View source for Hurricane Gilbert

{{Short description|Category 5 Atlantic hurricane in 1988}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2025}}
{{Infobox weather event
| image = Gilbert 1988-09-13 2200Z.png
| caption = Gilbert near peak intensity while off the coast of the [[Yucatan Peninsula]] on September 13
| alt = This is a NOAA CLASS image of Hurricane Gilbert near peak intensity. Gilbert was the strongest Atlantic hurricane until it was surpassed by Hurricane Wilma in 2005.
| formed = September&nbsp;8, 1988
| extratropical = September&nbsp;19, 1988
| dissipated = September&nbsp;19, 1988
}}
{{Infobox weather event/NWS
| winds = 160
| pressure = 888
| pressure-suffix = <br />([[List of the most intense tropical cyclones#North Atlantic Ocean|Second-lowest]] in the [[North Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic basin]])
}}
{{Infobox weather event/Effects
| year = 1988
| fatalities = 318
| damage = 2980000000
| damage-suffix = 
| areas = [[Lesser Antilles]], [[Puerto Rico]], [[Venezuela]], [[Haiti]], [[Dominican Republic]], [[Jamaica]], [[Central America]], [[Yucatan Peninsula]], Mexico, Texas, [[South Central United States]], [[Midwestern United States]],  [[Western Canada]]
| refs = <ref>{{cite web |title=1988- Hurricane Gilbert |url=http://www.hurricanescience.org/history/storms/1980s/gilbert/ |website=Hurricane Science.org |access-date=3 October 2022}}</ref>
}}
{{Infobox weather event/Footer
| season = [[1988 Atlantic hurricane season]]
}}

'''Hurricane Gilbert''' was a large and extremely powerful [[tropical cyclone]] that formed during the [[1988 Atlantic hurricane season]], which peaked as a [[List of Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes|Category 5]] hurricane. The storm brought widespread destruction to the Caribbean and the [[Gulf of Mexico]], and is tied with 1969's [[Hurricane Camille]] as the second-most intense [[tropical cyclone]] to make landfall in the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. It was also the second-most intense [[tropical cyclone]] on record in the Atlantic basin in terms of [[barometric pressure]], only behind [[Hurricane Wilma]] in [[2005 Atlantic hurricane season|2005]]. Gilbert was also one of the largest tropical cyclones ever observed in the Atlantic basin. At one point, its tropical storm-force winds measured {{convert|575|mi|km|abbr=on}} in diameter. In addition, Gilbert was the most intense tropical cyclone in recorded history to strike Mexico.{{Atlantic hurricane best track}}

The seventh [[List of named tropical cyclones|named storm]], third hurricane and first major hurricane of the 1988 [[Atlantic hurricane season]], Gilbert developed from a [[tropical wave]] on September&nbsp;8 while located {{convert|400|mi|km|abbr=on}} east of [[Barbados]]. Following intensification into a tropical storm the next day, Gilbert steadily strengthened as it tracked west-northwestward into the Caribbean Sea. On September&nbsp;10, Gilbert attained hurricane intensity, and [[rapidly intensified]] into a Category&nbsp;3 hurricane on September&nbsp;11. After striking [[Jamaica]] the following day, rapid intensification occurred once again, and the storm became a Category&nbsp;5 hurricane on the [[Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale|Saffir-Simpson scale]] with peak 1-minute sustained winds of {{convert|185|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, late on September&nbsp;13. Gilbert then weakened slightly, and made landfall on the [[Yucatán Peninsula]] later that day while maintaining Category&nbsp;5 intensity. After landfall, Gilbert weakened rapidly over the Yucatán Peninsula, and emerged into the Gulf of Mexico as a Category&nbsp;2 storm on September&nbsp;15. Gradual intensification occurred as Gilbert tracked across the Gulf of Mexico, and the storm made landfall as a Category&nbsp;3 hurricane in mainland Mexico on September&nbsp;16. The hurricane gradually weakened after landfall, and eventually dissipated on September&nbsp;19 over the Midwestern United States.

Gilbert wrought havoc in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico for nearly nine days. In total, it killed 318 people and caused about $2.98 billion (1988 USD) in damages along its path. As a result of the extensive damage caused by Gilbert, the [[World Meteorological Organization]] [[List of retired Atlantic hurricane names|retired]] the name in the spring of 1989; it was replaced with [[List of storms named Gordon|''Gordon'']] for the [[1994 Atlantic hurricane season|1994 hurricane season]].

