1981

782 tornadoes, 3 tropical cyclones near the U.S., 6 notable earthquakes. 30 tornadoes were rated F3/EF3 or stronger and tornadoes killed 24.

Tornadoes

782 recorded; 30 rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Strongest and deadliest first

Tornadoes in 1981

Apr 4, 1981	F4	Washington	1.8	3
Apr 22, 1981	F4	Dunklin, New Madrid, Mississippi	63.0	1
May 17, 1981	F4	Seminole, Okfuskee, Okmulgee	33.6	0
May 22, 1981	F4	Caddo, Canadian	16.7	0
Apr 3, 1981	F4	Madison	11.9	0
May 13, 1981	F4	Lamar	8.8	0
Mar 29, 1981	F4	Whiteside	5.1	0
Apr 19, 1981	F3	Tulsa	9.9	5
Jun 13, 1981	F3	Morrow	3.8	4
Apr 1, 1981	F3	Russell	0.1	2
Jun 14, 1981	F3	Hennepin, Ramsey	16.2	1
Jun 21, 1981	F3	Schuyler	8.8	1
Jun 19, 1981	F3	Douglas	7.7	1
Apr 22, 1981	F3	Jefferson	7.1	1
Jul 30, 1981	F3	Morton, Burleigh	23.9	0
May 17, 1981	F3	Seminole	15.4	0
May 9, 1981	F3	Anderson, Henderson	15.0	0
Aug 3, 1981	F3	Turner	12.8	0
May 22, 1981	F3	Custer	10.3	0
May 17, 1981	F3	Pottawatomie	10.2	0
May 23, 1981	F3	Bryan	9.7	0
Mar 19, 1981	F3	Orange	8.0	0
Oct 13, 1981	F3	Navarro	7.2	0
Jun 22, 1981	F3	Worcester	7.1	0
May 9, 1981	F3	Hill	5.2	0
Apr 19, 1981	F3	Tulsa	4.9	0
Jun 5, 1981	F3	Rapides	4.3	0
Jul 26, 1981	F3	Northampton	3.3	0
Apr 19, 1981	F3	Creek	3.0	0
Apr 19, 1981	F3	Tulsa	0.5	0
Apr 30, 1981	F2	Grady	29.1	1
Mar 30, 1981	F2	Hertford, Suffolk city	21.9	1
Feb 10, 1981	F2	Walker	19.9	1
Feb 11, 1981	F2	Hoke, Cumberland	12.4	1
Jun 21, 1981	F2	Warren	6.5	1
Jun 21, 1981	F2	Yellow Medicine, Redwood, Brown	54.3	0
Jun 15, 1981	F2	Jefferson, Waukesha	28.7	0
May 9, 1981	F2	Milam, Burleson	22.3	0
Jun 14, 1981	F2	Osceola, Dickinson	21.9	0
Jun 14, 1981	F2	Osceola, Dickinson	21.6	0
May 23, 1981	F2	Ringgold	15.9	0
May 22, 1981	F2	Kiowa, Washita, Caddo	15.4	0
May 23, 1981	F2	Washington, Nowata	15.2	0
May 13, 1981	F2	Columbia	14.6	0
Mar 31, 1981	F2	Pike, Walthall	13.7	0
Apr 23, 1981	F2	Jefferson	13.4	0
May 16, 1981	F2	Desha, Lincoln	12.5	0
May 22, 1981	F2	Custer	10.4	0
May 9, 1981	F2	Anderson	9.9	0
May 16, 1981	F2	Burleson	9.7	0
May 9, 1981	F2	Hill	9.6	0
Jun 6, 1981	F2	Forsyth	9.4	0
May 24, 1981	F2	Cape Girardeau, Scott	9.1	0
Jun 22, 1981	F2	Strafford	8.7	0
Apr 3, 1981	F2	Lancaster	8.3	0
Mar 31, 1981	F2	Covington, Jones	8.2	0
May 15, 1981	F2	San Saba	8.0	0
May 9, 1981	F2	Gregg	7.7	0
Feb 11, 1981	F2	Moore	7.6	0
May 3, 1981	F2	Brazoria	7.2	0
May 18, 1981	F2	Nacogdoches	7.1	0
May 18, 1981	F2	Madison	7.1	0
Oct 25, 1981	F2	Calhoun	6.9	0
Apr 11, 1981	F2	Taylor	6.9	0
May 22, 1981	F2	Washita	6.9	0
Jun 23, 1981	F2	Renville	6.8	0
Oct 13, 1981	F2	Lamar	6.6	0
May 13, 1981	F2	Wood	6.5	0
Jul 28, 1981	F2	Washington, Pleasants	6.2	0
May 7, 1981	F2	Crosby	6.1	0
Jun 1, 1981	F2	Collingsworth	5.7	0
Apr 10, 1981	F2	Marshall	5.6	0
Mar 19, 1981	F2	Osceola	5.4	0
May 13, 1981	F2	Van Zandt, Wood	5.4	0
Feb 11, 1981	F2	Moore	5.2	0
May 9, 1981	F2	Montgomery	5.1	0
May 22, 1981	F2	Washita, Caddo	5.0	0
May 17, 1981	F2	Denton	4.9	0
May 8, 1981	F2	Dallas	4.9	0
Dec 15, 1981	F2	Pinellas	4.7	0
May 27, 1981	F2	Florence	4.7	0
May 13, 1981	F2	Coal	4.5	0
May 23, 1981	F2	Nowata	4.5	0
Jun 9, 1981	F2	Mason	4.1	0
Jul 20, 1981	F2	Northampton	4.1	0
May 23, 1981	F2	Mitchell	3.8	0
Jun 8, 1981	F2	Knox	3.8	0
Apr 19, 1981	F2	Creek	3.6	0
Jul 20, 1981	F2	Morris	3.6	0
Feb 11, 1981	F2	Nash	3.3	0
May 9, 1981	F2	Fort Bend	3.3	0
Jun 15, 1981	F2	Creek	3.3	0
Mar 25, 1981	F2	Morrison	3.0	0
Jun 14, 1981	F2	Wright	2.9	0
Oct 13, 1981	F2	Johnson	2.7	0
Oct 13, 1981	F2	Hill	2.7	0
