A character battling the elements is a
B. character vs. nature conflict.
A character vs. nature conflict refers to a story in which the main character battles or struggles with the environment (a storm, an island) or an animal (a whale, a bird, a raven) and is affected by it.
An example of a character vs. nature conflict is "To Build a Fire" by Jack London, a story of a man who ventures to visit his friends, ignoring the harsh cold environment of the Yukon territory.