==Meteorological history==
{{storm path|Gilbert 1988 path.png|colors=new}}
The origins of Hurricane Gilbert trace back to an easterly [[tropical wave]]—an elongated [[trough (meteorology)|low-pressure area]] moving from east to west—that crossed the northwestern coast of Africa on September&nbsp;3, 1988. Over the subsequent days, the wave traversed the tropical Atlantic and [[Tropical cyclogenesis|developed]] a broad wind [[atmospheric circulation|circulation]] extending just north of the equator. The system remained disorganized until September&nbsp;8, when [[Weather satellite|satellite images]] showed a defined circulation center approaching the [[Windward Islands]]. The following day, the [[National Hurricane Center|National Hurricane Center (NHC)]] classified it as the twelfth [[tropical cyclone|tropical depression]] of the annual hurricane season using the [[Dvorak technique]], when it was located about {{convert|400|mi|km|abbr=on}} 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.<ref name="prelim01">{{cite report|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1988-prelim/gilbert/prelim01.gif|title=Preliminary Report Hurricane Gilbert: 08–19 September 1988|date=1988-10-26|format=GIF|publisher=[[National Hurricane Center]]|page=1|series=1988 Atlantic Hurricane Season: Atlantic Storm Wallet Digital Archives|author=Clark, Gil|access-date=2012-03-04}}</ref>

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&nbsp;10 and further strengthened to Category&nbsp;3 intensity on the [[Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale|Saffir–Simpson scale]] the next day. At that time, Gilbert was classified as a [[tropical cyclone|major hurricane]] with sustained winds of {{Convert|130|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} and a minimum [[Atmospheric pressure|barometric pressure]] of {{convert|960|mbar|hPa inHg|abbr=on|lk=on}}.<ref>{{Cite web |last=US Department of Commerce |first=NOAA |title=Hurricane Gilbert 1988 |url=https://www.weather.gov/lch/1988Gilbert |access-date=2025-10-27 |website=www.weather.gov |language=EN-US}}</ref> On September&nbsp;12, the hurricane made [[landfall]] on the eastern coast of Jamaica at this intensity; its {{convert|15|mi|km|abbr=on}}-wide [[eye (cyclone)|eye]] moved from east to west across the entire length of the island.<ref name="prelim01"/><ref name="crid">{{cite report|work=Pan American Health Organization Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Relief Coordination Program|date=1999-02-20|url=http://www.crid.or.cr/digitalizacion/pdf/eng/doc6803/doc6803-01.pdf|title=The Hurricane and its Effects: Hurricane Gilbert - Jamaica |publisher=Centro Regional de Información sobre Desastres América Latina y El Caribe |access-date=2012-03-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222221941/http://www.crid.or.cr/digitalizacion/pdf/eng/doc6803/doc6803-01.pdf |archive-date=2012-02-22}}</ref>

{{Most intense hurricanes}}
Gilbert [[rapid deepening|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 {{convert|156|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} as the storm passed just to the southeast on September 13. Explosive intensification continued until Gilbert reached a minimum [[atmospheric pressure|pressure]] of {{convert|888|mbar|hPa inHg|abbr=on}} with [[maximum sustained wind|maximum sustained flight-level wind]]s of {{convert|185|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, having intensified by 72&nbsp;mbar in a space of 24 hours.{{#tag:ref|While the storm was active, the [[National Hurricane Center]] estimated the minimum [[atmospheric pressure|pressure]] to be {{convert|885|mbar|hPa inHg|abbr=on}} based on reports from [[Hurricane Hunters|weather reconnaissance aircraft]]. However, this estimate was revised to {{convert|888|mbar|hPa inHg|abbr=on}} during post-storm analysis, as it was discovered that the [[pressure sensor|pressure transducer]] used to calculate the aircraft's [[static pressure]] had a bias towards low pressures.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Willoughby, H. E.|author2=Masters, J. M. |author3=Landsea, C. W.|title=A Record Minimum Sea Level Pressure Observed in Hurricane Gilbert|journal=Monthly Weather Review|date=December 1989|volume=117|issue=12|pages=2825|doi=10.1175/1520-0493(1989)117<2824:ARMSLP>2.0.CO;2|bibcode=1989MWRv..117.2824W|doi-access=free}}</ref>|group="nb"}}<ref name="prelim01"/> This pressure was the lowest ever observed in the [[Western Hemisphere]] and made Gilbert the most intense [[North Atlantic tropical cyclone|Atlantic hurricane]] on record until it was surpassed by Hurricane Wilma in 2005.<ref name="HURDAT"/>

