1980–81 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season
Nov 1, 1980 – Apr 30, 1981 · Season ended
The 1980–81 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season produced 30 named storms, 14 at hurricane strength and 8 major storms, against a 1991–2020 average of 26.7, 13.8 and 7.5. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 196, 91% of the average.
Named storms
30
Avg 26.7 (1991–2020)
Hurricane strength
14
64 kt or stronger · avg 13.8
Major (Cat 3+)
8
Avg 7.5 per season
Accumulated energy
91% of normal
ACE 196 vs 1991–2020 avg 217
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Tracks colored by peak strengthTDTSC1C3C4
1980–81 season at a glance
- Named storms: 30 (1991–2020 average 26.7).
- Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 14 (average 13.8).
- Major, 96 kt+: 8 (average 7.5).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 196.4, 91% of the 217 average.
- Named-storm days: 134.8, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Adelaide, November 5, 1980.
- First storm at hurricane strength: Adelaide, November 6, 1980.
- First major storm: Adelaide, November 7, 1980.
- Last storm to dissipate: Paddy, May 30, 1981.
- All systems tracked: 36, including 6 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). Regional agencies here use 10-minute winds (3-minute in India), so their official counts can differ.
Every storm of the 1980–81 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | – | C4 | 940 mb | — |
| Bettina | – | TD | — | — |
| Bert | – | TD | — | — |
| Diola | – | TS | 990 mb | — |
| Carol | – | C4 | 940 mb | — |
| Dan | – | TS | 985 mb | — |
| Diana | – | TD | — | — |
| Edna | – | TS | 994 mb | — |
| Felix | – | C4 | 940 mb | Kupang, Indonesia |
| Edwig | – | TD | — | — |
| Florine | – | C3 | — | — |
| Arthur | – | C1 | 965 mb | Nadi, Fiji |
| Mabel | – | C3 | 930 mb | — |
| Gaelle | – | TS | — | — |
| Gaelle | – | TD | — | — |
| TD 12P | – | TD | — | — |
| Helyette | – | TS | — | Rose Belle, Mauritius |
| Betsy | – | TS | 990 mb | — |
| Cliff | – | C1 | 970 mb | Urraween, Australia |
| Eddie | – | TS | 980 mb | Yes |
| Unnamed | – | TS | 985 mb | — |
| Iadine | – | TS | — | Sadjoavato, Madagascar |
| Daman | – | C1 | 980 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TS | 990 mb | — |
| Neil | – | C3 | 940 mb | Yes |
| Freda | – | C1 | 955 mb | Yes |
| Esau | – | TS | 980 mb | — |
| Johanne | – | C1 | — | — |
| Tahmar | – | C1 | 970 mb | — |
| Max | – | C3 | 960 mb | — |
| Fran | – | TS | 985 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TS | 995 mb | — |
| Klara | – | TS | — | — |
| Olga | – | C4 | 940 mb | — |
| Lisa | – | TS | — | — |
| Paddy | – | TS | 973 mb | — |
- Adelaide: Adelaide formed in the Southern Hemisphere in November 1980 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 940 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Bettina: Bettina formed in the Southern Hemisphere in November 1980. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Bert: Bert formed in the Southern Hemisphere in November 1980. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 15 days.
- Diola: Diola formed in the Southern Hemisphere in November 1980 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 990 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Carol: Carol formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 1980 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 940 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 12 days.
- Dan: Dan formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 1980 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 985 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Diana: Diana formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 1980. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Edna: Edna formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 1980 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 994 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Felix: Felix formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 1980 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 940 mb. It made landfall near Kupang, Indonesia. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Edwig: Edwig formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 1980. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Florine: Florine formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 1981 and peaked as a Category 3 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Arthur: Arthur formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 1981 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 965 mb. It made landfall near Nadi, Fiji. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Mabel: Mabel formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 1981 and peaked as a Category 3 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 930 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Gaelle: Gaelle formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 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.
