1981 Atlantic hurricane season

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Good article Template:Infobox tropical cyclone season The 1981 Atlantic hurricane season featured direct or indirect impacts from nearly all of its 12 tropical or subtropical storms. Overall, the season was fairly active, with 22 tropical depressions, 12 of which became named storms. 7 of those reached hurricane status and a further 3 intensified into major hurricanes. The season officially began on June 1, 1981, and lasted until November 30, 1981. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. However, tropical cyclogenesis can occur before these dates, as demonstrated with the development of two tropical depressions in April and Tropical Storm Arlene in May. At least one tropical cyclone formed in each month between April and November, with the final system, Subtropical Storm Three, becoming extratropical on November 17, 1981.

Although many tropical cyclones impacted land, few caused significant damage. Tropical Depression Eight was the most devastating storm of the season, causing five fatalities and $56.2 million in damage due to flooding over southeast Texas in August. During the same month, Hurricane Dennis produced heavy rainfall across Florida's Miami metropolitan area and in parts of southeastern North Carolina, killing three people and leaving about $28.5 million in damage. Tropical Depression Two, Tropical Storm Bret, and Hurricane Katrina also resulted in fatalities. Collectively, the Atlantic tropical cyclones of this season were responsible for about $88.7 million in damage and 14 deaths.

Seasonal summary

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The 1981 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1 and ended on November 30.<ref name="seasondates">Template:Cite news Template:Free access</ref> The season was high in activity, with 22 cyclones, 12 of which intensified into tropical or subtropical storms. Of those, seven intensified into a hurricane, while three strengthened into a major hurricane.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track This activity exceeded the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s 1950-2005 average of 11 named storms, 6 hurricanes, and 2 major hurricanes.<ref name="background">Template:Cite report</ref> Although most of the systems made landfall or otherwise impacted land, few caused extensive damage or fatalities. Collectively, the tropical cyclones of the 1981 Atlantic hurricane season caused about $88.7 million in damage and 14 deaths.<ref>

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Tropical cyclogenesis began early, with two tropical depression forming in April, the first of which developing on April 6. Both tropical depressions were operationally unnumbered.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track Tropical Storm Arlene formed on May 6. The storm made landfall in Cuba two days later, before being absorbed later by a low.<ref name="Arl">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Tropical Depression Two moved out of the Gulf of Mexico into eastern Texas on June 5, producing localized rainfall amounts of Template:Convert and numerous tornadoes over Louisiana before recurving across the Southeast United States.<ref name="DR2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Another previously unnumbered tropical depression formed over the Bay of Campeche later that month on June 17. It made landfall in Mexico south of Tampico before dissipating about two days later.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track Tropical Storm Bret formed as a subtropical low in the open Atlantic Ocean north of Bermuda on June 29, and made landfall in the Delmarva Peninsula.<ref name="Bret">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The last of four previously unnumbered tropical depressions developed near Andros on July 2. It made landfall in southeast Florida and later in South Carolina before dissipating on July 4.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track Tropical Depression Four formed in the Gulf of Mexico on July 25, moving into Mexico the next day, and causing heavy rains in west Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas when its remnants moved into the United States.<ref name="4rain">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Tropical Storm Cindy formed on August 2 in the open Atlantic and became an extratropical cyclone on August 5.<ref name="Cindy">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Hurricane Dennis formed on August 7 near South America. Dennis degenerated into a depression while making landfall in the Leeward Islands, but regained storm strength while over Cuba. Dennis moved near the southeast United States coastline from Florida to Virginia, briefly becoming a hurricane. Dennis weakened into a tropical storm and was declared an extratropical cyclone on August 22.<ref name="DRDennis">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Tropical Depression Seven formed in mid-August and tracked through the Windward Islands before dissipating near Trinidad and Tobago.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track Tropical Depression Eight led to a significant flooding event between San Antonio and Houston on August 30 and August 31 while recurving through Texas into Louisiana.<ref name="DReight">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Hurricane Emily formed on September 1 southeast of Bermuda. Emily made a cyclonic loop as a tropical storm. Emily strengthened into a hurricane out in the North Atlantic Ocean and by September 12, was no longer identifiable.<ref name="Emily">Template:Cite report</ref> Hurricane Floyd was a Category 3 hurricane that grazed Bermuda, but no damage was reported.<ref name="Floyd81">Template:Cite report</ref> Hurricane Gert formed September 8, strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane, and followed the same track as Floyd, dissipating near the Azores.<ref name="DRgert">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="gert1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Gert2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Hurricane Harvey became the strongest storm of the season, reaching Category 4 strength. Harvey never affected land, but ships reported tropical storm-force winds.<ref name="Harvey">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Tropical Depression Thirteen brought gusts of tropical storm force to Bermuda in mid-to-late September.<ref name="13windy">Template:Cite news Template:Free access</ref> Hurricane Irene also stayed out at sea, reaching Category 3 strength before becoming extratropical in early October. The extratropical remnants of Irene made landfall in France.<ref name="Irene">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Tropical Depression Fifteen was small and well-organized as it crossed the tropical Atlantic before weakening as it moved through the northeast Caribbean and southwest North Atlantic during late September and early October.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track Tropical Storm Jose was a short-lived storm forming out in the open Atlantic in late October. Jose never affected land and dissipated on November 1 near the Azores.<ref name="Jose">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Hurricane Katrina formed in the Caribbean Sea, and made landfall in Cuba after reaching hurricane strength.<ref name="Katrina">Template:Cite report</ref> The final storm of the season, Subtropical Storm Three, formed in the Atlantic Ocean on November 12 and moved north, making landfall in Nova Scotia and becoming extratropical soon after.<ref name="ST3">Template:Cite report</ref>