May 17, 1981	F2	Seminole	2.7	0
May 7, 1981	F2	Crosby	2.7	0
Jun 5, 1981	F2	Galveston	2.7	0
Jun 14, 1981	F2	Iron, Dickinson	2.6	0
Feb 10, 1981	F2	Grimes	2.5	0
Jun 13, 1981	F2	Muskingum	2.3	0
Jun 22, 1981	F2	Orleans	2.3	0
Jun 3, 1981	F2	Adams	2.3	0
Jun 8, 1981	F2	Holmes	2.3	0
Oct 13, 1981	F2	McLennan	2.0	0
May 24, 1981	F2	Maverick	2.0	0
Jun 13, 1981	F2	Perry	2.0	0
Jun 13, 1981	F2	Isanti	2.0	0
Jun 14, 1981	F2	Le Sueur	2.0	0
Jun 3, 1981	F2	Terry	2.0	0
Jul 25, 1981	F2	Peoria	2.0	0
Jul 28, 1981	F2	Crawford	2.0	0
Feb 11, 1981	F2	Wake	1.9	0
May 17, 1981	F2	Oklahoma	1.9	0
Apr 3, 1981	F2	Doniphan	1.8	0
Oct 15, 1981	F2	Ector	1.5	0
Oct 17, 1981	F2	Hardeman	1.5	0
Feb 10, 1981	F2	Baldwin	1.5	0
May 15, 1981	F2	Cecil	1.5	0
May 23, 1981	F2	Anderson	1.5	0
May 28, 1981	F2	Fergus	1.5	0
May 7, 1981	F2	Crosby	1.5	0
May 9, 1981	F2	Galveston	1.5	0
Jun 20, 1981	F2	Berrien	1.5	0
Jun 5, 1981	F2	Chambers	1.5	0
Jun 8, 1981	F2	Shelby	1.3	0
Sep 15, 1981	F2	Northampton	1.3	0
Mar 17, 1981	F2	Grayson	1.0	0
May 13, 1981	F2	Fannin	1.0	0
May 18, 1981	F2	Nacogdoches	1.0	0
May 7, 1981	F2	Crosby	1.0	0
Jun 15, 1981	F2	Dane	1.0	0
Jun 21, 1981	F2	Marion	1.0	0
Jun 23, 1981	F2	Redwood	1.0	0
Jun 23, 1981	F2	Faribault	1.0	0
Jul 20, 1981	F2	Montgomery	1.0	0
Aug 24, 1981	F2	Logan	1.0	0
Aug 5, 1981	F2	Taylor	1.0	0
Oct 26, 1981	F2	Warren	0.8	0
Feb 10, 1981	F2	Williamson	0.8	0
Apr 10, 1981	F2	Bremer	0.8	0
Aug 5, 1981	F2	Clearwater	0.8	0
Oct 17, 1981	F2	Saline	0.5	0
Feb 10, 1981	F2	Jackson	0.5	0
Mar 18, 1981	F2	Seminole	0.5	0
Apr 28, 1981	F2	Butler	0.5	0
May 17, 1981	F2	Cowley	0.5	0
Jun 14, 1981	F2	Pierce	0.5	0
Jun 3, 1981	F2	Concordia	0.5	0
Jul 21, 1981	F2	Kiowa	0.5	0
Jul 19, 1981	F2	Shawnee	0.3	0
May 11, 1981	F2	Middlesex	0.2	0
Aug 4, 1981	F2	Garfield	0.2	0
Apr 13, 1981	F2	McLean	0.1	0
Apr 29, 1981	F2	Olmsted	0.1	0
Apr 29, 1981	F2	Carbon	0.1	0
Apr 4, 1981	F2	Calumet	0.1	0
May 17, 1981	F2	Osage	0.1	0
May 17, 1981	F2	Muskogee	0.1	0
May 18, 1981	F2	Hickman	0.1	0
May 22, 1981	F2	Blaine	0.1	0
May 23, 1981	F2	Delaware	0.1	0
Jun 10, 1981	F2	Madison	0.1	0
Jun 12, 1981	F2	Humboldt	0.1	0
Jun 13, 1981	F2	Sioux	0.1	0
Jun 13, 1981	F2	Oneida	0.1	0
Jun 3, 1981	F2	Jefferson, Denver	0.1	0
Jun 5, 1981	F2	Cameron	0.1	0
Jun 5, 1981	F2	Rapides	0.1	0
Jun 5, 1981	F2	Rapides	0.1	0
Jul 20, 1981	F2	Butler	0.1	0
Jul 22, 1981	F2	Hamlin	0.1	0
Jul 26, 1981	F2	Indiana	0.1	0
Jul 26, 1981	F2	Schuylkill	0.1	0
Jul 28, 1981	F2	Fairfax	0.1	0
Aug 5, 1981	F2	Renville	0.1	0
Aug 7, 1981	F2	Venango	0.1	0
Sep 26, 1981	F2	Clay	0.1	0
Apr 13, 1981	F1	Fulton, Mason, Logan	46.1	0
Apr 13, 1981	F1	Woodford, McLean	34.5	0
May 16, 1981	F1	Haskell, Gray	32.3	0
Apr 30, 1981	F1	Caddo, Grady	31.9	0
Apr 13, 1981	F1	Saline, Howard	30.1	0
May 16, 1981	F1	Union	24.5	0
Jul 16, 1981	F1	Kay	21.5	0
Jun 8, 1981	F1	Lake, Jasper	20.9	0
Apr 4, 1981	F1	Scott, Clinton	20.5	0
May 16, 1981	F1	Union	20.1	0
May 18, 1981	F1	Columbia, Union	19.0	0
May 16, 1981	F1	Burnet, Travis, Williamson	16.9	0
Jun 21, 1981	F1	Watonwan	15.6	0
Jun 13, 1981	F1	Lincoln	14.4	0
Mar 18, 1981	F1	Clay	13.8	0
Aug 31, 1981	F1	Galveston	12.9	0
May 16, 1981	F1	Columbia	10.5	0
May 16, 1981	F1	Grant	9.9	0
Jun 6, 1981	F1	Rockingham	9.0	0
Jun 13, 1981	F1	Madison	8.8	0
Jun 8, 1981	F1	Ashland, Wayne	8.6	0
Apr 21, 1981	F1	Palo Pinto	7.7	0
Jul 19, 1981	F1	Charles Mix, Bon Homme	7.5	0
Feb 10, 1981	F1	Houston	7.4	0
May 17, 1981	F1	Harper	7.2	0
Apr 15, 1981	F1	Marion	6.9	0
May 23, 1981	F1	Linn	6.5	0
Oct 13, 1981	F1	Henderson	6.2	0
