4,511
Recorded events
1,706
Counties affected
24
Direct deaths
$765.9M
Property damage
The 1981 severe weather season produced 4,511 recorded events across 1,706 U.S. counties, with 24 direct deaths. It ranks #49 among all years in the archive by event count.
Through the year
1981 severe weather by month
By hazard type
What hit the U.S. in 1981
| Hazard | Events | Deaths | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind | 2,188 | 0 | $0 |
| Hail | 1,494 | 0 | $0 |
| Tornado | 829 | 24 | $765.9M |
Deadliest days
The deadliest events of 1981
| Date | Event | County | Deaths | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 20, 1981 | Tornado F3 | Tulsa County, Oklahoma | 5 | 49 |
| Jun 13, 1981 | Tornado F3 | Morrow County, Ohio | 4 | 56 |
| Apr 4, 1981 | Tornado F4 | Washington County, Wisconsin | 3 | 53 |
| Apr 1, 1981 | Tornado F3 | Russell County, Alabama | 2 | 23 |
| Apr 22, 1981 | Tornado F3 | Jefferson County, Missouri | 1 | 0 |
| Feb 10, 1981 | Tornado F2 | Walker County, Texas | 1 | 8 |
| Jun 22, 1981 | Tornado F3 | Schuyler County, Illinois | 1 | 12 |
| May 1, 1981 | Tornado F2 | Grady County, Oklahoma | 1 | 4 |
| Jun 20, 1981 | Tornado F3 | Douglas County, Kansas | 1 | 33 |
| Mar 30, 1981 | Tornado F2 | Hertford County, North Carolina | 1 | 1 |
Violent tornadoes
EF4 and EF5 tornadoes of 1981
| Date | Scale | Touchdown county | Deaths | Path |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981-04-04 | EF4 | Washington County, Wisconsin | 3 | 1.8 mi |
| 1981-04-22 | EF4 | Butler County, Missouri | 1 | 63.0 mi |
| 1981-03-29 | EF4 | Whiteside County, Illinois | 0 | 5.1 mi |
| 1981-04-03 | EF4 | Madison County, Illinois | 0 | 11.9 mi |
| 1981-05-13 | EF4 | Lamar County, Texas | 0 | 8.8 mi |
| 1981-05-17 | EF4 | Seminole County, Oklahoma | 0 | 33.6 mi |
| 1981-05-22 | EF4 | Caddo County, Oklahoma | 0 | 16.7 mi |