List of storms named Elena

Last updated October 19, 2023

The name Elena was used for three tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean:

Hurricane Elena (1965), never threatened land.
Tropical Storm Elena (1979), made landfall in Texas as a weak tropical storm, causing $10 million in damage and two fatalities.
Hurricane Elena (1985), an unpredictable and damaging Category 3 hurricane which made landfall in Mississippi causing $1.3 billion (1985 USD) in damage.

Following the hurricane in 1985, the name Elena was retired and replaced with Erika for the 1991 season.

This article includes a list of named storms that share the same name (or similar names).
If an internal link incorrectly led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended storm article.

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The 1985 Atlantic hurricane season had six United States landfalling hurricanes, tied with 1886 and 2020 for the highest number on record. The season officially began on June 1 and lasted until November 30. It was an average season, with 11 named storms developing. This was partially attributed to a La Niña – a meteorological phenomenon that produces favorable conditions across the Atlantic basin, such as lower wind shear and higher sea surface temperatures. The first storm, Ana, developed on July 15 near Bermuda and caused minor effects in Canada while transitioning into an extratropical cyclone. Three other tropical cyclones – Claudette, Henri, and Isabel – did not significantly affect land. Claudette developed offshore of the Southeastern United States and brushed Bermuda and the Azores. Henri and Isabel were dissipating as they approached land. However, the precursor of the latter caused a severe flood in Puerto Rico that killed 180 people. Additionally, Tropical Storm Fabian and three tropical depressions did not have any known impact on land.

Tropical Storm Elena was a weak tropical storm that moved ashore along Texas in the 1979 Atlantic hurricane season. The sixth tropical storm of the season, Elena developed from a tropical wave to the south of Louisiana on August 29. It tracked generally west-northwest, strengthening little before making landfall on Matagorda Island on September 1 as a minimal tropical storm; the storm quickly dissipated over land. Elena dropped moderate rainfall along its path, causing two direct deaths in Houston from drowning; storm damage was minor, amounting to less than $10 million. Lightning from the storm set fire to an oil supertanker in Houston, causing three indirect deaths and 13 injuries.

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