Oct 13, 1981	F1	Kaufman, Van Zandt	5.7	0
Oct 13, 1981	F1	Johnson	5.7	0
Oct 22, 1981	F1	Goliad	5.7	0
Aug 2, 1981	F1	Beltrami	5.7	0
Oct 13, 1981	F1	Hunt	5.6	0
Jun 29, 1981	F1	Iosco	5.6	0
Apr 3, 1981	F1	Polk	5.1	0
Jun 18, 1981	F1	Citrus	5.1	0
Apr 4, 1981	F1	Rock Island	4.9	0
Jun 13, 1981	F1	Muskingum	4.9	0
Jun 23, 1981	F1	Marshall	4.9	0
Nov 19, 1981	F1	Ripley	4.7	0
Jun 8, 1981	F1	Morrow	4.7	0
May 17, 1981	F1	McClain, Cleveland	4.2	0
Mar 7, 1981	F1	Baylor	4.1	0
May 16, 1981	F1	Burnet	3.6	0
Jun 22, 1981	F1	Barton	3.6	0
Jun 6, 1981	F1	Person	3.6	0
Jul 19, 1981	F1	Stanton	3.6	0
Mar 18, 1981	F1	Telfair, Wheeler	3.3	0
Mar 18, 1981	F1	Webster	3.3	0
Jun 14, 1981	F1	Blue Earth	3.3	0
Jun 21, 1981	F1	Luzerne	3.3	0
Jun 6, 1981	F1	Warren	3.3	0
Apr 1, 1981	F1	Clay	3.0	0
Apr 3, 1981	F1	Iowa	2.7	0
Jun 21, 1981	F1	Van Wert, Allen	2.7	0
Nov 19, 1981	F1	Clayton	2.5	0
May 24, 1981	F1	Wilbarger	2.5	0
Jun 15, 1981	F1	Pettis	2.3	0
Jun 21, 1981	F1	Darke	2.3	0
Jun 8, 1981	F1	Holmes	2.3	0
Aug 5, 1981	F1	Suffolk	2.3	0
Nov 8, 1981	F1	Johnson	2.0	0
Feb 10, 1981	F1	Brazos	2.0	0
Feb 11, 1981	F1	Lexington	2.0	0
Mar 18, 1981	F1	Jefferson	2.0	0
Apr 13, 1981	F1	Muskingum	2.0	0
Apr 13, 1981	F1	Whitley	2.0	0
Apr 19, 1981	F1	Chester	2.0	0
Apr 20, 1981	F1	Tom Green	2.0	0
Apr 3, 1981	F1	Choctaw	2.0	0
May 13, 1981	F1	Atoka	2.0	0
May 15, 1981	F1	McCulloch	2.0	0
May 17, 1981	F1	Osage	2.0	0
May 22, 1981	F1	Canadian	2.0	0
May 23, 1981	F1	Garvin	2.0	0
May 29, 1981	F1	Montague	2.0	0
May 1, 1981	F1	Brevard	2.0	0
Jun 14, 1981	F1	Blue Earth	2.0	0
Jun 21, 1981	F1	Lac qui Parle	2.0	0
Jun 22, 1981	F1	Mahoning	2.0	0
Jun 23, 1981	F1	La Crosse	2.0	0
Jun 6, 1981	F1	Henderson	2.0	0
Jul 8, 1981	F1	Suwannee	2.0	0
Aug 29, 1981	F1	Hidalgo	2.0	0
Sep 5, 1981	F1	Pinal	2.0	0
Sep 8, 1981	F1	Monroe	2.0	0
Jun 21, 1981	F1	Union	1.9	0
Feb 10, 1981	F1	Okaloosa	1.5	0
Jul 15, 1981	F1	Ramsey	1.5	0
Jun 5, 1981	F1	Galveston	1.2	0
Apr 21, 1981	F1	Bonneville	1.1	0
Oct 13, 1981	F1	Llano	1.0	0
Oct 13, 1981	F1	Tarrant	1.0	0
Oct 13, 1981	F1	Dallas	1.0	0
Mar 18, 1981	F1	Stewart	1.0	0
Mar 30, 1981	F1	Dallas	1.0	0
Apr 12, 1981	F1	Kiowa	1.0	0
Apr 13, 1981	F1	Holt	1.0	0
Apr 13, 1981	F1	Gentry	1.0	0
Apr 22, 1981	F1	Crane	1.0	0
Apr 22, 1981	F1	Scott	1.0	0
Apr 22, 1981	F1	Scott	1.0	0
May 10, 1981	F1	Rockdale	1.0	0
May 15, 1981	F1	Irion	1.0	0
May 17, 1981	F1	Garfield	1.0	0
May 17, 1981	F1	Cleveland	1.0	0
May 17, 1981	F1	Polk	1.0	0
May 20, 1981	F1	Broward	1.0	0
May 22, 1981	F1	Washita	1.0	0
May 25, 1981	F1	East Feliciana	1.0	0
May 7, 1981	F1	Miami-Dade	1.0	0
May 7, 1981	F1	Brewster	1.0	0
May 8, 1981	F1	Hemphill	1.0	0
May 9, 1981	F1	Bell	1.0	0
Jun 13, 1981	F1	Montgomery	1.0	0
Jun 13, 1981	F1	Logan	1.0	0
Jun 15, 1981	F1	Jackson	1.0	0
Jun 16, 1981	F1	Portage	1.0	0
Jun 20, 1981	F1	McLean	1.0	0
Jun 20, 1981	F1	Pettis	1.0	0
Jun 23, 1981	F1	Calhoun	1.0	0
Jun 24, 1981	F1	Tippecanoe	1.0	0
Jun 2, 1981	F1	Collingsworth	1.0	0
Jun 3, 1981	F1	Oklahoma	1.0	0
Jun 3, 1981	F1	Lynn	1.0	0
Jul 20, 1981	F1	Jefferson	1.0	0
Jul 25, 1981	F1	Morgan	1.0	0
Jul 26, 1981	F1	Baca	1.0	0
Jul 30, 1981	F1	Comanche	1.0	0
Jul 8, 1981	F1	Lake	1.0	0
Aug 27, 1981	F1	Dunklin	1.0	0
Aug 30, 1981	F1	Live Oak	1.0	0
Sep 13, 1981	F1	Marshall	1.0	0
Sep 5, 1981	F1	Maricopa	1.0	0
Sep 5, 1981	F1	Maricopa	1.0	0
Sep 8, 1981	F1	Somerset	1.0	0
Jun 3, 1981	F1	Weld	0.9	0
Jul 20, 1981	F1	Milwaukee	0.9	0
Oct 14, 1981	F1	Montgomery	0.8	0
Feb 11, 1981	F1	Richland	0.8	0
Jun 6, 1981	F1	Marshall	0.8	0
