Storms of 1985

Ana | Bob | Danny | Gloria | Henri

The season’s first named storm, Ana, had a life span from July 15 - 19, 1985. Tropical Storm Ana crossed the Atlantic while it accelerated toward the Northeast. The storm achieved maximum wind speeds of 111 kilometres per hour (60 knots). Ana’s centre passed within 80 kilometres of Sable Island before moving through Newfoundland. When Ana moved over Newfoundland on the 19^th it had lost most of its extratropical characteristics. Maximum wind on the island was reported to be only 10 metres per second and 23 metres per second over the ocean to the East. By the afternoon of the 19^th, Ana continued to hasten towards the east-northeast over the cold waters of the North Atlantic.

There was no damage associated with Tropical Storm Ana.

Bob was a tropical storm that briefly reached hurricane force before moving inland across the South Carolina coast. As a tropical storm, Bob moved from the Gulf of Mexico through central Florida and then turned northward through Georgia. Bob briefly reached hurricane strength before making landfall in South Carolina and achieved a maximum wind speed of 122 kilometres per hour (66 knots). Bob continued to move northward through South Carolina and fell below storm strength as the centre moved into Virginia. Bob was not responsible for any deaths and the damage it caused was minimal. It had no direct impact on Canada.

On August 12, 1985, a tropical depression had formed just west of Grand Cayman Island. After moving northwestward over the western tip of Cuba and into the southeast Gulf of Mexico, the depression intensified rapidly, reaching hurricane strength on August 14. Hurricane Danny was a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale and reached a maximum wind speed of 144 kilometres per hour (77 knots). Hurricane Danny made landfall just southeast of Lake Charles, Louisiana and then quickly weakened to tropical storm strength as it moved inland across Louisiana. Danny continued to move northeastward across the United States and into the Atlantic where it became extratropical.

Hurricane Danny received credit for one death and $50-$100 million in damages, though it had no direct impact on Canada.

Gloria developed into a tropical depression on September 16, 1985, while located near the Cape Verde Islands. On the 21^st, this depression reached hurricane strength. A ridge of high pressure forced Gloria to maintain a westerly course through the tropical Atlantic. However, by the 22^nd, Gloria began to change direction towards the Northwest. Gloria reached a maximum wind speed of 235 kilometres per hour (127 knots). After crossing the Atlantic, Gloria curved though North Carolina, and then passed by the eastern coast of United States. Gloria finally became extratropical over Maine on September 28, 1985. A much depleted Gloria would continue on to move across Newfoundland.

Gloria had lost its tropical characteristics and weakened rapidly by the time it crossed western Newfoundland. Winds decreased to tropical storm strength on October 2 at the position of 1100 kilometres south of Cape Race, Newfoundland. There was minor wind and wave damage reported in Nova Scotia as a result of Hurricane Gloria. There were 8 deaths and $900 million in damages credited to Hurricane Gloria.

Henri originated to the north of Hispaniola, in a trough of low pressure that Tropical Storm Fabian left in its wake. The tropical storm reached a maximum wind speed of 94 kilometres per hour (51 knots).

Henri moved several hundred kilometres off the east coast of Florida, continuing northward along the US coast. On September 24, Henri crossed New York State, making landfall on the eastern tip of Long Island, New York.

There were no deaths reported from the storm and damage was nonexistent. Tropical Storm Henri had no direct impact on Canada.