Season summary map
First storm formed:	May 6, 1981
Last storm dissipated:	November 17, 1981
Strongest storm:	Harvey - 946 mbar (27.94 inHg), 135 mph (215 km/h)
Total storms:	12
Major storms (Cat. 3+)	3
Total damages:	$32.1122 million (2005 USD)
Total fatalities:	2
Atlantic hurricane seasons 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983

The 1981 Atlantic hurricane season was an ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. It officially started June 1, 1981, and lasted until November 30, 1981. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x807, 535 KB) Season summary provided by NOAA of the 1981 Atlantic hurricane season. ... May 6 is the 126th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (127th in leap years). ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 17 November is also the name of a Marxist group in Greece. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A millibar (mbar, also mb) is 1/1000th of a bar, a unit for measurement of pressure. ... Inches of mercury or inHg is a non SI unit for pressure. ... Miles per hour is a unit of speed, expressing the number of international miles covered per hour. ... Kilometre per hour (American spelling: kilometer per hour) is a unit of both speed (scalar) and velocity (vector). ... The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is a scale classifying most Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the levels of tropical depression and tropical storm and thereby become hurricanes. ... The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States. ... ... First storm formed: June 19, 1979 Last storm dissipated: Oct. ... First storm formed: July 31, 1980 Last storm dissipated: Nov. ... First storm formed: June 2, 1982 Last storm dissipated: Oct. ... The 1983 Atlantic hurricane season was an ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Cyclone Catarina, a rare South Atlantic tropical cyclone viewed from the International Space Station on March 26, 2004. ... June 1 is the 152nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (153rd in leap years), with 213 days remaining. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... November 30 is the 334th day (335th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 31 days remaining, as the final day of November. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The most notable storms of 1981 were Hurricane Dennis, which caused millions of dollars in damage in Dade County, Florida; and Hurricane Katrina, which killed two and caused widespread flood damage in the Camagüey Province of Cuba. County slogan: Delivering Excellence Every Day Location of county in the state of Florida County Seat Miami, Florida Area  - Total  - Water 6,297 km² (2,431 mi²) 1,257 km² (485 mi²) 19. ... Camagüey is the largest of the provinces of Cuba. ...

Storms

Tropical Storm Arlene

Arlene satellite picture and storm track

Arlene combined several unusual features into one storm. It formed on May 6, well before the beginning of the normal hurricane season. It developed out of a disturbance that moved from the Pacific Ocean across Central America into the Caribbean Sea, an occurrence that happens only rarely. As the disturbance tracked northeast across the western Caribbean, it became a tropical depression, then on May 7 reached tropical storm strength near the Cayman Islands. Image File history File links Tropical_Storm_Arlene_(1981). ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x633, 429 KB) Summary Hurricane Arlene (1981) track. ... May 6 is the 126th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (127th in leap years). ... Commonly, Central America is the region of North America located between the southern border of Mexico and the northwest border of Colombia, in South America. ... Map of Central America and the Caribbean The Caribbean Sea is a tropical body of water adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean and southeast of the Gulf of Mexico. ... May 7 is the 127th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (128th in leap years). ...

Arlene struck eastern Cuba on the night of the 7th, and the passage over land weakened it to a depression. It restrengthened briefly over the southeastern Bahamas, but weakened again and was absorbed by another system.

Reported damage was minimal.

Tropical Storm Bret

Bret satellite picture and storm track

Bret formed out of a subtropical low roughly 150 miles off the coast of North Carolina. The storm moved west-northwest, striking land in southern Maryland on July 1. Bret weakened significantly just before landfall, and reported winds were below gale force. No significant damage was reported. Bret is the first tropical storm to make landfall on the Delmarva Peninisula and one of to storm to affect Eastern Shore, Virginia. Image File history File links Tropical_Storm_Bret_(1981). ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x633, 509 KB) Summary Hurricane Bret (1981) track. ... Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 28th 139,509 km² 805 km 240 km 9. ... Official language(s) None Capital Annapolis Largest city Baltimore Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 42nd 32,160 km² 145 km 400 km 21 37°53N to 39°43N 75°4W to 79°33W Population  - Total (2000)  - Density Ranked 19th 5,296,486 165... July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 183 days remaining. ... A gale is a wind of at least 28 knots, 32 MPH, or 51km/h; and up to 55 knots, 63 MPH, or 102km/h. ... Official language(s) English Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 35th 110,862 km² 320 km 690 km 7. ...