The season's activity was reflected with an accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating of 100,<ref name="ACE">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> which is classified as "near normal" by NOAA and is slightly higher than the 1951-2000 average of 93.2.<ref name="background"/> ACE is a metric used to express the energy used by a tropical cyclone during its lifetime. Therefore, storms that last a long time, as well as particularly strong hurricanes, have high ACEs. It is only calculated for full advisories on tropical systems at or exceeding Template:Convert, which is the threshold for tropical storm intensity.<ref name="ACE"/>

Systems

Tropical Storm Arlene

Template:Infobox Hurricane Small An area of thunderstorms originated in the eastern Pacific Ocean in early May, which crossed Central America into the western Caribbean, developing a low-level circulation on May 5 off the coast of Honduras. Thunderstorms were disorganized at first, although it organized sufficiently to develop into a tropical depression on May 6 near the Cayman Islands. It was a rare example of an Atlantic depression forming from a disturbance that originated in the eastern Pacific. Spiral rainbands developed around the center, and the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Arlene on May 7 while moving generally northeastward, steered by a ridge to its north. Arlene attained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) before it moved ashore in eastern Cuba early on May 8. While crossing eastern Cuba, the circulation of Arlene became ill-defined, and the storm weakened into a tropical depression, with strong wind shear exposing the circulation. After an area of thunderstorms reformed, Arlene re-intensified after exiting Cuba, reaching winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) over the southeastern Bahamas, based on observations from the Hurricane Hunters. Arlene soon weakened again back to a tropical depression, and on May 9 the system was absorbed by an advancing trough. Late the next day, the combined systems reorganized and resembled having some subtropical characteristics, although it weakened further by May 11.<ref name="lushine">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="atcr">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

As Arlene was approaching its first landfall, the National Hurricane Center noted the potential for heavy rainfall in Jamaica, Cuba, and the Bahamas; small boats in those regions were advised to remain at harbor. Meanwhile, the government of the Bahamas issued storm warnings for the central and southeastern portion of its country.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> There were no reports of damage or casualties from Cuba or the Bahamas, and therefore storm affects were judged to have been minimal.<ref name="atcr"/> Early in the duration of Arlene, Cayman Brac reported Template:Convert winds;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> later, peak winds in the Bahamas reached around 35 mph (55 km/h).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Arlene was the only May tropical storm on record to affect the Cuban province of Camagüey, although its passage was mostly noticed in its disruption of sugar cane production.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Tropical Depression Two

Template:Infobox Hurricane Small A tropical depression formed in the Bay of Campeche on June 3. Classified as Tropical Depression Two, the system moved north-northwest, lured by a closed upper-cyclone over the southern Great Plains.<ref name="DR2"/> Shortly before 12:00 UTC on June 5, the depression made landfall near Matagorda, Texas, with winds of Template:Convert.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track Surface observations indicate that the depression's barometric pressure at landfall ranged from Template:Convert.<ref name="DR2"/> Although the depression dissipated later on June 5,Template:Atlantic hurricane best track its remnants quickly recurved through the Mississippi Valley, and deepened as it moved off the coast of the Mid-Atlantic states into the Atlantic on June 7.<ref name="DR2"/>

