1985 East Pacific hurricane season
May 15, 1985 – Nov 30, 1985 · Season ended
The 1985 East Pacific hurricane season produced 22 named storms, 12 hurricanes and 8 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 15.6, 8.4 and 4.4. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 181, 142% of the average.
1985 season at a glance
- Named storms: 22 (1991–2020 average 15.6).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 12 (average 8.4).
- Major, 96 kt+: 8 (average 4.4).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 180.5, 142% of the 127 average.
- Named-storm days: 102.0, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Andres, June 5.
- First hurricane: Blanca, June 8.
- First major storm: Blanca, June 13.
- Last storm to dissipate: Xina, November 5.
- All systems tracked: 22, every one of which reached 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andres | – | TS | — | — |
| Blanca | – | C3 | — | — |
| Carlos | – | TS | — | — |
| Dolores | – | C3 | — | — |
| Enrique | – | TS | — | — |
| Fefa | – | TS | — | — |
| Guillermo | – | TS | — | — |
| Hilda | – | TS | — | — |
| Jimena | – | C4 | — | — |
| Ignacio | – | C4 | — | — |
| Kevin | – | TS | — | — |
| Linda | – | TS | — | — |
| Marty | – | C1 | — | — |
| Nora | – | TS | — | — |
| Olaf | – | C1 | — | — |
| Pauline | – | C1 | — | — |
| Rick | – | C4 | — | — |
| Sandra | – | C3 | — | — |
| Terry | – | C3 | — | — |
| Vivian | – | TS | — | — |
| Waldo | – | C2 | — | — |
| Xina | – | C3 | — | — |
- Andres: Andres formed in the East Pacific in June 1985 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Blanca: Blanca formed in the East Pacific in June 1985 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Carlos: Carlos formed in the East Pacific in June 1985 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Dolores: Dolores formed in the East Pacific in June 1985 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Enrique: Enrique formed in the East Pacific in June 1985 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Fefa: Fefa formed in the East Pacific in July 1985 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Guillermo: Guillermo formed in the East Pacific in July 1985 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Hilda: Hilda formed in the East Pacific in July 1985 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Jimena: Jimena formed in the East Pacific in July 1985 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Ignacio: Ignacio formed in the East Pacific in July 1985 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Kevin: Kevin formed in the East Pacific in July 1985 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Linda: Linda formed in the East Pacific in July 1985 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Marty: Marty formed in the East Pacific in August 1985 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Nora: Nora formed in the East Pacific in August 1985 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Olaf: Olaf formed in the East Pacific in August 1985 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Pauline: Pauline formed in the East Pacific in August 1985 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 13 days.
- Rick: Rick formed in the East Pacific in September 1985 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Sandra: Sandra formed in the East Pacific in September 1985 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Terry: Terry formed in the East Pacific in September 1985 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Vivian: Vivian formed in the East Pacific in September 1985 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Waldo: Waldo formed in the East Pacific in October 1985 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Xina: Xina formed in the East Pacific in October 1985 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1985
Hurricane Rick was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 145 mph (230 km/h), on September 9. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
47 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 29 matched it. It produced 13% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1985
No storm in the 1985 East Pacific hurricane season made landfall, according to the best track.
How 1985 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 2nd of 47 East Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 1 other season), 5th for hurricanes (tied with 4 other seasons) and 11th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 25 named storms, in 1992, and the highest ACE is 294, in 2018.
1985 storm names
The 1985 season used 22 names: Andres, Blanca, Carlos, Dolores, Enrique, Fefa, Guillermo, Hilda, Jimena, Ignacio, Kevin, Linda, Marty, Nora, Olaf, Pauline, Rick, Sandra, Terry, Vivian, Waldo, Xina.
Atlantic and East Pacific lists repeat every six years. See how storms are named.
1985 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1985?
The 1985 East Pacific hurricane season had 22 named storms, 12 hurricanes and 8 major hurricanes, from 22 systems tracked in all. The 1991–2020 average is 15.6 named storms, 8.4 at 64 kt or more and 4.4 major per season. The first to form was Andres and the last was Xina.
What was the strongest storm of 1985?
Hurricane Rick. It peaked at 145 mph (230 km/h, 125 kt) on September 9. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 47 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 13% 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, Xina, dissipated on November 5. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 1 East Pacific storm since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.