Gilbert then weakened somewhat, but remained a Category&nbsp;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&nbsp;14.<ref name="prelim01"/><ref name="prelim02"/> This made it the first Category&nbsp;5 hurricane to make landfall in the Atlantic basin since [[Hurricane David]] hit Hispaniola in [[1979 Atlantic hurricane season|1979]]. The minimum pressure at landfall in Cozumel was estimated to be {{convert|900|mbar|inHg}}, along with maximum sustained winds of {{convert|160|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref name="prelim02">{{cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1988-prelim/gilbert/prelim02.gif|title=Hurricane Gilbert Preliminary Report (Page 2 - 1988)|date=2008-08-20|format=GIF|publisher=National Hurricane Center|author=Clark, Gil|access-date=2012-03-04}}</ref> The storm weakened quickly while crossing land before it emerged into the [[Gulf of Mexico]] as a Category&nbsp;2 hurricane.<ref name="prelim09">{{cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1988-prelim/gilbert/prelim09.gif|title=Hurricane Gilbert Preliminary Report (Page 9)|access-date=2008-08-20|year=1988|format=GIF|publisher=National Hurricane Center|author=Gil Clark}}</ref> Gilbert re-strengthened rapidly, however, and made landfall for a final time as a Category&nbsp;3 hurricane near [[La Pesca]], [[Tamaulipas]] on September&nbsp;16, with winds of about {{convert|125|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref name="prelim01"/>

On September&nbsp;17, Gilbert brushed the inland city of [[Monterrey]], [[Nuevo León]] before taking a sharp turn to the north. The storm spawned 29 [[tornado]]es in Texas on September&nbsp;18, and then moved across [[Oklahoma]]. It was absorbed by a low-pressure system over [[Missouri]] on September&nbsp;19, and finally became [[extratropical]] over [[Lake Michigan]].<ref name="prelim01"/>

==Preparations==
[[File:Gilbert 1988-09-16 2000Z.png|thumb|left|Hurricane Gilbert making [[landfall]] in Mexico on September 16.]]
Late on September 10, a [[Tropical cyclone watches and warnings#Tropical Storm Warning|tropical storm warning]] was issued by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) for the southern coast of the Dominican Republic alongside a [[Tropical cyclone watches and warnings#Hurricane Watch|hurricane watch]] for the [[Barahona Province|Barahona]] Peninsula. The hurricane watch for Barahona was upgraded to a [[Tropical cyclone watches and warnings#Hurricane Warning|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.<ref name="prelim11">{{cite report|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1988-prelim/gilbert/prelim11.gif|title=Preliminary Report Hurricane Gilbert: 08–19 September 1988|access-date=2011-12-31|date=1988-10-26|format=GIF|publisher=National Hurricane Center|page=11|series=1988 Atlantic Hurricane Season: Atlantic Storm Wallet Digital Archives|author=Clark, Gil}}</ref>

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, Quintana Roo|Felipe Carrillo Puerto]] and [[Progreso, Yucatán|Progreso]]. This area included the resort cities of [[Cancún]] and [[Cozumel]].<ref name=prelim11 /> The following day, hurricane watches were posted for [[Pinar del Río Province]] and [[Isla de la Juventud]], and the Cayman Islands were placed under a hurricane warning.<ref name=prelim11 /> The watches in western Cuba and the Yucatán Peninsula were replaced with warnings at about mid-day September 13.<ref name="prelim12">{{cite report|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1988-prelim/gilbert/prelim12.gif|title=Preliminary Report Hurricane Gilbert: 08–19 September 1988|access-date=2011-12-31|date=1988-10-26|format=GIF|publisher=National Hurricane Center|page=12|series=1988 Atlantic Hurricane Season: Atlantic Storm Wallet Digital Archives|author=Clark, Gil}}</ref> As Gilbert approached the Yucatán Peninsula on September 14, the hurricane warning in the region was extended to cover the entire coast between [[Chetumal, Quintana Roo|Chetumal]] and [[Champotón, Campeche|Champotón]], while a hurricane watch was posted for the northern district of [[Belize]].<ref name="prelim12" /> Once Gilbert entered the Gulf of Mexico on September 15, hurricane watches were posted for the portion of the shore between [[Port Arthur, Texas|Port Arthur]] and [[Tampico, Tamaulipas|Tampico]]. Around noon that day, the hurricane watch was upgraded to a hurricane warning between Tampico and [[Port O'Connor, Texas|Port O'Connor]].<ref name="prelim12" />