- Gaelle: Gaelle formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 1981. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- TD 12P: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 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 6 days.
- Helyette: Helyette formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 1981 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h). It made 2 landfalls, first near Rose Belle, Mauritius and last near Vohipaho, Madagascar. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Betsy: Betsy formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 1981 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 990 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Cliff: Cliff formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 1981 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 970 mb. It made landfall near Urraween, Australia. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Eddie: Eddie formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 1981 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 980 mb. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 1981 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 985 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Iadine: Iadine formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 1981 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h). It made 2 landfalls, first near Sadjoavato, Madagascar and last near Besalampy, Madagascar. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Daman: Daman formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 1981 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 980 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 1981 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 990 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 13 days.
- Neil: Neil formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 1981 and peaked as a Category 3 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 940 mb. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Freda: Freda formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 1981 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 955 mb. The system was tracked for 12 days.
- Esau: Esau formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 1981 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 980 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Johanne: Johanne formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 1981 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Tahmar: Tahmar formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 1981 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 970 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Max: Max formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 1981 and peaked as a Category 3 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 960 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Fran: Fran formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 1981 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 985 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 1981 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 995 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Klara: Klara formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 1981 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Olga: Olga formed in the Southern Hemisphere in April 1981 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 940 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 14 days.
- Lisa: Lisa formed in the Southern Hemisphere in April 1981 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Paddy: Paddy formed in the Southern Hemisphere in May 1981 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 973 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1980–81
Cyclone Carol was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 145 mph (230 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 940 mb, on December 16, 1980. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
80 Southern Hemisphere storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 33 matched it. It produced 9% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1980–81
8 of the season’s 36 systems made landfall, 1 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- December 23, 1980: Felix near Kupang, Indonesia, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- January 14, 1981: Arthur near Nadi, Fiji, 80 mph (Category 1)
- February 1, 1981: Helyette near Rose Belle, Mauritius, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- February 3, 1981: Helyette near Vohipaho, Madagascar, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- February 10, 1981: Eddie, 30 mph (tropical depression)
- February 11, 1981: Eddie, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- February 14, 1981: Cliff near Urraween, Australia, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- February 17, 1981: Iadine near Sadjoavato, Madagascar, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- February 20, 1981: Iadine near Besalampy, Madagascar, 55 mph (tropical storm)
- February 25, 1981: Freda, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- March 5, 1981: Neil, 65 mph (tropical storm)
How 1980–81 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 13th of 47 Southern Hemisphere seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 3 other seasons), 21st for hurricane strength (tied with 3 other seasons) and 30th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 37 named storms, in 1997, and the highest ACE is 364, in 1997.
1980–81 storm names
The 1980–81 season used 32 names: Adelaide, Bettina, Bert, Diola, Carol, Dan, Diana, Edna, Felix, Edwig, Florine, Arthur, Mabel, Gaelle, Gaelle, Helyette, Betsy, Cliff, Eddie, Iadine, Daman, Neil, Freda, Esau, Johanne, Tahmar, Max, Fran, Klara, Olga, Lisa, Paddy.
4 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
1980–81 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1980–81?
The 1980–81 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season had 30 named storms, 14 at hurricane strength and 8 major storms, from 36 systems tracked in all. The 1991–2020 average is 26.7 named storms, 13.8 at 64 kt or more and 7.5 major per season. The first to form was Adelaide and the last was Paddy.
What was the strongest storm of 1980–81?
Cyclone Carol. It peaked at 145 mph (230 km/h, 125 kt) with a lowest pressure of 940 mb on December 16, 1980. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 80 Southern Hemisphere storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 9% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1980–81 season end?
Australia’s official season ran from November 1, 1980 to April 30, 1981. Our counts follow IBTrACS, which files every storm from July 1980 to June 1981 under the 1980–81 season. The busiest months are January–February. The last system, Paddy, dissipated on May 30, 1981.