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Hurricane Gilbert

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Hurricane Gilbert
Category 5 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS)
Hurricane Gilbert near maximum intensity.
FormedSeptember 8, 1988
DissipatedSeptember 19, 1988
Highest winds1-minute sustained: 185 mph (295 km/h)
Lowest pressure888 mbar (hPa); 26.22 inHg
Fatalities341 direct
Damage$5.5 billion (1988 USD)
Areas affectedWindward Islands, Venezuela, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Central America, Yucatán Peninsula, northern Mexico, Texas, South Central United States
Part of the 1988 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Gilbert is the second most intense hurricane ever observed in the Atlantic basin and the largest Atlantic tropical cyclone in size since 1988.[1] It was the eighth tropical storm and third hurricane of the 1988 Atlantic hurricane season. Gilbert wreaked havoc in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico for nearly nine days. In total, it killed 341 people and caused about $5.5 billion (1988 USD, $9.4 billion 2006 USD) in damages over the course of its path.

Storm history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

On September 3, 1988, a tropical wave emerged off the African Coast. Over the next several days, a low pressure area slowly developed from this wave, going onto develop an organized circulation center on September 8. Early on September 9 the storm was designated Tropical Depression Twelve, near the Windward Islands about 400 miles (640 km) east of Barbados. It quickly strengthened into Tropical Storm Gilbert that afternoon, becoming the seventh named storm of the season while crossing the Lesser Antilles.[2]

Gilbert approaching Jamaica on September 12

With no inhibiting factors to strengthening, Gilbert quickly became a hurricane late on September 10 and then a major (Category 3) hurricane on the 11th.[3] It moved consistently west-northwest influenced by a strong high pressure system to its north. This movement led to the hurricane's first landfall in Jamaica. The eye passed completely over Jamaica on September 12 with 125 mph (205 km/h) winds and a central pressure of 960 mb (28.35 inHg), making it a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.[2]

Most intense Atlantic hurricanes (
)
Rank Hurricane Season Pressure
hPa inHg
1 Wilma 2005 882 26.05
2 Gilbert 1988 888 26.23
3 "Labor Day" 1935 892 26.34
4 Rita 2005 895 26.43
5 Milton 2024 897 26.49
6 Allen 1980 899 26.55
7 Camille 1969 900 26.58
8 Katrina 2005 902 26.64
9 Mitch 1998 905 26.73
Dean 2007
Source: HURDAT[4]


Hurricane Gilbert approaching Mexico, in the Gulf of Mexico

Gilbert strengthened rapidly after emerging from the coast of Jamaica. As the hurricane brushed the Cayman Islands a reporting station on Grand Cayman recorded a wind gust of 156 mph (252 km/h) while the storm passed just to the southeast on September 13. Extreme intensification continued until Gilbert reached a minimum pressure of 888 mb (26.22 inHg) with sustained flight-level winds of 185 mph (295 km/h), having intensified by 72 mbar in a space of 24 hours.[2] This pressure was the lowest ever observed in the western hemisphere and made Gilbert the most intense Atlantic hurricane on record, until it was surpassed by Hurricane Wilma in the 2005 season.

Gilbert made landfall for a second time on the island of Cozumel and then in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula on September 14 as a Category 5 hurricane,[2][5] making it the first Category 5 to make landfall in the Atlantic basin since Hurricane David hit Hispanola nine years earlier in 1979; the minimum pressure at landfall in Cozumel was estimated to be 900 mb (26.6 inHg).[5] The storm weakened quickly while crossing land before emerging into the Gulf of Mexico as a Category 2 hurricane.[3] Gilbert restrengthened rapidly, however, and made landfall for a final time as a Category 3 hurricane near La Pesca, Tamaulipas, on September 16.