The NHC advised small craft to remain in port in [[Puerto Rico]] and the [[United States Virgin Islands]] until weather conditions improved. Civil defense authorities in the Dominican Republic urged residents along the country's south coast to be prepared for strong winds, torrential rainfall, and rough seas.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-leader/183846700/|title='Gilbert' heads toward Jamaica|agency=Associate Press|date=September 12, 1988|newspaper=The Times Leader|page=5A|accessdate=October 28, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Gilberto Gutierrez, the civil defense planning director, estimated that 100 to 200&nbsp;people fled their homes in the Barahona Peninsula.<ref name="tyler">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tyler-courier-times/183847352/|newspaper=The Tyler Courier-Times|title=Dangerous Hurricane Gilbert Slams Into Jamaica|date=September 12, 1988|agency=United Press International|page=14 (Section 2)|accessdate=October 28, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> In Cuba, a state of emergency was declared for [[Granma Province|Granma]], [[Guantánamo Province|Guantánamo]], and [[Santiago de Cuba Province|Santiago de Cuba]] provinces. Approximately 90,000&nbsp;people in eastern Cuba evacuated from low-lying areas.<ref name="undro3">{{cite report|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/dominican-republic/caribbean-region-hurricane-gilbert-sep-1988-undro-situation-reports-1-15|work=Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Coordinator|title=Caribbean Region - Hurricane Gilbert: UNDRO Situation Report No. 3|date=September 13, 1988|accessdate=October 27, 2025}}</ref> Another 60,000&nbsp;individuals fled their homes from low-lying areas of Pinar del Río Province and Isla de la Juventud. Some 4,000&nbsp;Red Cross volunteers assisted with evacuations and medical needs in Cuba.<ref name="undro4">{{cite report|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/dominican-republic/caribbean-region-hurricane-gilbert-sep-1988-undro-situation-reports-1-15|work=Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Coordinator|title=Caribbean Region - Hurricane Gilbert: UNDRO Situation Report No. 4|date=September 14, 1988|accessdate=October 27, 2025}}</ref> [[Prime Minister of Jamaica|Jamaican Prime Minister]] [[Edward Seaga]] alerted other government officials about the approaching storm, including police and armed forces, and ordered that the [[Independence Park (Jamaica)#The National Arena|National Arena]] be used as a shelter, which thousands of people stayed at. Around 100,000&nbsp;people evacuated from the [[Portmore, Saint Catherine|Portmore]] area alone.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bulletin/183847188/|title=Gilbert hammers Jamaica|date=September 12, 1988|agency=United Press International|page=1|newspaper=The Bulletin|location=Bend, Oregon|accessdate=October 28, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The threat from Gilbert led airports to cancel inbound commercial flights, while ferry services were suspended across [[Kingston Harbour]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vicksburg-post/183847688/|page=A10|date=September 12, 1988|author=Wiliams, Lloyd|agency=Associated Press|title=Hurricane Gilbert Homes In On Jamaica|newspaper=Vicksburg Evening Post|accessdate=October 28, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

[[Cayman Airways]] evacuated residents from the [[Cayman Islands]] ahead of Gilbert.<ref name="news">{{cite news|title=Cayman Airline Evacuates Residents As Gilbert Nears|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-palm-beach-post/183707251/|page=11A|newspaper=[[Palm Beach Post]]|author1=Staff writers|author2=wire reports|date=1988-09-13|access-date=2025-10-25|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Authorities in Mexico estimated that approximately 75,000&nbsp;people evacuated from parts of the Yucatán Peninsula, including tourists leaving resorts at places such as Cancún and Cozumel.<ref name="undro4"/> As Gilbert approached northeastern Mexico, 16&nbsp;shelters were opened in [[Matamoros, Tamaulipas|Matamoros]], which sheltered roughly 55,000&nbsp;people. Another 100,000&nbsp;individuals moved farther inland.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/09/16/Hurricane-Gilbert-slammed-into-sparsely-populated-northeastern-Mexico-120/9509679370085/|title=Hurricane Gilbert slammed into sparsely populated northeastern Mexico|author=Clausing, Jeri|date=September 16, 1988|newspaper=United Press International|accessdate=October 28, 2025}}</ref> Approximately 10,000&nbsp;oil workers left rigs in the [[Gulf of Mexico]]. In the United States, schools closed in some coastal counties of [[Texas]] and parishes of [[Louisiana]]. All naval ships along the Gulf Coast had "been ordered out to sea to ride out the storm", according to ''[[United Press International]]'', while the naval air stations at [[Naval Air Station Chase Field|Beeville]] and [[Naval Air Station Corpus Christi|Corpus Christ]] were closed and their aircraft flown to [[Lackland Air Force Base]] near [[San Antonio]]. Around 25,000&nbsp;people evacuated in the latter,<ref name="at least 33">{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/09/15/Hurricane-Gilbert-which-killed-at-least-33-people-in/5150590299200/|author=Clausing, Jeri|title=Hurricane Gilbert, which killed at least 33 people in...|date=September 15, 1988|newspaper=United Press International|accessdate=October 28, 2025}}</ref> including 15,000&nbsp;from southern [[Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana|Plaquemines Parish]], 7,500&nbsp;from [[Cameron Parish, Louisiana|Cameron Parish]], and 2,000&nbsp;from [[Grand Isle, Louisiana|Grand Isle]].<ref name="sd"/>{{rp|35}} Upwards of 170,000&nbsp;people fled their homes in Texas, with at least 113,000&nbsp;from [[Galveston County, Texas|Galveston County]], due in part to an evacuation order of [[Galveston Island]]. [[South Padre Island]] and some neighborhoods of [[Brownsville, Texas|Brownsville]] were also ordered to evacuate. A total of 192&nbsp;Red Cross shelters opened across the state. Around 4,400&nbsp;state and county prisoners were moved inland.<ref name="at least 33"/> [[Governor of Texas|Texas governor]] [[Bill Clements]] issued a decree allowing municipalities to lift laws in the name of public safety, including [[contraflow lane reversal]]s<ref>{{cite news|title=Killer storm heads for US coast|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0q1UAAAAIBAJ&pg=5203,293197&dq=hurricane-gilbert+texas+governor&hl=en|access-date=2012-03-02|newspaper=[[New Straits Times]]|date=1988-09-17}}</ref> and speed limits.<ref>{{cite news|title=El paso del huracán 'Gilberto', televisado en directo|url=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/ESTADOS_UNIDOS/MEXICO/AMERICA_CENTRAL/CARIBE/paso/huracan/Gilberto/televisado/directo/elpepiint/19880917elpepiint_10/Tes|access-date=2012-01-03|newspaper=[[El País]]|date=1988-09-17|location=Madrid|language=es}}</ref>

