1985 Atlantic hurricane season
Jun 1, 1985 – Nov 30, 1985 · Season ended
The 1985 Atlantic hurricane season produced 11 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 14.4, 7.2 and 3.2. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 88, 72% of the average.
1985 season at a glance
- Named storms: 11 (1991–2020 average 14.4).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 7 (average 7.2).
- Major, 96 kt+: 3 (average 3.2).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 88.0, 72% of the 123 average.
- Named-storm days: 51.3, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Ana, July 16.
- First hurricane: Bob, July 24.
- First major storm: Elena, September 1.
- Last storm to dissipate: Tropical Depression 14L, December 9.
- All systems tracked: 14, including 3 that stayed below tropical-storm strength.
Counts use 1-minute best-track winds: named storms reached 34 kt (39 mph), the next column 64 kt (74 mph) and major storms 96 kt (111 mph).
Every storm of the 1985 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ana | – | TS | 996 mb | — |
| Bob | – | C1 | 1002 mb | Hilton Head Island, United States |
| Claudette | – | C1 | 980 mb | — |
| Danny | – | C1 | 987 mb | Abbeville, United States |
| Elena | – | C3 | 953 mb | Long Beach, United States |
| TD 6L | – | TD | — | — |
| TD 7L | – | TD | — | — |
| Fabian | – | TS | 994 mb | — |
| Gloria | – | C4 | 920 mb | Kill Devil Hills, United States |
| Henri | – | TS | 996 mb | Hampton Bays, United States |
| Isabel | – | TS | 997 mb | Fernandina Beach, United States |
| Juan | – | C1 | 971 mb | Patterson, United States |
| Kate | – | C3 | 954 mb | Callaway, United States |
| TD 14L | – | TD | — | — |
- Ana: Ana formed in the Atlantic in July 1985 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 996 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Bob: Bob formed in the Atlantic in July 1985 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1002 mb. It made landfall near Hilton Head Island, United States. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Claudette: Claudette formed in the Atlantic in August 1985 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 980 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Danny: Danny formed in the Atlantic in August 1985 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 987 mb. It made landfall near Abbeville, United States. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Elena: Elena formed in the Atlantic in August 1985 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 953 mb. It made landfall near Long Beach, United States. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- TD 6L: This system formed in the Atlantic in September 1985 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- TD 7L: This system formed in the Atlantic in September 1985 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Fabian: Fabian formed in the Atlantic in September 1985 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 994 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Gloria: Gloria formed in the Atlantic in September 1985 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 920 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Kill Devil Hills, United States and last near Lindenhurst, United States. The system was tracked for 16 days.
- Henri: Henri formed in the Atlantic in September 1985 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 996 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Hampton Bays, United States and last near Westerly, United States. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Isabel: Isabel formed in the Atlantic in October 1985 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 997 mb. It made landfall near Fernandina Beach, United States. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Juan: Juan formed in the Atlantic in October 1985 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 971 mb. It made landfall near Patterson, United States. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Kate: Kate formed in the Atlantic in November 1985 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 954 mb. It made landfall near Callaway, United States. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- TD 14L: This system formed in the Atlantic in December 1985 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1985
Hurricane Gloria was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 145 mph (230 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 920 mb, on September 25. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
46 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 14 matched it. It produced 24% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1985
8 of the season’s 14 systems made landfall, 6 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- July 25: Bob near Hilton Head Island, United States, 75 mph (Category 1)
- August 15: Danny near Abbeville, United States, 90 mph (Category 1)
- September 2: Elena near Long Beach, United States, 115 mph (Category 3)
- September 24: Henri near Hampton Bays, United States, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- September 25: Henri near Westerly, United States, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- September 27: Gloria near Kill Devil Hills, United States, 105 mph (Category 2)
- September 27: Gloria near Lindenhurst, United States, 85 mph (Category 1)
- October 10: Isabel near Fernandina Beach, United States, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- October 29: Juan near Patterson, United States, 75 mph (Category 1)
- November 21: Kate near Callaway, United States, 100 mph (Category 2)
How 1985 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 31st of 47 Atlantic seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 3 other seasons), 19th for hurricanes (tied with 7 other seasons) and 29th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 30 named storms, in 2020, and the highest ACE is 250, in 2005.
1985 storm names
The 1985 season used 11 names: Ana, Bob, Claudette, Danny, Elena, Fabian, Gloria, Henri, Isabel, Juan, Kate.
3 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
Atlantic and East Pacific lists repeat every six years. See how storms are named.
The WMO later retired the names Elena and Gloria, so they will not be used again.
1985 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1985?
The 1985 Atlantic hurricane season had 11 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes, from 14 systems tracked in all. The 1991–2020 average is 14.4 named storms, 7.2 at 64 kt or more and 3.2 major per season. The first to form was Ana and the last was Kate.
What was the strongest storm of 1985?
Hurricane Gloria. It peaked at 145 mph (230 km/h, 125 kt) with a lowest pressure of 920 mb on September 25. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 46 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 24% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1985 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 1985, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Tropical Depression 14L, dissipated on December 9. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 6 Atlantic storms since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.