On September 17 Gilbert brushed the inland city of Monterrey, Nuevo León before taking a sharp turn to the north. The storm spawned 29 tornadoes in Texas on September 18 before moving across Oklahoma and being absorbed by a low-pressure system over Missouri on the 19th.[2]

Impact

Deaths by Country
Country Deaths
Mexico 225[6]
Jamaica 45[5]
Haiti 30[5]
Guatemala 12[5]
Honduras 12[5]
Dominican Republic 5[5]
Venezuela 5[5]
United States 3[5]
Costa Rica 2[5]
Nicaragua 2[5]
Total 341

Gilbert claimed 341 lives, mostly in Mexico. Exact monetary damage figures are not available, but the total for all areas affected by Gilbert is estimated to be near $5.5 billion (1988 USD)., July 2008 {{citation}}: Missing or empty |title= (help) A preliminary report assessed Gilbert as the costliest Atlantic hurricane of all time with an initial damage total of over $10 billion (USD),[7] though it was not later confirmed.

American journalist Jules Siegel was living in Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, (near Cancún) with his family. The hurricane hit Puerto Morelos dead-on, but the entire town population was evacuated to Cancún. Siegel's account of this experience was published in a local newspaper in Spanish and is available in English on his website.

Venezuela

Outflow bands from Gilbert produced flash floods in northern Venezuela, which killed five people.[8]

Jamaica

Hurricane Gilbert produced over 700 mm (27 inches) of rain in the mountainous areas of Jamaica, causing inland flash flooding.[9] About 45 people died, and one child was born.[10] Gilbert was the most severe hurricane to hit Jamaica since Hurricane Charlie in 1951.[11] The storm left $4 billion (1988 USD) in damage. Gilbert also destroyed crops, buildings, houses and roads and even turned small aircraft into shambles.[11]

Cayman Islands

Gilbert passed 30 miles (48 km) to the south of the Cayman Islands, with a gust of 157 mph (253 km/h) reported early on September 13. However, the islands largely escaped the hurricane's wrath due to Gilbert's rather quick forward motion, and the deepness of the water surrounding the islands limited the height of the storm surge to 5 ft (1.5 m) Nevertheless, there was very severe damage to crops, trees and pastures, and many private homes were ruined.[12]

Mexico

Rainfall in the United States and Mexico from Gilbert

35,000 people were left homeless and 83 ships sank when Gilbert struck the Yucatán Peninsula. 60,000 homes were destroyed, and damage was estimated at between $1 and 2 billion (1989 USD).[13] In the Cancún region, a further loss of $87 million (1989 USD) due to a decline in tourism was estimated for the months October, November and December in 1988.[14] Rainfall in the Yucatán Peninsula peaked at 13.78 inches in Progreso, Yucatán.[15]


Most intense landfalling Atlantic hurricanes
Intensity is measured solely by central pressure
Rank Hurricane Season Landfall pressure
1 "Labor Day"[nb 1] 1935 892 mbar (hPa)
2 Camille 1969 900 mbar (hPa)
Gilbert 1988
4 Dean 2007 905 mbar (hPa)
5 "Cuba" 1924 910 mbar (hPa)
Dorian 2019
7 Janet 1955 914 mbar (hPa)
Irma 2017
9 "Cuba" 1932 918 mbar (hPa)
10 Michael 2018 919 mbar (hPa)
Sources: HURDAT,[4] AOML/HRD,[17] NHC[18]

In northeastern Mexico, heavy rains in and around Monterrey caused tremendous flooding. More than 100 persons died when five buses carrying evacuees were overturned in the raging floodwaters.[13] Rainfall in northeastern Mexico peaked at over 10 inches (250 mm) in localized areas of inland Tamaulipas.[15]

United States

Despite concerns that Texas might suffer a direct hit, there was only minor damage reported in southern Texas from Gilbert's landfall, 60 miles (97 km) to the south. Winds gusted to hurricane force in a few places, but the main impact felt in the state was beach erosion from a 3-5-foot storm surge, and tornadoes, which mainly affected the San Antonio area.[19]