==Impact==
{|class="wikitable" align="right"
|+Impact by country
|-
! Country !! Deaths !! Ref !! Damage !! Ref
|-
| Mexico || 202 ||<ref name="1988 AHS">{{cite journal|author=Lawrence, Miles B|volume=117|url=https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1988.pdf|author2=Gross, James M|title=Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1988|journal=Monthly Weather Review|issue=10|pages=2248–2259|date=October 1, 1989|doi=10.1175/1520-0493(1989)117<2248:AHSO>2.0.CO;2|bibcode = 1989MWRv..117.2248L |citeseerx=10.1.1.212.8973|accessdate=October 25, 2025}}</ref> || {{ntsp|2000000000||$}} ||<ref name="1988 AHS"/>
|-
| Jamaica || 45 ||<ref name="1988 AHS"/> || {{ntsp|700000000||$}} ||<ref name="1988 AHS"/>
|-
| Haiti || 30 ||<ref name="1988 AHS"/> || {{ntsp|91286000||$}} ||{{EM-DAT}}
|-
| Guatemala || 12 ||<ref name="1988 AHS"/> || Unknown ||
|-
| Honduras || 12 ||<ref name="1988 AHS"/> || Unknown ||
|-
| Dominican Republic || 5 ||<ref name="1988 AHS"/> || >{{ntsp|1000000||$}} ||<ref name="UPIHispaniola1"/>
|-
| Venezuela || 5 ||<ref name="1988 AHS"/> || {{ntsp|3000000||$}} 
|-
| United States || 3 ||<ref name="1988 AHS"/> || {{ntsp|80000000||$}} ||<ref name="Dead 2011">{{cite report|author4=National Hurricane Center |author=Blake, Eric S.|author2=Landsea, Christopher W.|author3=Gibney, Ethan J.|archive-date=December 21, 2012 |url-status=live |date=August 2011 |title=The Deadliest, Costliest, and Most Intense United States Tropical Cyclones from 1851 to 2010 (And Other Frequently Requested Hurricane Facts) |type=NOAA Technical Memorandum NWS NHC-6 |access-date=November 27, 2012 |publisher=United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service |url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/nws-nhc-6.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121221124852/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/nws-nhc-6.pdf }}</ref>
|-
|Costa Rica || 2 ||<ref name="1988 AHS"/> || Unknown
|-
|Nicaragua || 2 ||<ref name="1988 AHS"/> || Unknown
|-
|St. Lucia || 0 || || {{ntsp|740000||$}} ||<ref name="AssociatedPress915"/>
|-
|Puerto Rico || 0 || || {{ntsp|200000||$}} ||<ref name="AssociatedPress915">{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|date=1988-09-15|title=Casualties And Damage From Hurricane Gilbert At A Glance}}</ref>
|-
! Total !! colspan=2|318 !! colspan=2|{{ntsp|2976240000||$}}
|}
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&nbsp;billion (1988 [[United States dollar|USD]]).

===Eastern Caribbean and Venezuela===
As a tropical storm, Gilbert brought high winds and heavy rains to many of the eastern Caribbean islands.<ref name="AssociatedPress915"/> In St. Lucia, heavy rains peaking at {{convert|12.8|in|mm|abbr=on}} in [[Castries]] resulted in flash flooding and mudslides, though no major structural damage was reported.<ref name="UPI911">{{cite news|publisher=United Press International|date=1988-09-11|title=Hurricane Gilbert gains strength}}(accessed through LexisNexis)</ref><ref name="StLuciaUPI"/> At [[Hewanorra International Airport]], a dam ruptured and flooded one of the runways.<ref name="UPI911"/> Offshore, six fishermen went missing as Gilbert approached the [[Lesser Antilles]].<ref name="StLuciaUPI">{{cite news|publisher=United Press International|date=1988-09-10|title=United Press International September 10, 1988, Saturday, AM cycle}} (accessed through LexisNexis)</ref> Banana crop losses from the storm in St. Lucia reached $740,000, with [[Guadeloupe]], [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|St. Vincent]], and [[Dominica]] reporting similar damage.<ref name="AssociatedPress915"/> Several mudslides were reported in Dominica, though no damage resulted from them. Roughly {{convert|5|in|mm|abbr=on}} of rain fell in [[Barbados]], leading to flash floods and prompting officials to close schools and government offices.<ref name="UPI911"/> The [[United States Virgin Islands|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.<ref name="AssociatedPress915"/>