Jul 17, 1981	F1	Power	0.8	0
Aug 30, 1981	F1	Bee	0.8	0
Aug 6, 1981	F1	Frontier	0.8	0
Nov 19, 1981	F1	Kenton	0.5	0
Feb 11, 1981	F1	Lake	0.5	0
Feb 2, 1981	F1	Hillsborough	0.5	0
Apr 29, 1981	F1	Dakota	0.5	0
May 15, 1981	F1	Tom Green	0.5	0
May 17, 1981	F1	Noble	0.5	0
May 23, 1981	F1	Montgomery	0.5	0
May 3, 1981	F1	Harris	0.5	0
May 6, 1981	F1	Cache	0.5	0
May 9, 1981	F1	Navarro	0.5	0
Jun 13, 1981	F1	Kandiyohi	0.5	0
Jun 13, 1981	F1	Hillsborough	0.5	0
Jun 13, 1981	F1	Polk	0.5	0
Jun 13, 1981	F1	Cottonwood	0.5	0
Jun 13, 1981	F1	Morgan	0.5	0
Jun 17, 1981	F1	Pasco	0.5	0
Jun 21, 1981	F1	Knox	0.5	0
Jun 21, 1981	F1	Orange	0.5	0
Jun 2, 1981	F1	Adams	0.5	0
Jul 10, 1981	F1	Livingston	0.5	0
Jul 14, 1981	F1	Sherman	0.5	0
Jul 15, 1981	F1	Marion	0.5	0
Jul 17, 1981	F1	Seward	0.5	0
Jul 19, 1981	F1	Trego	0.5	0
Jul 19, 1981	F1	Trego	0.5	0
Jul 20, 1981	F1	Tulsa	0.5	0
Jul 21, 1981	F1	Mayes	0.5	0
Jul 23, 1981	F1	Assumption	0.5	0
Jul 25, 1981	F1	Jefferson	0.5	0
Jul 30, 1981	F1	Hillsborough	0.5	0
Jul 2, 1981	F1	Trego	0.5	0
Jul 3, 1981	F1	Ellsworth	0.5	0
Jul 8, 1981	F1	Woods	0.5	0
Aug 2, 1981	F1	Cass	0.5	0
Aug 6, 1981	F1	Pueblo	0.5	0
Mar 18, 1981	F1	Montgomery	0.4	0
Mar 30, 1981	F1	Clay	0.4	0
Apr 17, 1981	F1	Robertson	0.4	0
May 3, 1981	F1	Burleson	0.4	0
Aug 31, 1981	F1	Brazoria	0.4	0
Oct 7, 1981	F1	Bexar	0.3	0
Feb 1, 1981	F1	Bay	0.3	0
Feb 2, 1981	F1	Martin	0.3	0
Mar 18, 1981	F1	Bullock	0.3	0
Mar 4, 1981	F1	Pike	0.3	0
Apr 17, 1981	F1	Seneca	0.3	0
Apr 20, 1981	F1	Orangeburg	0.3	0
Apr 20, 1981	F1	Richland	0.3	0
Apr 1, 1981	F1	Sumter	0.3	0
May 31, 1981	F1	Weld	0.3	0
Jun 28, 1981	F1	Morrison	0.3	0
Jun 28, 1981	F1	Kanabec	0.3	0
Jun 30, 1981	F1	Cleveland	0.3	0
Jun 3, 1981	F1	Weld	0.3	0
Jun 3, 1981	F1	Douglas	0.3	0
Jul 21, 1981	F1	Sheridan	0.3	0
Jul 26, 1981	F1	Orangeburg	0.3	0
Jul 7, 1981	F1	Deaf Smith	0.3	0
Aug 24, 1981	F1	Manatee	0.3	0
Aug 25, 1981	F1	Henry	0.3	0
Aug 31, 1981	F1	Brazoria	0.3	0
Aug 5, 1981	F1	Wright	0.3	0
Aug 7, 1981	F1	Hampton	0.3	0
Mar 30, 1981	F1	Dallas	0.2	0
Apr 23, 1981	F1	Harris	0.2	0
May 17, 1981	F1	Cowley	0.2	0
May 31, 1981	F1	Matagorda	0.2	0
May 31, 1981	F1	Weld	0.2	0
Jun 13, 1981	F1	Travis	0.2	0
Jun 3, 1981	F1	Weld	0.2	0
Jun 3, 1981	F1	Weld	0.2	0
Jul 14, 1981	F1	Seward	0.2	0
Aug 29, 1981	F1	San Patricio	0.2	0
Aug 4, 1981	F1	Valley	0.2	0
Sep 6, 1981	F1	Ellis	0.2	0
Oct 11, 1981	F1	Harris	0.1	0
Oct 13, 1981	F1	Johnson	0.1	0
Oct 13, 1981	F1	Lamar	0.1	0
Oct 13, 1981	F1	Choctaw	0.1	0
Oct 16, 1981	F1	Grayson	0.1	0
Oct 17, 1981	F1	Jefferson	0.1	0
Oct 17, 1981	F1	Lake	0.1	0
Nov 13, 1981	F1	Bell	0.1	0
Feb 11, 1981	F1	Chesterfield	0.1	0
Feb 21, 1981	F1	Upshur	0.1	0
Feb 21, 1981	F1	Cass	0.1	0
Feb 21, 1981	F1	Marion	0.1	0
Feb 2, 1981	F1	Dillon	0.1	0
Feb 2, 1981	F1	Dillon	0.1	0
Mar 22, 1981	F1	Baldwin	0.1	0
Mar 28, 1981	F1	Logan	0.1	0
Mar 28, 1981	F1	Sheridan	0.1	0
Mar 29, 1981	F1	Bowie	0.1	0
Mar 29, 1981	F1	Cass	0.1	0
Apr 13, 1981	F1	McLean	0.1	0
Apr 28, 1981	F1	Marion	0.1	0
Apr 3, 1981	F1	Wabaunsee	0.1	0
Apr 3, 1981	F1	Dodge	0.1	0
May 11, 1981	F1	Jefferson	0.1	0
May 11, 1981	F1	Morgan	0.1	0
May 13, 1981	F1	Coal	0.1	0
May 13, 1981	F1	Pushmataha	0.1	0
May 13, 1981	F1	Garland	0.1	0
May 13, 1981	F1	Smith	0.1	0
May 13, 1981	F1	Henderson	0.1	0
May 15, 1981	F1	Lampasas	0.1	0
May 16, 1981	F1	Prowers	0.1	0
May 18, 1981	F1	Trinity	0.1	0
May 18, 1981	F1	Marshall	0.1	0
May 20, 1981	F1	Broward	0.1	0
May 20, 1981	F1	Broward	0.1	0
May 22, 1981	F1	Custer	0.1	0
May 22, 1981	F1	Custer	0.1	0
May 23, 1981	F1	Osage	0.1	0