The depression, in conjunction with an upper-level low, dropped heavy rainfall in the Greater Houston area, with a peak total of Template:Convert at Lake Anahuac.<ref name="DR2"/> In Texas City, Template:Convert of water inside 16 homes forced the evacuation of their occupants,<ref name="blum">Template:Cite report</ref> with at least 23 homes suffering water damage. Water also entered city hall. Some roads had roughly Template:Convert of standing water, stranding some motorists for hours.<ref>Template:Cite news Template:Free access</ref> In Galveston, a tornado damaged forty homes and apartments, with severe damage to three homes and two apartment units. One business suffered major roof damage, while several cars were damaged at an auto dealership.<ref name="blum"/> The depression also spawned eight tornadoes in Louisiana.<ref name="DR2"/> The most destructive tornado touched down in Rapides Parish, where it substantially damaged or destroyed thirty-eight cars at a dealership in Lecompte, severely damaged five homes and caused minor damage to four others, downed large trees, and tossed an 18-wheeler truck approximately Template:Convert.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref> Overall, the depression killed three people, two due to flooding and one from an associated tornado.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> At least $4 million in damage was caused by this depression.<ref name="DR2"/>

Tropical Storm Bret

Template:Infobox Hurricane Small {{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} A low-pressure area initially associated with a frontal system developed into a subtropical storm on June 29 while roughly Template:Convert east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.<ref name="Bret"/> The system headed westward and transitioned into Tropical Storm Bret around 06:00 UTC on June 30. Bret attained its peak intensity six hours later with maximum sustained winds of Template:Convert and a minimum atmospheric pressure of Template:Convert. However, Bret rapidly weakened as it approached the Mid-Atlantic and deteriorated to a minimal tropical storm by the time it made landfall on the Delmarva Peninsula early on July 1. The cyclone dissipated over northern Virginia several hours later.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track

Rainfall amounts were light, with a narrow area of over Template:Convert of precipitation reported near its track and within the central Appalachians, while a peak total of Template:Convert was observed at Big Meadows, Virginia.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref> Locally heavy rains in western Pennsylvania caused some basement and street flooding.<ref>Template:Cite news Template:Free access</ref> No significant damage was reported,<ref name="Bret"/> but one fatality occurred at Nags Head, North Carolina, due to riptides.<ref name="montreal">Template:Cite news</ref>

Tropical Depression Four

Template:Infobox Hurricane Small A tropical disturbance moved across the Caribbean sea between July 20 and July 24 before moving across the Yucatán peninsula.<ref>National Climatic Data Center. July 24, 1981 18:00 UTC Channel: Visible (~0.65um) Satellite: GOES-4. Retrieved on May 13, 2008.</ref> After emerging into the south-central Gulf of Mexico, the disturbance organized into a tropical depression early on July 25. The depression moved west-northwest into northeast Mexico on July 26 before its surface circulation dissipated. Heavy rains fell across western Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas when the remains of this system interacted with a stationary front across the southern Plains between July 28 and July 30.<ref name="4rain"/>

Tropical Storm Cindy

Template:Infobox Hurricane Small A cold front moved offshore North Carolina on July 30. An area of disturbed weather along the tail-end of the front subsequently began to develop cyclonic banding, resulting in the formation of a subtropical depression late on August 2 about Template:Convert northwest of Bermuda. After acquiring more central dense overcast, the subtropical depression transitioned into a tropical depression around 12:00 UTC on the following day. Soon, the depression also intensified into Tropical Storm Cindy late on August 3 about midway between Bermuda and Nova Scotia. Cindy tracked east-northeast until becoming extratropical on August 5 as it moved over colder sea surface temperatures to the southeast of Newfoundland.<ref name="Cindy"/>

