Hurricane Gilbert

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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
Disc Plain black.svg Tropical cyclone
Solid black.svg Subtropical cyclone
ArrowUp.svg Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

The origins of Hurricane Gilbert trace back to an easterly tropical wave—an elongated low-pressure area moving from east to west—that crossed the northwestern coast of Africa on September 3, 1988. Over the subsequent days, the wave traversed the tropical Atlantic and developed a broad wind circulation extending just north of the equator. The system remained disorganized until September 8, when satellite images showed a defined circulation center approaching the Windward Islands. The following day, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) classified it as the twelfth tropical depression of the annual hurricane season using the Dvorak technique, when it was located about 400 mi (640 km) east of Barbados. The depression proceeded toward the west-northwest, and while moving through the Lesser Antilles near Martinique, it gained enough strength to be designated as Tropical Storm Gilbert. [3]

After becoming a tropical storm, Gilbert underwent a period of significant strengthening. Passing to the south of Dominican Republic and Haiti, it became a hurricane late on September 10 and further strengthened to Category 3 intensity on the Saffir–Simpson scale the next day. At that time, Gilbert was classified as a major hurricane with sustained winds of 125 mph (201 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 960  mbar (960  hPa ; 28  inHg ). On September 12, the hurricane made landfall on the eastern coast of Jamaica at this intensity; its 15 mi (24 km)-wide eye moved from east to west across the entire length of the island. [3] [4]

Hurricane Gilbert
Gilbert 1988-09-13 2200Z.png
Gilbert intensifying off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula on September 13
Most intense Atlantic hurricanes (
)
RankHurricaneSeasonPressure
hPainHg
1 Wilma 2005 88226.05
2 Gilbert 1988 88826.23
3 "Labor Day" 1935 89226.34
4 Rita 2005 89526.43
5 Milton 2024 89726.49
6 Allen 1980 89926.55
7 Camille 1969 90026.58
8 Katrina 2005 90226.64
9 Mitch 1998 90526.73
Dean 2007
Source: HURDAT [2]

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 (251 km/h) as the storm passed just to the southeast on September 13. Explosive intensification continued until Gilbert reached a minimum pressure of 888 mbar (888 hPa; 26.2 inHg) with maximum sustained flight-level winds of 185 mph (298 km/h), having intensified by 72 mbar in a space of 24 hours. [nb 1] [3] 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 2005. [2]

Gilbert then weakened some, but remained a Category 5 hurricane as it made landfall for a second time on the island of Cozumel, and then a third time on Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula on September 14. [3] [6] This made it the first Category 5 hurricane to make landfall in the Atlantic basin since Hurricane David hit Hispaniola in 1979. The minimum pressure at landfall in Cozumel was estimated to be 900 millibars (27 inHg), along with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h). [6] The storm weakened quickly while crossing land before it emerged into the Gulf of Mexico as a Category 2 hurricane. [7] Gilbert re-strengthened rapidly, however, and made landfall for a final time as a Category 3 hurricane near La Pesca, Tamaulipas on September 16, with winds of about 125 mph (201 km/h). [3]

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, and then moved across Oklahoma. It was absorbed by a low-pressure system over Missouri on September 19, and finally became extratropical over Lake Michigan. [3]

Preparations

Hurricane Gilbert making landfall in Mexico on September 16. Gilbert 1988-09-16 2000Z.png
Hurricane Gilbert making landfall in Mexico on September 16.