Tropical Storm Cindy

Cindy satellite picture and storm track

A subtropical depression that developed along a cold front organized into Tropical Storm Cindy on August 2, in the open Atlantic midway between Bermuda and Nova Scotia. Cindy tracked east-northeast until it became extratropical on August 5 as it moved over colder water. The storm never affected land and caused no known damage. Image File history File links Hurricane_Cindy_(1981). ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x633, 362 KB) Summary Hurricane Cindy (1981) track. ... August 2 is the 214th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (215th in leap years), with 151 days remaining. ... Motto: Munit Haec et Altera Vincit (Latin: One defends and the other conquers) Official languages English Capital Halifax Largest city Halifax Lieutenant-Governor Myra Freeman Premier John Hamm (PC) Parliamentary representation  - House seat  - Senate seats 11 10 Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 12th 55,283 km² 3. ... August 5 is the 217th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (218th in leap years), with 148 days remaining. ...

Hurricane Dennis

Main article: Hurricane Dennis (1981)

Dennis satellite picture and storm track

The storm that would become Dennis began as Cape Verde-type hurricanes typically do. A tropical wave leaving the coast of Africa on August 5 developed into Tropical Storm Dennis on the 7th near Cape Verde. Unlike most such storms, Dennis did not strengthen as it crossed the Atlantic, and actually degenerated to a tropical wave before reaching the Windward Islands. This wave crossed the Caribbean, passing over Jamaica before reaching the southwestern coast of Cuba on August 15. Hurricane Dennis was a long-lived hurricane of the 1981 Atlantic hurricane season. ... Image File history File links Hurricane_Dennis_(1981). ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x633, 247 KB) Summary Hurricane Dennis (1981) track. ... Hurricane Ivan, a category 5 Cape Verde-type hurricane A Cape Verde-type hurricane is a tropical cyclone that develops near the Cape Verde islands, off the west coast of Africa, and becomes a hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean. ... Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. ... August 5 is the 217th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (218th in leap years), with 148 days remaining. ... August 7 is the 219th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (220th in leap years), with 146 days remaining. ... This article is about the Caribbean island group. ... August 15 is the 227th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (228th in leap years), with 138 days remaining. ...

Once near Cuba, the wave began rapid organization, restrengthening into a tropical storm. It crossed Cuba, then moved into southern Florida. Over Florida, the steering currents moving Dennis weakened, and the storm's motion stalled. On August 19, Tropical Storm Dennis reemerged over water. The Storm headed up the coasts of South Carolina and North Carolina before accelerating out to sea. Away from land, Dennis reached hurricane strength before becoming extratropical on the 22nd. Official language(s) English Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 22nd 170,451 km² 260 km 800 km 17. ... August 19 is the 231st day of the year (232nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... State nickname: Palmetto State Official languages English Capital Columbia Largest city Columbia Governor Mark Sanford (R) Senators Lindsey Graham (R) Jim DeMint (R) Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 40th 82,965 km² 6 Population  - Total (2000)  - Density Ranked 26th 4,012,012 51. ... Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 28th 139,509 km² 805 km 240 km 9. ... August 22 is the 234th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (235th in leap years), with 131 days remaining. ...

Most damage associated with Dennis was from the heavy rainfall caused by its slow passage over Florida. The highest amount registered was near Homestead, where 25.56" of rain was measured. A storm total rainfall graphic for the cyclone is available here:[1]. Agriculture damage in Dade County, Florida was estimated at $15 million (1981 dollars). Coastal areas of the Carolinas were also affected by heavy rainfall, with spots seeing over 10 inches, as well as minor beach erosion.