Hurricane Dennis

Template:Infobox Hurricane Small {{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} A tropical wave emerged into the Atlantic from the west coast of Africa on August 5. Two days later, the wave developed into a tropical depression well south of the Cape Verde Islands. The depression intensified into a tropical storm early on August 8. However, Dennis then encountered strong wind shear, causing the storm to weaken to a tropical depression on August 11. After crossing the Windward Islands on August 12, Dennis entered the Caribbean but degenerated into a tropical wave early the following day. The wave became a tropical depression again late on August 15 while approaching Cuba. Dennis reintensified into a tropical storm around 00:00 UTC on August 16, just prior to landfall near Playa Girón, Matanzas Province. The cyclone emerged into the Straits of Florida hours later, before striking the Florida Keys and then mainland Monroe County early the next day. It drifted across Florida, reaching the Atlantic near Cape Canaveral on August 19. Dennis continued to intensify and made landfall near Emerald Isle, North Carolina, but moved east-northeastward and soon tracked offshore. Late on August 20, Dennis deepened into a hurricane with winds of Template:Convert, before weakening to a tropical storm over colder waters on August 21. Dennis became extratropical northeast of Bermuda early on August 22 and persisted until being absorbed by a frontal system on August 26.<ref name="Dennis">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In the Caribbean, Dennis dropped heavy precipitation on some islands, including Martinique, Saint Lucia, the Virgin Islands,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and the Greater Antilles. Flooding in Jamaica left at least 50 people homeless.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In Florida, heavy rain fell in many areas to the east of the storm's path. Much of southeast Florida received at least Template:Convert of precipitation,<ref name="dennis2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> while over Template:Convert of rain fell in Homestead.<ref name="DRDennis"/> Nearly all of Dade County was flooded to the south of Kendall Drive. Many businesses and homes in cities such as Homestead and Florida City suffered water damage.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, the worst damage was incurred to crops, which experienced a loss of over $17.26 million.<ref name="sfwmd">Template:Cite report</ref> One death and nearly $18.5 million in damage occurred in Florida.<ref name="sfwmd"/><ref name="stracener">Template:Cite news</ref> Farther north, Dennis also caused flooding in the Carolinas, inundating many streets and causing crop damage in both states.<ref name="dennis2"/> A weather-related traffic accident in South Carolina resulted in two fatalities.<ref name="onlyoneday">Template:Cite news</ref> Twenty families in Columbus County, North Carolina, evacuated after the Waccamaw River overran its banks.<ref name="ncdc8">Template:Cite journal</ref> Overall, Dennis left caused three deaths and about $28.5 million in damage.<ref name="stracener"/><ref name="onlyoneday"/><ref name="ncdc8"/>

Tropical Depression Seven

Template:Infobox Hurricane Small This system developed over the tropical Atlantic Ocean on August 18, moving westward and then southwestward towards the Windward Islands. The depression dissipated east of Trinidad and Tobago late on August 21.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track

Tropical Depression Eight

Template:Infobox Hurricane Small {{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Tropical Depression Eight developed from a tropical disturbance over the Bay of Campeche on August 26. Moving northwestward, the cyclone failed to intensify into a tropical storm before making landfall in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas to the north of Tampico on August 28, with winds of Template:Convert. After moving inland, the depression curved north-northwestward before degenerating into a surface low-pressure area near the Mexico–United States border on August 29. The remnants moved eastward across Texas and entered Louisiana before dissipating on September 1.<ref name="DReight"/>

Although the system was only a surface low upon reaching Texas, a large thunderstorm complex developed near its center on August 29. This resulted in heavy rainfall across southeastern Texas, with a peak total of Template:Convert in Pine Springs in Fayette County,<ref name="DReight"/> with much of that falling in only about six hours. One of the hardest hit areas was Lavaca County. At least 15 streets in downtown Hallettsville were flooded, damaging hundreds of cars, 150 to 200 homes, 75 businesses, and a few local government buildings.<ref name="ncdc8"/> Five people were killed by floodwaters in Shiner.<ref name="DReight"/> Throughout Lavaca County, more than 286 homes were damaged or destroyed, 17 bridges and several roads were washed out, and hundreds of head of cattle were drowned. The depression spawned 14 tornadoes, one of which caused extensive damage in the Galveston area.<ref name="ncdc8"/> Overall, the depression left more than $56.2 million in damage.<ref name="ncdc8"/><ref name="reagan"/>

Hurricane Emily

Template:Infobox Hurricane Small On September 1, 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. Hurricane Emily caused beach erosion across the East Coast of the United States, but no other damage was reported.<ref name="Emily"/>