May 23, 1981	F1	Creek	0.1	0
May 23, 1981	F1	Murray	0.1	0
May 23, 1981	F1	Pottawatomie	0.1	0
May 23, 1981	F1	Madison	0.1	0
May 23, 1981	F1	Pottawatomie	0.1	0
May 23, 1981	F1	Bryan	0.1	0
May 28, 1981	F1	Muskogee	0.1	0
May 28, 1981	F1	Denver	0.1	0
May 28, 1981	F1	Kiowa	0.1	0
May 9, 1981	F1	Henderson	0.1	0
May 9, 1981	F1	Panola	0.1	0
May 9, 1981	F1	Gregg	0.1	0
May 9, 1981	F1	Trinity	0.1	0
May 9, 1981	F1	Acadia	0.1	0
May 9, 1981	F1	Iberia	0.1	0
Jun 10, 1981	F1	Henderson	0.1	0
Jun 13, 1981	F1	Oneida	0.1	0
Jun 13, 1981	F1	Oneida	0.1	0
Jun 13, 1981	F1	Vilas	0.1	0
Jun 15, 1981	F1	Dodge	0.1	0
Jun 15, 1981	F1	Hamilton	0.1	0
Jun 15, 1981	F1	Hamilton	0.1	0
Jun 20, 1981	F1	McLean	0.1	0
Jun 21, 1981	F1	Beaver	0.1	0
Jun 21, 1981	F1	Allegheny	0.1	0
Jun 21, 1981	F1	Burlington	0.1	0
Jun 21, 1981	F1	Hancock	0.1	0
Jun 21, 1981	F1	Hancock	0.1	0
Jun 22, 1981	F1	Cambria	0.1	0
Jun 22, 1981	F1	Roosevelt	0.1	0
Jun 22, 1981	F1	Spokane	0.1	0
Jun 23, 1981	F1	Yellow Medicine	0.1	0
Jun 23, 1981	F1	San Miguel	0.1	0
Jun 29, 1981	F1	Chaves	0.1	0
Jun 5, 1981	F1	West Feliciana	0.1	0
Jun 6, 1981	F1	Oxford	0.1	0
Jun 7, 1981	F1	Clarke	0.1	0
Jun 7, 1981	F1	Wayne	0.1	0
Jun 8, 1981	F1	Tazewell	0.1	0
Jun 8, 1981	F1	Champaign	0.1	0
Jun 8, 1981	F1	De Witt	0.1	0
Jun 8, 1981	F1	Champaign	0.1	0
Jul 14, 1981	F1	Chippewa	0.1	0
Jul 20, 1981	F1	Fond du Lac	0.1	0
Jul 24, 1981	F1	Big Horn	0.1	0
Jul 26, 1981	F1	Cambria	0.1	0
Jul 26, 1981	F1	Cambria	0.1	0
Jul 4, 1981	F1	Lenoir	0.1	0
Jul 4, 1981	F1	Virginia Beach city	0.1	0
Jul 5, 1981	F1	Eddy	0.1	0
Aug 11, 1981	F1	Lafourche	0.1	0
Aug 15, 1981	F1	Jackson	0.1	0
Aug 17, 1981	F1	Howard	0.1	0
Aug 20, 1981	F1	Brevard	0.1	0
Aug 26, 1981	F1	Sarasota	0.1	0
Aug 3, 1981	F1	Potter	0.1	0
Aug 3, 1981	F1	Potter	0.1	0
Aug 3, 1981	F1	Grant	0.1	0
Sep 11, 1981	F1	Alfalfa	0.1	0
Sep 1, 1981	F1	Crawford	0.1	0
Sep 2, 1981	F1	Chambers	0.1	0
Sep 8, 1981	F1	Oswego	0.1	0
Apr 3, 1981	F0	Washington, Louisa, Muscatine	103.5	0
Mar 3, 1981	F0	Lubbock, Crosby	23.3	0
Apr 22, 1981	F0	Jefferson	19.9	0
May 17, 1981	F0	Kay	18.7	0
Jun 21, 1981	F0	Brown, Watonwan	12.0	0
Mar 3, 1981	F0	Lubbock	11.9	0
Apr 10, 1981	F0	Marion	8.3	0
Apr 10, 1981	F0	Warren	8.0	0
Jul 5, 1981	F0	Fayette	7.8	0
Jun 19, 1981	F0	Cass	7.1	0
Apr 3, 1981	F0	Fillmore	6.4	0
Apr 22, 1981	F0	Madison	5.6	0
Apr 3, 1981	F0	Boone	5.2	0
May 23, 1981	F0	Platte	3.8	0
Sep 2, 1981	F0	Laramie	3.3	0
Apr 13, 1981	F0	Holt	2.8	0
Jul 16, 1981	F0	Koochiching	2.3	0
Oct 17, 1981	F0	Marshall	2.0	0
Apr 13, 1981	F0	Andrew	2.0	0
May 13, 1981	F0	Searcy	2.0	0
May 23, 1981	F0	Leavenworth	2.0	0
Jun 21, 1981	F0	Knox	2.0	0
Jun 21, 1981	F0	Redwood	2.0	0
Jul 10, 1981	F0	Cass	2.0	0
Mar 3, 1981	F0	Hutchinson	1.0	0
Apr 22, 1981	F0	Scott	1.0	0
May 26, 1981	F0	Bay	1.0	0
May 26, 1981	F0	Briscoe	1.0	0
Jun 19, 1981	F0	Cass	1.0	0
Jun 21, 1981	F0	Columbiana	1.0	0
Jun 21, 1981	F0	Norman	1.0	0
Jun 21, 1981	F0	Lawrence	1.0	0
Jun 21, 1981	F0	Jackson	1.0	0
Jun 21, 1981	F0	Jackson	1.0	0
Jun 21, 1981	F0	Cass	1.0	0
Jun 21, 1981	F0	Cass	1.0	0
Jun 21, 1981	F0	Osage	1.0	0
Jun 29, 1981	F0	Jackson	1.0	0
Sep 16, 1981	F0	Polk	1.0	0
Apr 29, 1981	F0	Olmsted	0.8	0
Aug 30, 1981	F0	Bexar	0.8	0
Mar 3, 1981	F0	Crosby	0.7	0
Jun 5, 1981	F0	Chambers	0.7	0
Apr 17, 1981	F0	Calhoun	0.6	0
May 4, 1981	F0	Fort Bend	0.6	0
Apr 20, 1981	F0	Tom Green	0.5	0
Apr 29, 1981	F0	Olmsted	0.5	0
May 18, 1981	F0	Butler	0.5	0
May 22, 1981	F0	Lincoln	0.5	0
May 23, 1981	F0	Montgomery	0.5	0
May 23, 1981	F0	Vernon	0.5	0