Hurricane Emily

Emily satellite picture and storm track

On the first day of September, a subtropical storm became Tropical Storm Emily southwest of Bermuda. Emily moved northeast, crossing the island the next day, but measured winds were below tropical storm force. The storm continued generally northeast, and strengthened into a hurricane. Hurricane Emily weakened over the north Atlantic and was no longer identifiable as a weather system by September 12. Image File history File links Hurricane_Emily_(1981). ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x633, 230 KB) Summary Hurricane Emily (1981) track. ... September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years). ... September 12 is the 255th day of the year (256th in leap years). ...

Hurricane Emily caused beach erosion across the East Coast of the United States, but no other damage was reported. Regional definitions vary from source to source. ...

Hurricane Floyd

Floyd satellite picture and storm track

Floyd began being tracked as a tropical depression on September 3 when it organized east of the Leeward Islands. As the depression moved northwest, it caused heavy rain. The highest rainfall reported was 5.7" (14.5 cm) at Antigua. It strengthened into a tropical storm, then reached hurricane strength on the 7th. Image File history File links Tropical_Storm_Floyd_(1981). ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x771, 84 KB) Summary Hurricane Floyd (1981) track. ... September 3 is the 246th day of the year (247th in leap years). ... The Leeward Islands are the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles. ... September 7 is the 250th day of the year (251st in leap years). ...

Floyd turned to the northeast, and passed just southeast of Bermuda as a weakening hurricane. As a tropical storm, Floyd moved east across the Atlantic until losing its identity on September 12. September 12 is the 255th day of the year (256th in leap years). ...

No damages are associated with Floyd. Although Bermuda was directly affected, the island experienced the weaker half of the storm. Floyd was one of five hurricanes to form in the atlantic all at once during the 1981 Atlantic hurricane season, something that was never seen again untill the 1995 Atlantic hurricane season. B C D E 6 F G H I J K L 14 M N O P R S T Categories: | ...

Hurricane Gert

Gert satellite picture and storm track

A tropical depression became Tropical Storm Gert on September 8, roughly 100 nm east of Guadeloupe. Gert passed through the eastern Leeward Islands during the next few hours, but no significant winds were recorded. The next day, Gert's center moved across eastern Puerto Rico where it caused moderate to heavy rainfall. Image File history File links Tropical_Storm_Gert_(1981). ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x649, 139 KB) Summary Hurricane Gert (1981) track. ... September 8 is the 251st day of the year (252nd in leap years). ... The Leeward Islands are the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles. ...

Much of the storm's circulation moved over the Dominican Republic, and it reached the southeastern Bahamas before turning northward. Gert continued turning, and simultaneously strengthened. On September 12, Gert passed just north of Bermuda, but only light winds were recorded on the island. The storm was weakening, and accelerated on an east-northeast path. Its circulation dissipated on September 15 in the vicinity of the Azores. September 12 is the 255th day of the year (256th in leap years). ... September 15 is the 258th day of the year (259th in leap years). ... Location Motto of the autonomous region: Antes morrer livres que em paz sujeitos (Portuguese: To die free rather than to be subjugated in peace) Official language Portuguese Capitals Ponta Delgada (Presidency of the autonomous government), Angra do Heroísmo (Supreme Court), Horta (Legislative Assembly) Other towns Praia da Vitória...

No significant damage was reported to be caused by Hurricane Gert.

Hurricane Harvey

Harvey satellite picture and storm track

Harvey formed in the central Atlantic, reaching hurricane strength only a few hours after first becoming a named system on September 12. From its initial position several hundred miles east of the Leeward Islands, Harvey moved northwest. Its path began curving more to the north, and was considered a threat to Bermuda until the continuing curve took Harvey away from the island. Harvey's track became more easterly, and the storm weakened and became extratropical as it approached the Azores. Image File history File links Hurricane_Harvey_(1981). ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x785, 106 KB) Summary Hurricane Harvey (1981) track. ... September 12 is the 255th day of the year (256th in leap years). ...

Harvey caused no reported damage, although several ships reported experiencing tropical storm force winds.

Hurricane Irene

Irene satellite picture and storm track

Irene became a named storm mid-way between the Windward Islands and Cape Verde on September 23, and its track mimiced that of Hurricane Harvey. The storm tracked northwest, becoming a hurricane on the 25th. Its track then began curving to the right, eventually resulting in motion to the northeast. Image File history File links Hurricane_Irene_(1981). ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x972, 104 KB) Summary Hurricane Irene (1981) track. ... September 23 is the 266th day of the year (267th in leap years). ... September 25 is the 268th day of the year (269th in leap years). ...