Hurricane Floyd

Template:Infobox Hurricane Small Floyd was first 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 Template:Convert at Antigua. It strengthened into a tropical storm, then reached hurricane strength on September 7.<ref name="Floyd81"/> 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.<ref name="Floyd81"/>

No damages are associated with Floyd. Although Bermuda was directly affected, the island experienced the weaker half of the storm.<ref name="Floyd81"/>

Hurricane Gert

Template:Infobox Hurricane Small A tropical wave exited western Africa on September 1, gradually developing a concentrated area of convection. Early on September 7, satellite imagery indicated that Tropical Depression Eleven formed about Template:Convert east of the Leeward Islands. The depression intensified into Tropical Storm Gert on the following day. The newly upgraded storm passed between Dominica and Guadeloupe and continued to intensify, making landfall on southeastern Puerto Rico with winds of Template:Convert late on September 8. After emerging into the Atlantic, Gert weakened while passing just north of the Dominican Republic.<ref name="gert1"/> It restrengthened while turning northward near the Bahamas, becoming a hurricane on September 10. Midday on September 11, Gert peaked with winds of Template:Convert and a minimum pressure of Template:Convert. The hurricane turned northeastward and weakened over cooler waters, passing about Template:Convert north of Bermuda on September 12 as a tropical storm. On September 14, Gert weakened further to tropical depression status, dissipating the next day.<ref name="Gert2"/>

While passing through the Leeward Islands, Gert dropped moderate rainfall of Template:Convert on St. Thomas. Winds gusted to Template:Convert on the island. In Puerto Rico, rainfall peaked at Template:Convert in the municipality of Maricao,<ref name="gert1"/> flooding some highways. Several towns on the southside of the island lost electricity during the storm due to downed power lines.<ref>Template:Cite news Template:Free access</ref> Gale warnings were issued for the Turks and Caicos Islands and later the southeastern Bahamas, and light rainfall occurred in the region, reaching Template:Convert on the island of San Salvador. Winds were light in Bermuda.<ref name="gert1"/>

Hurricane Harvey

Template:Infobox Hurricane Small 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. Harvey caused no reported damage, although several ships reported experiencing tropical-storm-force winds.<ref name="Harvey"/>

Tropical Depression Thirteen

Template:Infobox Hurricane Small The thirteenth operationally classified tropical depression developed Template:Convert southwest of Bermuda on September 23,<ref name="SH-T TD13">Template:Cite news</ref> and was initially expected to intensify into a tropical storm.<ref name="TD13bermuda">Template:Cite news Template:Free access</ref> Although it failed to further intensify, Tropical Depression Thirteen brought squalls to Bermuda with winds gusts of tropical storm-force as it passed west of the island later that day. Moving northward, the system merged with a developing extratropical cyclone south of Nova Scotia on September 24.<ref name="13windy" />

Hurricane Irene

Template:Infobox Hurricane Small Satellite imagery detected a tropical disturbance off the coast of Africa on September 19. By September 23, the disturbance had developed a closed circulation and was designated as Tropical Storm Irene. The storm tracked northwest, becoming a hurricane on September 25. Irene then began to curve eastward as it gradually strengthened. On September 28, Irene strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane and reached its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of Template:Convert. Irene then gradually weakened, weakening below hurricane strength on October 1. Early on October 2, Irene became extratropical while located north of the Azores. The remaining extratropical storm moved over France on October 3.<ref name="Irene"/>

Tropical Depression Fifteen

Template:Infobox Hurricane Small This tropical depression formed southwest of the Cape Verde Islands on September 27, and tracked through the deep tropics before weakening as it moved over the Leeward Islands late on September 30.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track Heavy rains occurred at Guadeloupe as the system passed by the island.<ref>Template:Cite news Template:Free access</ref> The depression then recurved to the south and east of Bermuda late on October 4.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track

Tropical Storm Jose

Template:Infobox Hurricane Small 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.<ref name="Jose"/>

Hurricane Katrina

Template:Infobox Hurricane Small {{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} A tropical depression formed on November 3 in the western Caribbean Sea about Template:Convert south of the Cayman Islands. The depression moved north, reaching tropical storm strength as it moved through the Cayman Islands. Katrina continued to strengthen, reaching hurricane strength half a day before landfall in Cuba. 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.<ref name="Katrina"/>

