Tornadoes of 1981

Tornadoes of 1981

An F4 tornado near Binger, Oklahoma on May 22
Timespan January–December 1981
Maximum rated tornado

F4 tornado

  • 7 locations
    on 7 different days
Tornadoes in U.S. 782[1]
Damage (U.S.) unknown
Fatalities (U.S.) 24[2]
Fatalities (worldwide) >24

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1981, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.

Synopsis

Numbers for 1981 were below average, both in terms of number of tornadoes and number of fatalities.

Events

Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
283 320 149 23 7 0 782

January

Only two tornadoes touched down in January, both were rated F0 and took place in California.[3]

February

The first fatal tornadoes of the year occurred during a relatively small outbreak between February 10 and 11. Two F2 tornadoes, one in Walker County, Texas and the other in Hoke/Cumberland Counties, North Carolina, killed one person. Eighty-two people were also injured during the course of the month.[4]

March

Scattered tornado events took place in March, with a total of 33 events taking place. One person was killed by an F2 in Hertford County, North Carolina on March 30.[5]

April

Several small tornado outbreaks took place in April, producing 84 tornadoes. Most of the year's fatalities took place during the month, with 13 people perishing. On April 4 a rare anticyclonic tornado struck West Bend, Wisconsin killing three people. Five people were also killed in Bixby, Oklahoma by an F3 on April 19.[6]

May

There were 187 tornadoes in the US in May.[7] On May 22, a large wedge F4 tornado struck Binger, Oklahoma.

June

There were 223 tornadoes in the US in June, resulting in eight fatalities. On June 13, an F3 tornado killed four people in Cardington, Ohio.[8]

July

There were 98 tornadoes in the US in July.[9]

August

There were 64 tornadoes in the US in August.[10]

September

There were 26 tornadoes in the US in September.[11]

October

There were 32 tornadoes in the US in October.[12]

November

There were 7 tornadoes in the US in November.[13] On November 23, a large tornado outbreak occurred in central England. About 105 tornadoes were reported to have touched down.

December

There was 1 tornado in the US in December.[14]

References

  1. ↑ "U.S. Annual Tornado Maps (1952 - 2011): 1981 Tornadoes". Storm Prediction Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Tornadoes in 1981". Tornado History Project. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Tornadoes in January 1981". National Climatic Data Center. Tornado History Project. 2011. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Tornadoes in February 1981". National Climatic Data Center. Tornado History Project. 2011. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Tornadoes in March 1981". National Climatic Data Center. Tornado History Project. 2011. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Tornadoes in April 1981". National Climatic Data Center. Tornado History Project. 2011. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Tornadoes in May 1981". National Climatic Data Center. Tornado History Project. 2011. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Tornadoes in June 1981". National Climatic Data Center. Tornado History Project. 2011. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  9. ↑ "Tornadoes in July 1981". National Climatic Data Center. Tornado History Project. 2011. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  10. ↑ "Tornadoes in August 1981". National Climatic Data Center. Tornado History Project. 2011. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  11. ↑ "Tornadoes in September 1981". National Climatic Data Center. Tornado History Project. 2011. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Tornadoes in October 1981". National Climatic Data Center. Tornado History Project. 2011. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Tornadoes in November 1981". National Climatic Data Center. Tornado History Project. 2011. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  14. ↑ "Tornadoes in December 1981". National Climatic Data Center. Tornado History Project. 2011. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
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