May 24, 1981	F0	Lubbock	0.5	0
May 26, 1981	F0	Motley	0.5	0
May 26, 1981	F0	Cottle	0.5	0
May 27, 1981	F0	Peoria	0.5	0
May 28, 1981	F0	Hockley	0.5	0
May 6, 1981	F0	Hansford	0.5	0
May 7, 1981	F0	Crosby	0.5	0
May 7, 1981	F0	Crosby	0.5	0
May 7, 1981	F0	Crosby	0.5	0
May 7, 1981	F0	Crosby	0.5	0
Jun 11, 1981	F0	Carson	0.5	0
Jun 13, 1981	F0	Franklin	0.5	0
Jun 13, 1981	F0	Guernsey	0.5	0
Jun 21, 1981	F0	Riley	0.5	0
Jun 23, 1981	F0	Dewey	0.5	0
Jun 23, 1981	F0	McCook	0.5	0
Jun 24, 1981	F0	Marshall	0.5	0
Jun 25, 1981	F0	Manatee	0.5	0
Jun 28, 1981	F0	Thomas	0.5	0
Jun 29, 1981	F0	Osage	0.5	0
Jun 29, 1981	F0	Cowley	0.5	0
Jun 30, 1981	F0	Harper	0.5	0
Jun 30, 1981	F0	Harper	0.5	0
Jun 1, 1981	F0	Hall	0.5	0
Jun 3, 1981	F0	Kiowa	0.5	0
Jun 3, 1981	F0	Scurry	0.5	0
Jun 6, 1981	F0	Madison	0.5	0
Jul 15, 1981	F0	Pinellas	0.5	0
Jul 24, 1981	F0	Weld	0.5	0
Jul 27, 1981	F0	Douglas	0.5	0
Jul 27, 1981	F0	El Paso	0.5	0
Jul 30, 1981	F0	Morton	0.5	0
Jul 1, 1981	F0	Mountrail	0.5	0
Jul 2, 1981	F0	Broward	0.5	0
Jul 3, 1981	F0	Clarendon	0.5	0
Jul 9, 1981	F0	Okaloosa	0.5	0
Aug 16, 1981	F0	Miami-Dade	0.5	0
Aug 16, 1981	F0	Arapahoe	0.5	0
Aug 16, 1981	F0	Monroe	0.5	0
Aug 30, 1981	F0	Atascosa	0.5	0
Aug 2, 1981	F0	El Paso	0.5	0
Sep 23, 1981	F0	Weld	0.5	0
May 27, 1981	F0	Knox	0.4	0
May 29, 1981	F0	Bee	0.4	0
Jun 2, 1981	F0	Hall	0.4	0
Jun 9, 1981	F0	Morton	0.4	0
Jul 15, 1981	F0	Nelson	0.4	0
Jul 24, 1981	F0	Grant	0.4	0
Jul 30, 1981	F0	Wells	0.4	0
Mar 22, 1981	F0	Alachua	0.3	0
Mar 4, 1981	F0	Ellis	0.3	0
Apr 17, 1981	F0	Lucas	0.3	0
Apr 28, 1981	F0	Emmons	0.3	0
May 15, 1981	F0	Llano	0.3	0
May 22, 1981	F0	Caddo	0.3	0
May 24, 1981	F0	Floyd	0.3	0
May 24, 1981	F0	Lubbock	0.3	0
May 24, 1981	F0	Bailey	0.3	0
May 26, 1981	F0	Briscoe	0.3	0
May 7, 1981	F0	Floyd	0.3	0
Jun 21, 1981	F0	Jackson	0.3	0
Jun 21, 1981	F0	McLean	0.3	0
Jun 27, 1981	F0	Grand Forks	0.3	0
Jun 28, 1981	F0	Griggs	0.3	0
Jun 1, 1981	F0	Collingsworth	0.3	0
Jun 1, 1981	F0	Cottle	0.3	0
Jun 2, 1981	F0	Moore	0.3	0
Jun 2, 1981	F0	Moore	0.3	0
Jun 9, 1981	F0	Grant	0.3	0
Jul 18, 1981	F0	Grant	0.3	0
Jul 24, 1981	F0	St. Croix	0.3	0
Jul 1, 1981	F0	Bottineau	0.3	0
Jul 4, 1981	F0	Upton	0.3	0
Aug 30, 1981	F0	Karnes	0.3	0
Apr 20, 1981	F0	Tom Green	0.2	0
May 16, 1981	F0	Milam	0.2	0
May 17, 1981	F0	Thomas	0.2	0
May 25, 1981	F0	Wabaunsee	0.2	0
May 8, 1981	F0	Sedgwick	0.2	0
May 8, 1981	F0	Parker	0.2	0
May 8, 1981	F0	Parker	0.2	0
May 9, 1981	F0	Tipton	0.2	0
Jun 13, 1981	F0	Boone	0.2	0
Jun 20, 1981	F0	Johnson	0.2	0
Jun 29, 1981	F0	Sedgwick	0.2	0
Jun 4, 1981	F0	Manatee	0.2	0
Jul 24, 1981	F0	Wayne	0.2	0
Jul 25, 1981	F0	Weld	0.2	0
Jul 31, 1981	F0	Grant	0.2	0
Jul 4, 1981	F0	Bailey	0.2	0
Jul 4, 1981	F0	Vermilion	0.2	0
Jul 4, 1981	F0	Hansford	0.2	0
Jul 5, 1981	F0	Navarro	0.2	0
Aug 29, 1981	F0	Hidalgo	0.2	0
Aug 30, 1981	F0	Goliad	0.2	0
Sep 26, 1981	F0	Miami-Dade	0.2	0
Oct 16, 1981	F0	Ellis	0.1	0
Oct 18, 1981	F0	Victoria	0.1	0
Oct 5, 1981	F0	Kingfisher	0.1	0
Oct 7, 1981	F0	Galveston	0.1	0
Nov 3, 1981	F0	Garfield	0.1	0
Nov 8, 1981	F0	Johnson	0.1	0
Jan 22, 1981	F0	Butte	0.1	0
Jan 23, 1981	F0	San Joaquin	0.1	0
Mar 19, 1981	F0	San Joaquin	0.1	0
Apr 11, 1981	F0	Kiowa	0.1	0
Apr 13, 1981	F0	Shawnee	0.1	0
Apr 13, 1981	F0	Putnam	0.1	0
Apr 13, 1981	F0	Montgomery	0.1	0
Apr 13, 1981	F0	McLean	0.1	0
Apr 20, 1981	F0	Concho	0.1	0
Apr 20, 1981	F0	Platte	0.1	0
Apr 22, 1981	F0	Haskell	0.1	0
Apr 30, 1981	F0	St. John the Baptist	0.1	0
Apr 3, 1981	F0	Seward	0.1	0
Apr 3, 1981	F0	Wayne	0.1	0
May 11, 1981	F0	Broward	0.1	0
