1981 Pacific hurricane season
| 1981 Pacific hurricane season |
Season summary map
|
| Seasonal boundaries |
| First system formed |
May 30, 1981 |
| Last system dissipated |
October 30, 1981 |
| Strongest storm |
|
| Name |
Norma |
| • Maximum winds |
125 mph (205 km/h)
(1-minute sustained) |
| Seasonal statistics |
| Total depressions |
17 |
| Total storms |
15 |
| Hurricanes |
8 |
Major hurricanes
(Cat. 3+) |
1 |
| Total fatalities |
79 |
| Total damage |
$134 million (1981 USD) |
| Related articles |
|
|
Pacific hurricane seasons
1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983
|
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
May 30 – June 4 |
| Peak intensity |
45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min) |
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
June 28 – July 4 |
| Peak intensity |
85 mph (140 km/h) (1-min) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
July 4 – July 9 |
| Peak intensity |
50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min) |
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
July 10 – July 16 |
| Peak intensity |
90 mph (150 km/h) (1-min) 979 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
July 16 – July 21 |
| Peak intensity |
50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min) |
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
August 6 – August 13 |
| Peak intensity |
105 mph (165 km/h) (1-min) |
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
August 13 – August 22 |
| Peak intensity |
75 mph (120 km/h) (1-min) |
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
August 21 – August 28 |
| Peak intensity |
85 mph (140 km/h) (1-min) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
August 27 – August 31 |
| Peak intensity |
50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min) |
The 1981 Pacific hurricane season was a slightly below average Pacific hurricane season. The season officially started on May 15 in the eastern Pacific basin and June 1 in the central Pacific basin. Both basins' seasons ended on November 30; these dates conventionally delimit the period during which most tropical cyclones form in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. The first tropical cyclone of the season was designated on May 30, and the final storm of the season, Hurricane Otis, dissipated on October 30. The season produced fifteen named storms and a total of eight hurricanes, which was near normal. However, the total of one major hurricane was below the average of three.
The strongest tropical cyclone of the season was Hurricane Norma, which was a powerful Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale. The storm caused six deaths – five in Texas, and one in Mexico, due to severe flooding. Additionally, the storm caused $74 million (equivalent to $194.94 million in 2016) in damage, which is credited to significant crop damage and many tornadoes. However, the deadliest tropical cyclone of the season was Tropical Storm Lidia, which made two landfalls – one on the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula and the other along the shores of Sinaloa in early October. As the result of its heavy rainfall in northwestern Mexico, seventy-three fatalities were reported, along with $80 million in damage.
There was an absence in storm activity across the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's area of responsibility, as no storms developed in the basin. However, two tropical cyclones from the eastern Pacific, Greg and Jova, entered the central Pacific, the latter entering as a hurricane. The season produced fifteen named storms and eight hurricanes; both of these numbers were equal to the average. The season's one major hurricane, a storm with winds of at least 111 mph (179 km/h), was below the average of three. There are also at least two tropical depressions that did not strengthen into tropical storms. Six tropical cyclones made landfall in Mexico. First, Tropical Storm Adrian made landfall 240 mi (390 km) east-southeast of Acapulco, but did not cause any damage. Afterwards, Tropical Storm Irwin made landfall in Baja California Sur, but similarly to Adrian, did not cause any damage. Tropical Storm Knut later made landfall near Mazatlan with winds equivalent to a minimal tropical storm, but no deaths or damage was reported. Tropical Storm Lidia struck about 23 mi (37 km) south of Los Mochis on October 8, with winds of 45 mph (75 km/h). Heavy rainfall associated with the cyclone caused moderate damage in northwestern Mexico, and at least seventy-three deaths can be attributed to the storm. On May 30, an area of intense shower and thunderstorm activity located 270 mi (430 km) south of the Mexican coastline. The second to strike the area in 10 days, Norma was absorbed by a frontal system on October 14. The combined entity produced heavy rainfall and severe weather across Texas, which subsequently led to severe crop damage. The final storm to make landfall on Mexico during the 1981 season was Hurricane Otis. Intensifying into a hurricane by October 26, the hurricane brushed the coast of Jalisco before making landfall near Mazatlan at hurricane intensity on October 30. Otis was the second of two hurricanes to make landfall in the country this season.
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Wikipedia