Late on September 10, a tropical storm warning was issued by the National Hurricane Center for the southern coast of the Dominican Republic alongside a hurricane watch for the Barahona Peninsula. The hurricane watch for Barahona was upgraded to a hurricane warning early on September 11. Later that day, hurricane watches were posted for the Dominican Republic's southern coast, Jamaica, and the southern coast of Cuba east of Cabo Cruz; the hurricane watch in Jamaica was upgraded to a hurricane warning by the end of the day. Hurricane warnings for the southern coast of Haiti were also posted on September 11. [8] Cayman Airways evacuated residents from the Cayman Islands ahead of Gilbert. [9]

On September 12, a hurricane watch was issued for the Cayman Islands, and the hurricane watch for the southern coast of Cuba was extended to Cienfuegos, with the portion of the watch east of Camagüey upgraded to a hurricane warning. That evening, the Yucatán Peninsula was placed under a hurricane watch between Felipe Carrillo Puerto and Progreso. This area included the resort cities of Cancún and Cozumel. [8] The following day, hurricane watches were posted for Pinar del Río and Isla de la Juventud, and the Cayman Islands were placed under a hurricane warning. [8] The watches in western Cuba and the Yucatán Peninsula were replaced with warnings at about mid-day September 13. [10] As Gilbert approached the Yucatán Peninsula on September 14, the hurricane warning in the region was extended to cover the entire coast between Chetumal and Champotón, while a hurricane watch was posted for the northern district of Belize. [10]

Once Gilbert entered the Gulf of Mexico on September 15, hurricane watches were posted for the portion of the shore between Port Arthur and Tampico. Around noon that day, the hurricane watch was upgraded to a hurricane warning between Tampico and Port O'Connor. [10]

Texas governor Bill Clements issued a decree allowing municipalities to lift laws in the name of public safety, including contraflow lane reversals [11] and speed limits. [12]

Impact

Impact by country
CountryDeathsRefDamageRef
Mexico202 [13] [13]
Jamaica45 [13] [13]
Haiti30 [13] [14]
Guatemala12 [13] Unknown
Honduras12 [13] Unknown
Dominican Republic5 [13] > [15]
Venezuela5 [13]
United States3 [13] [16]
Costa Rica2 [13] Unknown
Nicaragua2 [13] Unknown
St. Lucia0 [17]
Puerto Rico0 [17]
Total318

Gilbert claimed 318 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 $2.98 billion (1988 USD).

Eastern Caribbean and Venezuela

As a tropical storm, Gilbert brought high winds and heavy rains to many of the eastern Caribbean islands. [17] In St. Lucia, heavy rains peaking at 12.8 in (330 mm) in Castries resulted in flash flooding and mudslides, though no major structural damage was reported. [18] [19] At Hewanorra International Airport, a dam ruptured and flooded one of the runways. [18] Offshore, six fishermen went missing as Gilbert approached the Lesser Antilles. [19] Banana crop losses from the storm in St. Lucia reached $740,000, with Guadeloupe, St. Vincent, and Dominica reporting similar damage. [17] Several mudslides were reported in Dominica, though no damage resulted from them. Roughly 5 in (130 mm) of rain fell in Barbados, leading to flash floods and prompting officials to close schools and government offices. [18] The U.S. Virgin Islands experienced widespread power outages and flooding, with many residents losing electricity for several days. Damage was less severe in the nearby British Virgin Islands, where only some flooding and power outages took place. In Puerto Rico, dozens of small communities lost power and agricultural losses reached $200,000. [17]

In Venezuela, outflow bands from Gilbert produced torrential rain which triggered widespread flash floods and landslides in the northern part of the country, killing five people and leaving hundreds homeless. [20] [21] Damage from the storm was estimated at $3 million. [22] In total, seven fatalities would occur in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. [23]

Hispaniola

Heavy rains from the outer bands of Hurricane Gilbert triggered significant flooding in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. At least nine people perished in the Dominican Republic as many rivers, including the Yuna, overtopped their banks. [15] The main electrical relay station in Santo Domingo was damaged by the storm, causing a temporary blackout for much of the city. [24] Losses in the country were estimated in the millions of dollars. [15] In nearby Haiti, more substantial losses took place; 53 people died, [14] including 10 offshore. Most of the casualties took place in the southern part of the country. The port of Jacmel was reportedly destroyed by 10 ft (3.0 m) waves stirred up by the hurricane. [15] In light of extensive damage, the government of Haiti declared a state of emergency for the entire southern peninsula. [24] Losses throughout Haiti were estimated at $91.2 million. [14]

