Storm history › Atlantic › 1981 season
Hurricane Irene (1981)
Irene was a Category 3 hurricane of the 1981 Atlantic season. It was tracked from September 21, 1981 to October 3, 1981, about 12 days, and covered 5,465 miles.
At its peak it had winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a lowest pressure of 959 mb.
- Peak wind
- 120 mph
- Lowest pressure
- 959 mb
- Strongest
- Category 3 hurricane
- Landfalls
- None recorded
- Duration
- 12 days
- Track length
- 5,465 mi
- Energy (ACE)
- 22.2
DepressionTropical stormCat 1Cat 2Cat 3Cat 4Cat 5
How it compares
- Peak winds: 221st highest of 2,017 Atlantic storms on record, tied with Hurricane Isaias (2026), Hurricane Rafael (2024), Hurricane Grace (2021) and 21 more.
- Lowest pressure: 258th lowest of 1,294 Atlantic storms with a recorded pressure, tied with Hurricane Isaias (2026), Hurricane Ginger (1971), Hurricane Hannah (1959).
- Energy: 22% of the 1981 Atlantic season's ACE.