In Venezuela, [[rainband|outflow band]]s from Gilbert produced torrential rain which triggered widespread flash floods and [[landslide]]s in the northern part of the country, killing five people and leaving hundreds homeless.<ref name="1988 AHS"/><ref>{{cite news|work=BBC|date=1988-09-16|title=Hurricane Gilbert: reports from Jamaica, Cuba, Venezuela}} (Accessed through [[LexisNexis]])</ref> Damage from the storm was estimated at $3&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Times|location=London, United Kingdom|date=1988-09-15|title=200&nbsp;mph hurricane batters holiday isle; Hurricane Gilbert}} (accessed through LexisNexis)</ref> In total, seven fatalities would occur in the [[Dominican Republic]] and [[Venezuela]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Hurricane Gilbert Sweeps Across The Caribbean|agency=Associated Press|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9BBZAAAAIBAJ&pg=6770,3279841&dq=hurricane+venezuela&hl=en|newspaper=New Straits Times|date=1988-09-14|access-date=2012-03-02}}</ref>

===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 River|Yuna]], overtopped their banks.<ref name="UPIHispaniola1"/> The main electrical relay station in [[Santo Domingo]] was damaged by the storm, causing a temporary blackout for much of the city.<ref name="StPetersburgHispaniola1"/> Losses in the country were estimated in the millions of dollars.<ref name="UPIHispaniola1"/> In nearby Haiti, more substantial losses took place; 53 people died,<ref name="emdat"/> including 10 offshore. Most of the casualties took place in the southern part of the country. The port of [[Jacmel]] was reportedly destroyed by {{convert|10|ft|m|abbr=on}} waves stirred up by the hurricane.<ref name="UPIHispaniola1">{{cite news|work=United Press International|publisher=The Independent|date=September 19, 1988|title=Hurricane Gilbert's swathe of death and disaster|page=10|location=New York, United States}} (accessed through LexisNexis)</ref> In light of extensive damage, the [[government of Haiti]] declared a [[state of emergency]] for the entire southern peninsula.<ref name="StPetersburgHispaniola1">{{cite news|work=St. Petersburg Times|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times/183707431/|date=September 16, 1988|title=Gilbert left damage throughout all of Caribbean|location=Florida, United States|accessdate=October 25, 2025|page=12A|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Losses throughout Haiti were estimated at $91.2&nbsp;million.<ref name="emdat"/>