Jamaica

Gilbert approaching Jamaica on September 12 Gilbert 1988-09-12 1630Z.png
Gilbert approaching Jamaica on September 12

Hurricane Gilbert produced a 19 ft (5.8 m) storm surge and brought up to 823 millimetres (32.4 in) of rain in the mountainous areas of Jamaica, [25] causing inland flash flooding. 49 people died. [20] Prime Minister Edward Seaga stated that the hardest hit areas near where Gilbert made landfall looked "like Hiroshima after the atom bomb." [26] The storm left $700 million (1988 USD) in damage from destroyed crops, buildings, houses, roads, and small aircraft. [27] Two people eventually had to be rescued because of mudslides triggered by Gilbert and were sent to the hospital. The two people were reported to be fine. No planes were going in and out of Kingston, and telephone lines were jammed from Jamaica to Florida. [9]

Buildings destroyed after Hurricane Gilbert Hurricane Gilbert - destroyed buildings.JPEG
Buildings destroyed after Hurricane Gilbert

As Gilbert lashed Kingston, its winds knocked down power lines, uprooted trees, and flattened fences. On the north coast, 20 feet (6.1 m) waves hit, forcing hotels to be evacuated in the popular tourist destination. Kingston's airport reported severe damage to its aircraft, and all Jamaica-bound flights were cancelled at Miami International Airport. [9] Unofficial estimates state that at least 30 people were killed around the island. Estimated property damage reached more than $200 million. More than 100,000 houses were destroyed or damaged and the country's banana crop was largely destroyed. Hundreds of miles of roads and highways were also heavily damaged. [28] Reconnaissance flights over remote parts of Jamaica reported that eighty percent of the homes on the island had lost their roofs. The poultry industry was also wiped out; the damage from agricultural loss reached $500 million (1988 USD). Hurricane Gilbert was the most destructive storm in the history of Jamaica and the most severe storm since Hurricane Charlie in 1951. [29]

Cayman Islands

Gilbert passed 30 miles (48 km) to the south of the Cayman Islands early on September 13, with one reported gust of 157 mph (253 km/h). However, the islands largely escaped the hurricane due to Gilbert's quick forward motion. Damage was mitigated because the depth of the water surrounding the islands limited the height of the storm surge to 5 ft (1.5 m) There was very severe damage to crops, trees, pastures, and a number of private homes. [30] At least 50 people were left homeless and losses were expected to be in the millions. [15]

Central America and Mexico

Most intense landfalling Atlantic hurricanes
Intensity is measured solely by central pressure
RankHurricaneSeasonLandfall pressure
1 "Labor Day" [nb 2] 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, [2] AOML/HRD, [32] NHC [33]

Across parts of northern Central America, heavy rains from the outer bands of Hurricane Gilbert triggered deadly flash floods. Its rainfall and high winds reached Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras. In Honduras, at least eight people were killed and 6,000 were left homeless. Additionally, approximately 27,000 acres (11,000 hectares) of crops were flooded. [34] Sixteen people perished in Guatemala and another five died in Nicaragua, leaving a total of 21 people dead in Central America. [35]

Rainfall in the United States and Mexico from Gilbert Gilbert 1988 rainfall.gif
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 $1 and 2 billion (1989 US$). [36] In the Cancún region, Gilbert produced waves 7 m (23 ft) high, washing away 60% of the city's beaches; the storm surge from the storm penetrated up to 5 km (3.1 mi) inland. [37] A further loss of $87 million (1989 USD) due to a decline in tourism was estimated for the months of October, November and December in 1988. [38] Rainfall in the Yucatán Peninsula peaked at 13.78 inches (350 mm) in Progreso. [39]

