The 1980âÂÂ81 South Pacific cyclone season was an above-average season.
This season marked the first time the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center issued warnings and performed best track analysis on significant tropical cyclones in the Southern Hemisphere. It also marked the first time the naming list in the South Pacific basin have the name from South Pacific languages scattering with the Western name.
Diola existed from November 27 to November 30.
Arthur existed from January 11 to January 17.
Betsy existed from January 30 to February 4.
Cliff developed on February 9, near Vanua Lava, Vanuatu. The cyclone reached peak intensity on February 12, with an estimated central pressure of 975 hPa. It passed over New Caledonia at near peak intensity, with sustained winds . After crossing into the Australian region, Cliff struck Queensland on February 14, making landfall near Bundaberg. The cyclone caused some crop and structural damages in South East Queensland, and beach erosion occurred on the Gold and Sunshine coasts. One man was drowned off the Gold Coast.
This cyclone existed from February 16 to February 21.
Daman existed from February 20 to February 24.
This cyclone existed from February 22 to March 7.
Esau existed from March 1 to March 5.
Freda existed from February 24 to March 9.
Tahmar existed from March 8 to March 13.
Fran existed from March 17 to March 24.
The JTWC initiated warnings on Tropical Cyclone 12P during January 26, which had moved into the basin from the Australian region during the previous day. The system subsequently passed in between Vanuatu and New Caledonia before it was last noted during January 27.
|- | Diola || || bgcolor=#|Category 1 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#||| bgcolor=#||| || || || |- | Arthur || || bgcolor=#|Category 3 severe tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || || || || |- | Betsy || || bgcolor=#|Category 1 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || || || || |- | Cliff || || bgcolor=#|Category 3 severe tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || || || || |- | Unnamed || || bgcolor=#|Category 2 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || || || || |- | Daman || || bgcolor=#|Category 2 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || || || || |- | Unnamed || || bgcolor=#|Category 1 tropical cyclone|| bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || || || || |- | Esau || || bgcolor=#|Category 2 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || || || || |- | Freda || || bgcolor=#|Category 3 severe tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || || || || |- | Tahmar || || bgcolor=#|Category 3 severe tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || French Polynesia || || || |- | Fran || || bgcolor=#|Category 2 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || || || || |-