Hurricane Elena facts for kids
| Category 3 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS) | |
Hurricane Elena in the Gulf of Mexico from Space Shuttle Discovery on September 1, 1985
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| Formed | August 28, 1985 |
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| Dissipated | September 4, 1985 |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 125 mph (205 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 953 mbar (hPa); 28.14 inHg |
| Fatalities | 0 direct, 4 indirect |
| Damage | $1.25 billion (1985 USD) |
| Areas affected | Cuba, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Mississippi Valley region |
| Part of the 1985 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Hurricane Elena was a powerful hurricane that hit the United States Gulf Coast in August and September of 1985. It was a Category 3 storm, meaning it had very strong winds.
Elena's path was quite unusual. It made a big loop in the Gulf of Mexico, which caused many people living along the coast to leave their homes for safety. This storm caused a lot of damage, costing over a billion dollars. Sadly, four people also lost their lives due to indirect causes related to the hurricane.
How Hurricane Elena Formed
Hurricane Elena started as a tropical wave. This wave moved off the coast of Africa on August 23, 1985. At first, it was not very strong because it moved quickly and had dry air around it.
As it moved closer to the Greater Antilles, it slowed down. On August 28, a tropical depression formed between Cuba and Haiti. This is the first stage of a hurricane.
Elena Becomes a Hurricane
The storm then moved along the northern coast of Cuba. That same night, it grew stronger and became Tropical Storm Elena. The conditions in the Gulf of Mexico were perfect for the storm to get even bigger.
On August 29, Elena officially became a hurricane. It continued to gain strength as it moved through the Gulf, becoming a major hurricane. Its unusual path kept people guessing where it would go next.
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Tropical cyclones of the 1985 Atlantic hurricane season |
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Images for kids
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Geopotential height chart for the 500-millibar level, showing Elena (the closed isohypse over the Gulf of Mexico) on August 30. The trough that turned Elena toward the east can be seen embedded within the flow over the United States, and the ridge responsible for eventually pushing the storm back is denoted to the east of Florida.
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Hurricane Elena early on September 1, shortly before attaining peak intensity and accelerating to the west
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Hurricane Elena near the Florida coast on August 31
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Numerous coastal roads, such as this one along the Gulf Coast of Florida, were damaged by the hurricane's storm surge.
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Map of Florida's counties: click to enlarge
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Example of a beachfront structure destroyed by the hurricane in Florida
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The storm washed maritime debris, such as small vessels and parts of docks, over land.
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Satellite view of the hurricane's core on September 1, while traveling westward
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Elena making landfall in Mississippi on September 2
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Elena's storm total rainfall in the United States
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Tropical Storm Elena over Cuba on August 28
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Thousands of families required temporary housing after their homes were rendered unlivable.
See also
In Spanish: Huracán Elena (1985) para niños