As Gilbert lashed the third largest city of Mexico, Monterrey, it brought very high winds, torrential rains, and extensive flash floods. More than 60 people died from raging flood waters, and it was feared that more than 150 people died when five buses carrying evacuees were overturned in the raging floodwaters. Six policemen died when they were swept away while trying to rescue passengers on buses stranded by the Santa Catarina River. [36] [40] The residents of Monterrey had no power or drinking water, and most telephone lines were down. As the water receded, vehicles began appearing with their wheels up, jammed with mud and rocks. Quintana Roo Governor Miguel Borge reported that damages in Cancún were estimated at more than 1.3 billion Mexican pesos (1988 pesos; $500 million in USD). More than 5,000 American tourists were evacuated from Cancún. In Saltillo, five people died in road accidents caused by heavy rain, and almost 1,000 were left homeless. [40] Rainfall in northeastern Mexico peaked at over 10 inches (250 mm) in localized areas of inland Tamaulipas. [39] In Coahuila, rainfall from Gilbert caused the deaths of 5 people who were swept away by rising waters. Among these were a paramedic and a pregnant woman who died when a Mexican Red Cross ambulance fell into a flooded arroyo near Los Chorros after a bridge collapsed. [41] Gilbert dumped torrential rains and spawned some tornadoes. [42]

In Quintana Roo, Gilbert caused significant defoliation in the jungle. The debris eventually fueled a fire in 1989, which ultimately burned 460 sq mi (1,200 km2). [43] Damage to the vegetation of Cozumel Island combined with human habitat alteration is blamed for the rapid decline and possible extinction of the endemic Cozumel Thrasher.

United States

Damage at Kelly Air Force Base, Texas Hurricane Gilbert aftermath at Kelly AFB, Texas.JPEG
Damage at Kelly Air Force Base, Texas

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 from beach erosion caused by a 3-5-foot storm surge, and tornadoes, which mainly affected the San Antonio area. 29 tornadoes were spawned by Gilbert in Texas, at least two of which were killer tornadoes. Estimates ranged from 30 to more than 60 hitting 25 Texas counties. Nine of them hit San Antonio, where a 59-year-old woman was killed as she slept in her mobile home. 40 tornadoes were spawned in an area from Corpus Christi and Brownsville north to San Antonio and west to Del Rio. [44] [45] Gilbert also provided a good look at a particular unusual hurricane-spawned tornado in Del Rio, two hundred and fifty miles from the ocean. It was the first of this type of tornado to be captured on film since a tornado spun from Hurricane Agnes in 1972. Despite the massive appearance of the tornado, it did not produce a wide range damage path. Few hurricane-spawned tornadoes do. In the state, a major disaster was declared on October 5, 1988. [46]

Oklahoma recorded the highest rainfall in the United States at 8.6 inches (220 mm), in Wichita Mountains 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. Overall damage in the United States was estimated at $80 million (1988 USD). [16] [39]

Aftermath

Wettest tropical cyclones and their remnants in Jamaica
Highest-known totals
PrecipitationStormLocationRef.
Rankmmin
13429.0135.00 Nov. 1909 Hurricane Silver Hill Plantation [47]
21524.060.00 Flora 1963 Silver Hill [48]
31057.941.65 Michelle 2001 [49]
4950.037.42 Nicole 2010 Negril [50]
5938.336.94 Gilda 1973 Top Mountain [48]
6863.634.00 June 1979 T.D. Western Jamaica [51]
7823.032.40 Gilbert 1988 Interior mountains [49]
8733.828.89 Eta 2020 Moore Town, Jamaica [52]
9720.628.37 Ivan 2004 Ritchies [53]
10713.528.09 Sandy 2012 Mill Bank [54]
Aftermath in San Antonio Hurricane Gilbert aftermath.JPEG
Aftermath in San Antonio

The overall property damage was estimated at $2.98 billion (1988 USD). Earlier estimates put property damage from Gilbert at $2.5 billion but were as high as $10 billion. A final count of Hurricane Gilbert's victims is not possible because many people remained missing in Mexico, but the total confirmed death toll was 433 people. [44]