The storm dropped heavy rainfall in the Cayman Islands and spawned a waterspout on Grand Cayman that resulted in minor damage. In Cuba, Katrina reportedly caused widespread flood damage, especially in Camagüey Province.<ref name="Katrina"/> A total of 4,641 homes were damaged to some degree, while 39 were demolished.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref> Two deaths also occurred in Cuba.<ref name="Katrina"/> Heavy precipitation in the Bahamas caused significant crop losses on Long Island.<ref name="NEWS3">Template:Cite news</ref>

Subtropical Storm Three

Template:Infobox Hurricane Small A frontal low over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream organized into a subtropical storm on November 12 while Template:Convert 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 Template:Convert it became extratropical near Nova Scotia on November 17. The storm produced significant beach erosion and coastal flooding.<ref name="ST3"/>

Other systems

Four additional tropical depressions formed during the season which were operationally thought to have not developed and thus went unnumbered. The first such system developed northeast of the Lesser Antilles on April 6. Moving slowly southwestward, the depression dissipated over the Anegada Passage about 24 hours later.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track A small craft advisory and special marine warning were issued by the National Weather Service office in San Juan, Puerto Rico.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On April 19, another tropical depression formed over the southwestward Caribbean. The depression moved northeastward through the following day, before doubling-back to the southwest and dissipating by April 21. Another previously unnumbered tropical depression formed over the Bay of Campeche on June 17. It made landfall in Mexico south of Tampico before dissipating about two days later. A fourth unnumbered tropical depression developed near Andros on July 2. It made landfall in southeast Florida and later in South Carolina before dissipating on July 4.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track The depression dropped up Template:Convert of rainfall in Broward County, Florida, causing localized flooding. A waterspout-turned-tornado at Port Everglades overturned a shed and downed some power lines.<ref>Template:Cite news Template:Free access</ref> Heavy precipitation also fell in South Carolina, especially in Clarendon and Sumter counties, inundating crops and flooding some cars, homes, a school, and stores in the Mayesville area.<ref>Template:Cite news Template:Free access</ref>

Storm names

Template:See also The following list of names was used for named storms that formed in the North Atlantic in 1981.<ref name="seasondates"/><ref name="NHOP 81">Template:Cite report</ref> Most names were used for the first time, except for Arlene, Cindy, and Irene, which had been previously used under the old naming convention.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> No names were retired following the season, thus the same list was used again for the 1987 season.<ref name="NHOP 87">Template:Cite report</ref>

Arlene
Bret
Cindy
Dennis
Emily
Floyd
Gert

Season effects

This is a table of all of the storms that formed in the 1981 Atlantic hurricane season. It includes their name, duration, peak classification and intensities, areas affected, damage, and death totals. Deaths in parentheses are additional and indirect (an example of an indirect death would be a traffic accident), but were still related to that storm. Damage and deaths include totals while the storm was extratropical, a wave, or a low, and all of the damage figures are in 1981 USD.

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Template:TC Areas affected (Bottom)

References

Template:Reflist

External links

Template:1981 Atlantic hurricane season buttons Template:TC Decades Template:Tropical cyclone season

1981 Atlantic hurricane season

Contents

Seasonal summary

Systems

Tropical Storm Arlene

Tropical Depression Two

Tropical Storm Bret

Tropical Depression Four

Tropical Storm Cindy

Hurricane Dennis

Tropical Depression Seven

Tropical Depression Eight

Hurricane Emily

Hurricane Floyd

Hurricane Gert

Hurricane Harvey

Tropical Depression Thirteen

Hurricane Irene

Tropical Depression Fifteen

Tropical Storm Jose

Hurricane Katrina

Subtropical Storm Three

Other systems

Storm names

Season effects

See also

References

External links

Navigation menu

1981 Atlantic hurricane season

Seasonal summary

Systems

Tropical Storm Arlene

Tropical Depression Two

Tropical Storm Bret

Tropical Depression Four

Tropical Storm Cindy

Hurricane Dennis

Tropical Depression Seven

Tropical Depression Eight

Hurricane Emily

Hurricane Floyd

Hurricane Gert

Hurricane Harvey

Tropical Depression Thirteen

Hurricane Irene

Tropical Depression Fifteen

Tropical Storm Jose

Hurricane Katrina

Subtropical Storm Three

Other systems

Storm names

Season effects

See also

References

External links

Navigation menu

Search