Oklahoma recorded the highest measurement of rainfall in the United States, 8.6 inches, in Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge. Isolated locations in Texas and Oklahoma reported over 7 inches (180 mm), while moderate rainfall of up to 3 inches (76 mm) fell in central Michigan.[15]

Aftermath

Jamaica

The hurricane severely damaged all but two medical facilities and 50% of the water supply.[11] In addition, many of the supplies brought to the needed remained in the warehouses and were sometimes stolen.[11]

Mexico

In Quintana Roo, the Category 5 hurricane defoliated the jungle. The debris fueled a fire that started in 1989, burning 460 square miles.[20]

Retirement

See also: List of retired Atlantic hurricane names

Due to its extreme intensity and path of destruction, the name Gilbert was retired in the spring of 1989, and will never be used for another Atlantic hurricane. It was replaced by Gordon in the 1994 Atlantic hurricane season.

See also

Template:Tcportal

References

  1. ^ Mark DeMaria. Atlantic Extended Best Track Database. Retrieved on 2008-07-09.
  2. ^ a b c d e NHC TCR page 1
  3. ^ a b NHC TCR page 9
  4. ^ a b "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)" (Database). United States National Hurricane Center. April 5, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2024. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k NHC TCR page 2
  6. ^ Reseña del Impacto de los Principales Desastres. Retrieved on 2007-02-11.
  7. ^ Thomas C. Hayes (1988-09-18). "Gilbert Said to Be Most Destructive". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
  8. ^ National Weather Service (1988). "1988 Monthly Weather Review" (PDF). Retrieved 2006-07-21.
  9. ^ Preliminary Report: Hurricane Erin 31 July - 6 August 1995
  10. ^ Annual Summaries: Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1988 Monthly Weather Review, Vol. 117, p. 2248
  11. ^ a b c d The Hurricane and its Effects: Hurricane Gilbert - Jamaica undated Cite error: The named reference "The Storm and its Effects" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  12. ^ Hurricanecity. "Grand Cayman's history with tropical systems". Hurricanecity. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ a b E. Jáuregui. "Climatology of landfalling hurricanes and tropical storms in Mexico" (PDF). Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México June 11, 2003. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ Benigono Aguirre. "CANCUN UNDER GILBERT: PRELIMENARY OBSERVATIONS" (PDF). International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters March 1989, Vol. 7, No.1, pp. 69-82. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ a b c David Roth (2006). "Rainfall data for Hurricane Gilbert". Retrieved 2006-10-16.
  16. ^ Landsea, Christopher; Dorst, Neal (June 1, 2014). "Subject: Tropical Cyclone Names: B1) How are tropical cyclones named?". Tropical Cyclone Frequently Asked Question. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Hurricane Research Division. Archived from the original on December 10, 2018.
  17. ^ Landsea, Chris; Anderson, Craig; Bredemeyer, William; Carrasco, Cristina; Charles, Noel; Chenoweth, Michael; Clark, Gil; Delgado, Sandy; Dunion, Jason; Ellis, Ryan; Fernandez-Partagas, Jose; Feuer, Steve; Gamanche, John; Glenn, David; Hagen, Andrew; Hufstetler, Lyle; Mock, Cary; Neumann, Charlie; Perez Suarez, Ramon; Prieto, Ricardo; Sanchez-Sesma, Jorge; Santiago, Adrian; Sims, Jamese; Thomas, Donna; Lenworth, Woolcock; Zimmer, Mark (May 2015). "Documentation of Atlantic Tropical Cyclones Changes in HURDAT". Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (Metadata). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  18. ^ Franklin, James (January 31, 2008). Hurricane Dean (PDF) (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  19. ^ Then & Now: The tornadoes of 1988 July 31, 2005
  20. ^ Natural Hazards of North America. National Geographic Society. 1998. {{cite book}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)


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