May 17, 1981	F0	Osage	0.1	0
May 18, 1981	F0	Union	0.1	0
May 22, 1981	F0	Clay	0.1	0
May 23, 1981	F0	Page	0.1	0
May 23, 1981	F0	Montgomery	0.1	0
May 23, 1981	F0	Adair	0.1	0
May 23, 1981	F0	Cass	0.1	0
May 23, 1981	F0	Adair	0.1	0
May 23, 1981	F0	Adair	0.1	0
May 23, 1981	F0	Nowata	0.1	0
May 23, 1981	F0	Madison	0.1	0
May 24, 1981	F0	Baylor	0.1	0
May 24, 1981	F0	Baylor	0.1	0
May 24, 1981	F0	Baylor	0.1	0
May 26, 1981	F0	Vanderburgh	0.1	0
May 28, 1981	F0	Broward	0.1	0
May 31, 1981	F0	Conway	0.1	0
May 6, 1981	F0	Quay	0.1	0
May 7, 1981	F0	Broward	0.1	0
Jun 10, 1981	F0	Orange	0.1	0
Jun 10, 1981	F0	Gregg	0.1	0
Jun 11, 1981	F0	Cimarron	0.1	0
Jun 12, 1981	F0	Miner	0.1	0
Jun 13, 1981	F0	Montgomery	0.1	0
Jun 14, 1981	F0	Adams	0.1	0
Jun 14, 1981	F0	Pottawatomie	0.1	0
Jun 15, 1981	F0	Green	0.1	0
Jun 19, 1981	F0	Pinellas	0.1	0
Jun 20, 1981	F0	Orange	0.1	0
Jun 20, 1981	F0	Lincoln	0.1	0
Jun 20, 1981	F0	McLean	0.1	0
Jun 20, 1981	F0	McLean	0.1	0
Jun 21, 1981	F0	Broward	0.1	0
Jun 21, 1981	F0	Brown	0.1	0
Jun 21, 1981	F0	Orange	0.1	0
Jun 21, 1981	F0	Orange	0.1	0
Jun 21, 1981	F0	McLean	0.1	0
Jun 21, 1981	F0	Adams	0.1	0
Jun 23, 1981	F0	Cameron	0.1	0
Jun 23, 1981	F0	Yellow Medicine	0.1	0
Jun 23, 1981	F0	Tensas	0.1	0
Jun 23, 1981	F0	Faribault	0.1	0
Jun 23, 1981	F0	Faribault	0.1	0
Jun 23, 1981	F0	Clay	0.1	0
Jun 24, 1981	F0	Okeechobee	0.1	0
Jun 24, 1981	F0	Okeechobee	0.1	0
Jun 25, 1981	F0	Hillsborough	0.1	0
Jun 28, 1981	F0	Kleberg	0.1	0
Jun 30, 1981	F0	Quay	0.1	0
Jun 1, 1981	F0	White	0.1	0
Jun 1, 1981	F0	Caddo	0.1	0
Jun 2, 1981	F0	DeSoto	0.1	0
Jun 2, 1981	F0	Texas	0.1	0
Jun 3, 1981	F0	Brazoria	0.1	0
Jun 3, 1981	F0	Smith	0.1	0
Jun 3, 1981	F0	Jones	0.1	0
Jun 4, 1981	F0	Dunklin	0.1	0
Jun 5, 1981	F0	Rapides	0.1	0
Jun 6, 1981	F0	Humphreys	0.1	0
Jun 6, 1981	F0	Humphreys	0.1	0
Jun 6, 1981	F0	Sabine	0.1	0
Jun 8, 1981	F0	McDonough	0.1	0
Jun 8, 1981	F0	Schuyler	0.1	0
Jun 8, 1981	F0	Carroll	0.1	0
Jun 8, 1981	F0	Sangamon	0.1	0
Jul 10, 1981	F0	Becker	0.1	0
Jul 10, 1981	F0	Mahnomen	0.1	0
Jul 10, 1981	F0	Becker	0.1	0
Jul 20, 1981	F0	Dodge	0.1	0
Jul 20, 1981	F0	Hubbard	0.1	0
Jul 21, 1981	F0	Buffalo	0.1	0
Jul 22, 1981	F0	Oglala Lakota	0.1	0
Jul 22, 1981	F0	Deuel	0.1	0
Jul 22, 1981	F0	Hamlin	0.1	0
Jul 23, 1981	F0	Pennington	0.1	0
Jul 23, 1981	F0	Pennington	0.1	0
Jul 24, 1981	F0	Martin	0.1	0
Jul 25, 1981	F0	LaPorte	0.1	0
Jul 25, 1981	F0	Fulton	0.1	0
Jul 25, 1981	F0	Red Willow	0.1	0
Jul 26, 1981	F0	Preston	0.1	0
Jul 29, 1981	F0	Manatee	0.1	0
Jul 9, 1981	F0	Miami-Dade	0.1	0
Jul 9, 1981	F0	Santa Rosa	0.1	0
Aug 11, 1981	F0	Refugio	0.1	0
Aug 12, 1981	F0	San Patricio	0.1	0
Aug 15, 1981	F0	Garfield	0.1	0
Aug 16, 1981	F0	Laramie	0.1	0
Aug 18, 1981	F0	Baldwin	0.1	0
Aug 20, 1981	F0	Indian River	0.1	0
Aug 21, 1981	F0	Cheyenne	0.1	0
Aug 27, 1981	F0	Orange	0.1	0
Aug 27, 1981	F0	Collier	0.1	0
Aug 28, 1981	F0	Ector	0.1	0
Aug 28, 1981	F0	Chickasaw	0.1	0
Aug 29, 1981	F0	Sheboygan	0.1	0
Aug 29, 1981	F0	Nueces	0.1	0
Aug 31, 1981	F0	Austin	0.1	0
Aug 2, 1981	F0	Toole	0.1	0
Aug 2, 1981	F0	Toole	0.1	0
Aug 2, 1981	F0	Otero	0.1	0
Aug 3, 1981	F0	Polk	0.1	0
Aug 3, 1981	F0	Polk	0.1	0
Aug 4, 1981	F0	Harris	0.1	0
Aug 5, 1981	F0	Otero	0.1	0
Aug 6, 1981	F0	Dallam	0.1	0
Sep 13, 1981	F0	King	0.1	0
Sep 13, 1981	F0	Pushmataha	0.1	0
Sep 17, 1981	F0	Palm Beach	0.1	0
Sep 24, 1981	F0	Pierce	0.1	0
Sep 24, 1981	F0	Castro	0.1	0
Sep 25, 1981	F0	Stanley	0.1	0
Sep 3, 1981	F0	Jefferson	0.1	0
Sep 4, 1981	F0	Martin	0.1	0
Sep 4, 1981	F0	Gaines	0.1	0

