Tornadoes of 1981

Last updated

Tornadoes of 1981
1981 Tornadoes.png
Tracks of all US tornadoes in 1981.
TimespanJanuary–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
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.

Contents

Synopsis

Fatal United States tornadoes in 1981
Usa edcp relief location map.png
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Blue pog.svg
Approximate touchdown location of killer tornadoes in 1981
Summary of tornadoes [2]
  • February 10 – Texas (1 death)
  • February 11 – North Carolina (1 death)
  • March 30 – North Carolina, Virginia (1 death)
  • April 1 – Alabama (2 deaths)
  • April 4 Wisconsin (3 deaths)
  • April 19 – Oklahoma (5 deaths)
  • April 22 – Missouri (1 death)
  • April 22 – Missouri (1 death)
  • April 30 – Oklahoma (1 death)
  • June 13 – Ohio (4 deaths)
  • June 14 – Minnesota (1 death)
  • June 19 – Kansas (1 death)
  • June 21 – Missouri (1 death)
  • June 21 – Illinois (1 death)
Total fatalities: 24

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

Events

Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FUF0F1F2F3F4F5Total
02833201492370782

January

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

February

There were 25 tornadoes confirmed in the U.S. in February, injuring 82 people.

February 10–11

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 County, North Carolina, killed one person each.

March

There were 33 tornadoes confirmed in the U.S. in March.

March 30

One person was killed by an F2 tornado in Hertford County, North Carolina.

April

There were 84 tornadoes confirmed in the U.S. in April. Most of the year's fatalities took place during the month, with 13 people perishing.

April 4

FUF0F1F2F3F4F5
0121010

A rare anticyclonic tornado struck West Bend, Wisconsin at F4 intensity, killing three people and injuring 53 others. It was part of a small outbreak that produced five tornadoes with 10 additional injuries also taking place.

April 19

Five people were killed in Bixby, Oklahoma by an F3 tornado.

May

There were 187 tornadoes in the US in May.

May 22–23

An F4 tornado near Scott, Oklahoma on May 22 Binger Oklahoma Tornado.jpg
An F4 tornado near Scott, Oklahoma on May 22
FUF0F1F2F3F4F5
0151411210

An outbreak of 43 tornadoes occurred in areas from Western Oklahoma to Central Iowa. A large F4 tornado struck Scott, Oklahoma northeast of Binger. The outbreak injured 12 people, but there were no fatalities.

June

There were 223 tornadoes in the US in June, resulting in eight fatalities.

June 3

A small tornado outbreak affected Colorado, including the Denver metro area. [3]

June 13

An F3 tornado killed four people in Cardington, Ohio.

July

There were 98 tornadoes in the US in July.

July 30

An F3 tornado in North Dakota tracked through Bismarck and Mandan without causing any fatalities or injuries.

August

There were 64 tornadoes in the US in August.

September

There were 26 tornadoes in the US in September.

October

There were 32 tornadoes in the US in October.

November

There were seven tornadoes in the US in November.

November 23 (U.K.)

A large tornado outbreak occurred in central England and Wales. About 104 tornadoes were reported to have touched down in what remains the largest tornado outbreak in European history.

December

There was one tornado in the US in December.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 2003</span>

This page documents notable tornadoes and tornado outbreaks worldwide in 2003. Strong and destructive tornadoes form most frequently in the United States, Bangladesh, and Eastern India, but they can occur almost anywhere under the right conditions. Tornadoes also develop occasionally in southern Canada during the Northern Hemisphere's summer and somewhat regularly at other times of the year across Europe, Asia, and Australia. Tornadic events are often accompanied with other forms of severe weather, including strong thunderstorms, strong winds, and hail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 2002</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 2002, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. The year had several large outbreaks that included the Veterans Day Weekend tornado outbreak and the Midwest to Mid-Atlantic United States tornado outbreak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1999</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1999, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally, particularly in parts of neighboring southern Canada during the Northern Hemisphere's summer season, as well as Europe. One particular event, the Bridge Creek-Moore, Oklahoma F5 tornado, produced the highest wind speed ever recorded on Earth, which was 301 ± 20 mph (484 ± 32 km/h).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 2000</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 2000, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally, particularly in parts of neighboring southern Canada during the summer season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1987</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1987, 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1988</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1988, 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1990</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1990, 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, however by the 1990s tornado statistics were coming closer to the numbers we see today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1991</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1991, 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, however by the 1990s tornado statistics were coming closer to the numbers we see today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1992</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1992, 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, however by the 1990s tornado statistics were coming closer to the numbers we see today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1993</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1993, 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, however by the 1990s tornado statistics were coming closer to the numbers we see today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1994</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1994, 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, however by the 1990s tornado statistics were coming closer to the numbers we see today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1995</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1995, 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, but by the 1990s, tornado statistics were coming closer to the numbers seen today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1997</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1997, 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, however by the 1990s tornado statistics were coming closer to the numbers we see today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1986</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1986, 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1984</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1984, 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1983</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1983, 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1982</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1982, 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1979</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1979, 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1955</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1955, 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.

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1949, primarily in the United States. Most recorded 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.

References

  1. "U.S. Annual Tornado Maps (1952 - 2011): 1981 Tornadoes". Storm Prediction Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  2. "Severe Weather Database Files (1950-2021)". Storm Prediction Center . National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. July 11, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  3. "A look back at the most destructive tornado in Denver metro history: June 3, 1981 Thornton, Colorado | ThorntonWeather.com" . Retrieved 25 May 2022.