Since 1980, 31 North Indian storms reached tropical-storm strength in December.