1981 North Indian Ocean cyclone season
| 1981 North Indian Ocean cyclone season | |
|---|---|
Season summary map | |
| Seasonal boundaries | |
| First system formed | June 20, 1981 |
| Last system dissipated | December 11, 1981 |
| Strongest storm | |
| Name | 02B & 03B |
| • Maximum winds | 120 km/h (75 mph) (3-minute sustained) |
| • Lowest pressure | 964 hPa (mbar) |
| Seasonal statistics | |
| Depressions | 12 |
| Cyclonic storms | 5 |
| Severe cyclonic storms | 3 |
| Total fatalities | >200 |
| Total damage | Unknown |
| Related articles | |
The 1981 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was part of the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. A season has no official bounds but cyclones tend to form between April and December. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northern Indian Ocean. There are two main seas in the North Indian Ocean—the Bay of Bengal to the east of the Indian subcontinent and the Arabian Sea to the west of India. The official Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre in this basin is the India Meteorological Department (IMD), while the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) releases unofficial advisories. An average of five tropical cyclones form in the North Indian Ocean every season with peaks in May and November. Cyclones occurring between the meridians 45°E and 100°E are included in the season by the IMD.