The storm weakened and became extratropical in early October. The remaining extratropical storm moved over France on October 3. October 3 is the 276th day of the year (277th in Leap years). ...

Tropical Storm Jose

Jose satellite picture and storm track

Jose was a weak and short-lived tropical storm that formed far from land on October 29. It moved generally northeast before becoming subtropical and then dissipating on November 1 near the Azores. Image File history File links Tropical_Storm_Jose_(1981). ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x633, 29 KB) Summary Hurricane Jose (1981) track. ... October 29 is the 302nd day of the year (303rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 63 days remaining. ... November 1 is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 60 days remaining. ...

Hurricane Katrina

Katrina satellite picture and storm track

A tropical depression formed on November 3 in the western Caribbean Sea about 150 miles south of the Cayman Islands. The depression moved north, reaching tropical storm strength as it moved through the Caymans. Katrina continued to strengthen, reaching hurricane strength half a day before landfall in Cuba. Image File history File links Hurricane_Katrina_(1981). ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x633, 340 KB) Summary Hurricane Katrina (1981) track. ... November 3 is the 307th day of the year (308th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 58 days remaining. ...

A weakening Katrina moved across eastern Cuba on November 6. After emerging over water, the storm accelerated northeast through the Bahamas. Katrina's circulation fell apart, and the storm merged with a front on November 8. November 6 is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 55 days remaining. ... November 8 is the 312th day of the year (313th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 53 days remaining. ...

Hurricane Katrina is reported to have killed two and caused widespread flood damage in the Camagüey Province of Cuba. Katirina was the only storm to have produced fatalites making the 1981 season having the lowest death toll. Camagüey is the largest of the provinces of Cuba. ...

Subtropical Storm Three

Three satellite picture and storm track

A frontal low over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream organized into a subtropical storm on November 12 while 400 miles east of Jacksonville, Florida. After moving northeastward, it turned to the northwest, threatening the northeastern United States as an intensifying subtropical storm that was gradually developing tropical characteristics. A high pressure system turned it to the northeast, and after peaking at 70 mph it became extratropical near Nova Scotia on the 17th. The storm produced significant beach erosion and coastal flooding. The storm was unnamed since naming lists for subtropical storms was phased out in 1973 and it will be 19 years before another subtropical will be named. Had the storm been named it would've been named Subtropical Storm Lenny. Image File history File links Subtropical_Storm_Three_(1981). ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x633, 450 KB) Summary 1981 Atlantic subtropical storm 3 track. ... For the album by Ocean Colour Scene, see North Atlantic Drift (album) The Gulf Stream is orange and yellow in this representation of water temperatures of the Atlantic. ... A subtropical cyclone is a weather system that has some characteristics of a tropical cyclone and some characteristics of an extratropical cyclone. ... November 12 is the 316th day of the year (317th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 49 days remaining. ... The Jacksonville skyline and the Acosta Bridge. ... Motto: Munit Haec et Altera Vincit (Latin: One defends and the other conquers) Official languages English Capital Halifax Largest city Halifax Lieutenant-Governor Myra Freeman Premier John Hamm (PC) Parliamentary representation  - House seat  - Senate seats 11 10 Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 12th 55,283 km² 3. ...

1981 storm names

The following names were used for named storms that formed in the north Atlantic in 1981. No names were retired, so it was used again in the 1987 season. It was the first use for all of these names since the post-1978 naming change. Names that were not assigned are marked in gray. The 1987 Atlantic hurricane season was an ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. ...

Hurricane Dennis was a long-lived hurricane of the 1981 Atlantic hurricane season. ...

Retirement

No names were retired in 1981.

See also

Tropical cyclones Portal

• List of notable tropical cyclones
• List of Atlantic hurricane seasons

Image File history File links Portal. ... This is a list of notable tropical cyclones, subdivided by basin and reason for notability. ... ...

External links

• Monthly Weather Review
• Detailed information on all storms from 1981