Records

On September 13, Hurricane Gilbert attained a record low central pressure of 888 mb (hPa; 26.22 inHg), surpassing the previous minimum of 892 hPa (26.34 inHg) set by the 1935 Labor Day hurricane. This made it the strongest tropical cyclone on record in the north Atlantic basin at the time. It was surpassed by Hurricane Wilma in 2005, which attained a central pressure of 882 hPa (26.05 inHg). [2] Gilbert is the most intense tropical cyclone on record to strike Jamaica. The storm also produced record-breaking rainfall in Jamaica, amounting to 27.56 in (700 mm). This ranked it (at that time) as the fourth-wettest known storm to strike Jamaica. [20]

Retirement

Due to the extensive damage and loss of life from the hurricane, the name Gilbert was retired by the World Meteorological Organization following the 1988 season, and will never again be used for another Atlantic hurricane. [55] [56] It was replaced by Gordon for the 1994 season. [57]

In Jamaica, dance hall DJ Lovindeer released a single called Wild Gilbert a few days after the storm. It was the fastest selling reggae record in the history of Jamaican music. [58] In 1989, the PBS series Nova released the episode "Hurricane!" that featured Gilbert (later modified in 1992 to reflect Hurricane Andrew and Hurricane Iniki).[ citation needed ]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ While the storm was active, the National Hurricane Center estimated the minimum pressure to be 885 mbar (885 hPa; 26.1 inHg) based on reports from weather reconnaissance aircraft. However, this estimate was revised to 888 mbar (888 hPa; 26.2 inHg) during post-storm analysis, as it was discovered that the pressure transducer used to calculate the aircraft's static pressure had a bias towards low pressures. [5]
  2. ↑ Storms with quotations are officially unnamed. Tropical storms and hurricanes were not named before the year 1950. [31]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">1989 North Indian Ocean cyclone season</span>

The 1989 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was a below-average season in annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. Despite this, the season had the second highest Accumulated Cyclone Energy in the basin on record behind only 2019 and 2023. The season has no official bounds but cyclones tend to form between April and December. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northern Indian Ocean. There are two main seas in the North Indian Ocean—the Bay of Bengal to the east of the Indian subcontinent and the Arabian Sea to the west of India. The official Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre in this basin is the India Meteorological Department (IMD), while the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) releases unofficial advisories. An average of five tropical cyclones form in the North Indian Ocean every season with peaks in May and November. Cyclones occurring between the meridians 45°E and 100°E are included in the season by the IMD.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurricane Paloma</span> Category 4 Atlantic hurricane in 2008

Hurricane Paloma was a strong late-season Atlantic hurricane that set several records for its intensity and formation. It was the sixteenth tropical storm, eighth hurricane and fifth major hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season. Paloma was, at the time, the third most powerful November hurricane on record in the Atlantic Basin, behind only the 1932 Cuba hurricane, 2020's hurricanes Iota and Eta, and a tie of 1999's Hurricane Lenny, and 2001's Hurricane Michelle. Paloma also marked the first time that at least one major hurricane formed in every month of the hurricane season from July to November, with only June not having a major hurricane in the season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurricane Odile (1984)</span> Category 2 Pacific hurricane in 1984

Hurricane Odile was the second of three tropical storms to make landfall in Mexico during the 1984 Pacific hurricane season. The fifteenth named storm and twelfth hurricane of the active season, it developed from a tropical disturbance about 185 miles (298 km) south of Acapulco on September 17. Curving towards the northwest, Odile became a Category 1 hurricane on September 19. The tropical cyclone reached its peak intensity with winds of 105 mph (169 km/h) two days later; however, Hurricane Odile began to weaken as moved erratically it encountered less favorable conditions and was downgraded to a tropical storm shortly before making landfall northwest of Zihuatanejo. Over land, the storm rapidly weakened, and dissipated on September 23. The storm caused significant rainfall accumulations of 24.73 inches (628 mm) in Southern Mexico, resulting in severe damage to tourism resorts. Flooding from Odile resulted in the evacuation of 7,000 people, 21 deaths, and the damage of about 900 homes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1933 Tampico hurricane</span> Category 5 Atlantic hurricane in 1933