===Jamaica===
[[File:Gilbert 1988-09-12 1630Z.png|thumb|Gilbert approaching Jamaica on September 12]]
Hurricane Gilbert produced a {{convert|19|ft|m|abbr=on}} [[storm surge]] and up to {{convert|823|mm|in|order=flip}} of rain in the mountainous areas of Jamaica,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mona.uwi.edu/cardin/virtual_library/docs/1139/1139.pdf|title=Assessment of Rainfall Characteristics and Landslide Hazards in Jamaica|author=Ahmad, Rafi|author2=Brown, Lawrence|work=Jamaica National Meteorological Service|publisher=[[University of Wisconsin]]|access-date=2012-06-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141015154045/http://www.mona.uwi.edu/cardin/virtual_library/docs/1139/1139.pdf|archive-date=2014-10-15|url-status=dead}}</ref> causing inland flash flooding.<ref name="1988 AHS"/> An observation site located about {{convert|15|mi|km}} northeast of [[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]] recorded sustained winds of {{convert|121|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} and wind gusts up to {{convert|147|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}. At least 45&nbsp;people died.<ref name="1988 AHS"/> Prime Minister [[Edward Seaga]] stated that the hardest hit areas near where Gilbert made landfall looked "like [[Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki|Hiroshima after the atom bomb]]."<ref>{{cite news|author=Reyna, Patrick|agency=Associated Press|date=1988-09-14|title=Jamaica's Premier Reports Island Devastated by Hurricane|location=Kingston, Jamaica}} (accessed through LexisNexis)</ref> The storm left at least $800&nbsp;million (1988&nbsp;USD) in damage from destroyed crops, buildings, houses, roads, and small aircraft, according to the [[National Library of Jamaica]].<ref name="nlj">{{cite report|title=History of Hurricanes and Floods in Jamaica|url=http://www.nlj.gov.jm/history-notes/History%20of%20Hurricanes%20and%20Floods%20in%20Jamaica.pdf|publisher=National Library of Jamaica|year=2013|access-date=January 28, 2018}}</ref> However, other sources such as the ''[[Monthly Weather Review]]'' and the [[National Hurricane Center]] estimated that Gilbert caused almost $2&nbsp;billion in damage in the country.<ref name="prelim02"/><ref name="1988 AHS"/> Additionally, the Regional Disaster Information Centre placed the damage total at $4&nbsp;billion, with agricultural impacts representing more than 40% of this figure.<ref name="crid"/> Seaga initially stated that damage reached about $8&nbsp;billion, but later lowered his estimate to $818&nbsp;million to $1&nbsp;billion while speaking to [[Parliament of Jamaica|Parliament]].<ref name="needs more help">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune/183782209/|title=Jamaica needs more help recovering from Gilbert|agency=Associated Press|date=October 10, 1988|page=4-A|newspaper=The Tampa Tribune|accessdate=October 27, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Regardless, Gilbert was the most destructive storm in the history of Jamaica and the most severe storm since [[Hurricane Charlie (1951)|Hurricane Charlie]] in [[1951 Atlantic hurricane season|1951]].<ref name="Jamaica Counts">{{cite news|title=Jamaica Counts the Hurricane Toll: 25 Dead and 4 Out of 5 Homes Roofless|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/15/world/jamaica-counts-the-hurricane-toll-25-dead-and-4-out-of-5-homes-roofless.html|author=Treaster, Joseph B.|newspaper=New York Times|date=1988-09-15|access-date=2012-03-04}}</ref>

Seaga described a few districts of [[Portland Parish|Portland]] and [[Saint Thomas Parish, Jamaica|Saint Thomas]] parishes as completely devastated and reported heavy damage in [[Hanover Parish|Hanover]], [[Saint Catherine Parish|Saint Catherine]], and [[Westmoreland Parish|Westmoreland]] parishes, including the destruction of hundreds of acres of sugarcane and coconut groves.<ref name="reyna"/> Estimates of property damage by September&nbsp;13 reached over $200&nbsp;million. A breakdown of the $818&nbsp;million damage estimate, reported to the [[United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs|Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Coordinator]] (UNDRO) by October&nbsp;11, included $260&nbsp;million incurred to low income dwellings, $179&nbsp;million to agriculture and farming, $106&nbsp;million to electrical utilities, $89&nbsp;million to educational institutes, $60&nbsp;million to fishing and forestry industries, $46&nbsp;million to factories and hotels, $37&nbsp;million to transportation and drainage infrastructure, $16&nbsp;million to government buildings, $14&nbsp;million to healthcare facilities, and $11&nbsp;million to waterworks.<ref name="undro15">{{cite report|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/dominican-republic/caribbean-region-hurricane-gilbert-sep-1988-undro-situation-reports-1-15|work=Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Coordinator|title=Jamaica - Hurricane Gilbert: UNDRO Situation Report No. 15|date=October 11, 1988|accessdate=October 29, 2025}}</ref> 
[[File:Hurricane Gilbert - destroyed buildings.JPEG|thumb|left|Buildings destroyed after Hurricane Gilbert]]

Government officials initially estimated approximately 100,000&nbsp;homes were demolished and another 300,000&nbsp;suffered severe damage or lost their roof, with around 500,000&nbsp;people, roughly 20% of the population of Jamaica, becoming homeless.<ref name="reyna"/> However, Jamaican Information Services Director Jean Lewis noted in October that officials believed that figure was exaggerated.<ref name="needs more help"/> The report to UNDRO listed 229,300&nbsp;low income housing units as damaged and another 10,300&nbsp;as destroyed.<ref name="undro15"/> [[Hurricane Hunters|Reconnaissance flights]] over remote parts of Jamaica reported that 80% of the homes on the island had lost their roofs.<ref name="Jamaica Counts"/>