Tropical cyclones

Storms whose tracks came within 100 miles of a U.S. county.

Tropical cyclones near the U.S. in 1981

Bret	Tropical storm	1	NC
Dennis	Category 1	65	FL, GA, NC, SC
Unnamed	Tropical storm	0	—

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5 or more in the lower 48 and Hawaii, 6.5 or more in Alaska, strongest first.

Notable earthquakes of 1981

Jan 29, 1981	7.0	near Attu Station, Alaska Aleutians West AK	20.5
Sep 30, 1981	5.9	near Mammoth Lakes, California Mono CA	1.9
Apr 26, 1981	5.8	Westmorland, California Imperial CA	11.7
Sep 4, 1981	5.5	near Santa Barbara Is., CA Santa Barbara CA	3.4
Feb 13, 1981	5.2	near Morton, Washington Skamania WA	3.7
May 28, 1981	5.0	near Packwood, Washington Yakima WA	1.3

Drought

On average 14% of lower-48 counties were in severe drought in 1981. The worst month was April 1981, with 28%.

Watch it spread, month by month · Every year since 1895 on the drought page

Storm Prediction Center, National Hurricane Center HURDAT2, Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, NOAA Storm Events Database, USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, NOAA nClimDiv Palmer Drought Severity Index. Damage is as reported at the time, not adjusted for inflation.

Drought · 1981

How the 1981 drought spread

Every county’s Palmer reading, month by month, from July 1980 to December 1981.

About this replay

Month—Historical replay — monthly readings

Severe or worse—of counties

Extreme—of counties

Hardest-hit state—