The 1933 Tampico hurricane was a deadly tropical cyclone late in the 1933 Atlantic hurricane season. It was the second system of the season to reach Category 5‑equivalent intensity on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale. It developed on September 16 near the Lesser Antilles, and slowly intensified while moving across the Caribbean Sea. Becoming a hurricane on September 19, its strengthening rate increased while passing south of Jamaica. Two days later, the hurricane reached peak winds, estimated at 160 mph (260 km/h). After weakening, it made landfall on the Yucatán Peninsula, destroying several houses. One person was killed offshore Progreso, Yucatán during the storm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurricane Grace</span> Category 3 Atlantic hurricane in 2021

Hurricane Grace was the strongest tropical cyclone to make landfall in the Mexican state of Veracruz. Grace impacted much of the Leeward Islands and Greater Antilles as a tropical storm, before causing more substantial impacts in the Yucatán Peninsula and Veracruz as a hurricane. It was the seventh named storm, second hurricane, and first major hurricane of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season. Originating from a tropical wave in the Main Development Region, the primitive system tracked west-northwest across the Atlantic Ocean towards the Antilles, becoming a tropical depression on August 14. It strengthened into Tropical Storm Grace later the same day, but weakened back to a depression due to an unfavorable environment. After moving near Haiti as a tropical depression, it strengthened back to a tropical storm and became a hurricane on August 18, reaching an initial peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a pressure of 986 mbar (29.12 inHg). It weakened back to a tropical storm after its landfall in the Yucatán Peninsula and emerged into the Bay of Campeche, entering a very favorable environment for intensification hours later. Grace then rapidly intensified into a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 120 mph (190 km/h) in about 24 hours. The storm made its final landfall in the state of Veracruz at peak intensity and quickly degenerated into a remnant low over mainland Mexico on August 21; however, its remnants later regenerated into Tropical Storm Marty in the Eastern Pacific on August 23.

References

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  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Gil Clark (1988-10-26). Preliminary Report Hurricane Gilbert: 08–19 September 1988 (GIF) (Report). 1988 Atlantic Hurricane Season: Atlantic Storm Wallet Digital Archives. National Hurricane Center. p. 1. Retrieved 2012-03-04.
  4. ↑ Pan American Health Organization Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Relief Coordination Program. (1999-02-20) "The Hurricane and its Effects: Hurricane Gilbert - Jamaica" (PDF). Centro Regional de Información sobre Desastres América Latina y El Caribe. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-22. Retrieved 2012-03-04.
  5. ↑ H. E. Willoughby; J. M. Masters; C. W. Landsea (December 1989). "A Record Minimum Sea Level Pressure Observed in Hurricane Gilbert". Monthly Weather Review. 117 (12): 2825. Bibcode:1989MWRv..117.2824W. doi: 10.1175/1520-0493(1989)117<2824:ARMSLP>2.0.CO;2 .
  6. 1 2 Gil Clark (2008-08-20). "Hurricane Gilbert Preliminary Report (Page 2 - 1988)" (GIF). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2012-03-04.
  7. ↑ Gil Clark (1988). "Hurricane Gilbert Preliminary Report (Page 9)" (GIF). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
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  9. 1 2 3 Staff writers; wire reports (1988-09-13). "Cayman Airline Evacuates Residents As Gilbert Nears". Palm Beach Post . Retrieved 2012-03-04.[ permanent dead link ]
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  19. 1 2 "United Press International September 10, 1988, Saturday, AM cycle". United Press International. 1988-09-10. (accessed through LexisNexis)
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