Storm history › Atlantic › 1988 season
Hurricane Gilbert (1988)
Gilbert was a Category 5 hurricane of the 1988 Atlantic season. It was tracked from September 8, 1988 to September 20, 1988, about 11 days, and covered 4,983 miles.
At its peak it had winds of 185 mph (295 km/h) and a lowest pressure of 888 mb.
It made 3 landfalls, the first near Kingston, Jamaica.
Its closest pass to a major city was 10 miles from Kingston, Jamaica.
Its peak winds rank 3rd of 2,017 Atlantic storms on record.
- Peak wind
- 185 mph
- Lowest pressure
- 888 mb
- Strongest
- Category 5 hurricane
- Landfalls
- 3
- Duration
- 11 days
- Track length
- 4,983 mi
- Energy (ACE)
- 32.8
DepressionTropical stormCat 1Cat 2Cat 3Cat 4Cat 5
Landfalls
| # | Date (UTC) | Near | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 12, 1988 | Kingston, Jamaica | 130 mph (215 km/h) |
| 2 | September 14, 1988 | Playa del Carmen, Mexico | 160 mph (260 km/h) |
| 3 | September 16, 1988 | Guadalupe Victoria, Mexico | 125 mph (205 km/h) |
Closest pass to major cities
| City | Closest pass |
|---|---|
| Kingston, Jamaica | 10 mi (16 km) |
| New Kingston, Jamaica | 11 mi (18 km) |
| Saltillo, Mexico | 19 mi (31 km) |
| Oklahoma City, United States | 21 mi (34 km) |
| Chicago, United States | 22 mi (36 km) |
| Mérida, Mexico | 24 mi (39 km) |
| Tulsa, United States | 25 mi (40 km) |
How it compares
- Peak winds: 3rd highest of 2,017 Atlantic storms on record, tied with Hurricane Dorian (2019), Hurricane Wilma (2005).
- Lowest pressure: 2nd lowest of 1,294 Atlantic storms with a recorded pressure.
- Energy: 31% of the 1988 Atlantic season's ACE.