More than 50% of National Water Commission facilities suffered some degree of damage. Only one water treatment plant remained fully functional following the storm. Around 95% of health facilities experienced structural impacts, with over half (55%) being substantially damaged and two hospitals destroyed.<ref name="crid"/> Gilbert damaged at least 85% of schools.<ref name="undro14">{{cite report|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/dominican-republic/caribbean-region-hurricane-gilbert-sep-1988-undro-situation-reports-1-15|work=Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Coordinator|title=Jamaica - Hurricane Gilbert: UNDRO Situation Report No. 14|date=September 28, 1988|accessdate=October 29, 2025}}</ref> The country's [[banana]] crop and [[poultry]] industry were also virtually wiped out.<ref name="damage over 100,000 homes"/><ref name="Jamaica Counts"/> Hundreds of miles of roads and highways were also heavily damaged.<ref name="damage over 100,000 homes">{{cite news|title=Hurricane Is Reported to Damage Over 100,000 Homes in Jamaica|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/13/world/hurricane-is-reported-to-damage-over-100000-homes-in-jamaica.html|author=Treaster, Joseph B.|newspaper=[[New York Times]]|date=1988-09-13|access-date=2012-03-04}}</ref> Two people eventually had to be rescued because of [[mudslide]]s 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.<ref name="news"/> As Gilbert lashed Kingston, its winds knocked down power lines, uprooted trees, and flattened fences. On the north coast, {{convert|20|ft|m}} waves hit, forcing hotels to be evacuated in the popular tourist destination. [[Norman Manley International Airport|Kingston's airport]] reported severe damage to its aircraft, and all Jamaica-bound flights were cancelled at [[Miami International Airport]].<ref name="news"/>

===Cayman Islands===
Gilbert passed {{convert|30|mi|km}} to the south of the Cayman Islands early on September 13, with one reported gust of {{convert|157|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}. 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 {{convert|5|ft|m|abbr=on}} There was very severe damage to crops, trees, pastures, and a number of private homes.<ref name="Hurricanecity/Cayman Islands">{{cite web|author=Hurricanecity|title=Grand Cayman's history with tropical systems|publisher=Hurricanecity|access-date=2006-09-29|url=http://www.hurricanecity.com/city/caymanislands.htm|date=2012-01-26}}</ref> At least 50 people were left homeless and losses were expected to be in the millions.<ref name="UPIHispaniola1"/>

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 {{convert|27,000|acre|ha|abbr=off}} of crops were flooded.<ref>{{cite news|author=Rossie. Cam|agency=Associated Press|date=1988-09-16|location=Matamoros, Mexico|title=Thousands Left Homeless By Hurricane Gilbert; Makes Landfall In Mexico}} (accessed through LexisNexis)</ref> Sixteen people perished in Guatemala and another five died in Nicaragua, leaving a total of 21 people dead in Central America.<ref>{{cite news|agency=Reuters|work=Sunday Herald Sun|location=Melbourne, Australia|date=1988-09-19|title=Gilbert leaves big toll}} (accessed through LexisNexis)</ref>

===Mexico===
{{Most intense landfalling Atlantic hurricanes}}
[[File:Gilbert 1988 rainfall.gif|thumb|left|Rainfall in the United States and Mexico from Gilbert]]
Although no wind observations were available from Mexico,<ref name="prelim01"/> Gilbert may have produced wind gusts up to {{convert|200|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} in the Yucatán Peninsula,<ref name="kirby">{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/09/15/Hurricane-Gilbert-pounded-the-ancient-Mayan-ruins-and-emptied/4560590299200/|author=Kirby, David|date=September 15, 1988|title=Hurricane Gilbert pounded the ancient Mayan ruins and emptied|newspaper=United Press International|accessdate=November 1, 2025}}</ref> which the storm struck as a Category&nbsp;5 hurricane.{{Atlantic hurricane best track}} Rainfall in Mexico peaked at {{convert|13.78|in|mm}} in [[Progreso, Yucatán]].<ref name="rain">{{cite web|author=Roth, David M.|year=2006|title=Rainfall data for Hurricane Gilbert|access-date=2006-10-16|url=http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/gilbert1988.html|publisher=[[Hydrometeorological Prediction Center]]}}</ref> The NHC noted that the Yucatán Peninsula likely had [[storm surge]] ranging from {{convert|15|to|20|ft|m|abbr=on}} above ground near and north of where the hurricane made landfall, although [[Esmas.com]] reported a peak of around {{convert|7|m|ft|order=flip|abbr=on}}. The east coast of Mexico experienced storm surge totals from {{convert|8|to|13|ft|m|abbr=on}} above ground around and just north of the point where Gilbert struck the country again.<ref name="prelim02"/> Gilbert destroyed approximately 60,000&nbsp;homes in Mexico.<ref name="Mexican Hurricanes/Gilbert">{{cite journal|author=Jáuregui, E.|title=Climatology of landfalling hurricanes and tropical storms in Mexico|journal=Atmósfera|page=201|publisher=Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México|date=2003-06-11|access-date=2006-10-01|url=http://www.ejournal.unam.mx/atmosfera/Vol16-4/ATM16401.pdf|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060614065451/http://www.ejournal.unam.mx/atmosfera/Vol16-4/ATM16401.pdf <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = June 14, 2006}}</ref> Overall, the hurricane caused 202&nbsp;deaths and approximately $2&nbsp;billion in damage.<ref name="1988 AHS"/>

In the Yucatán Peninsula, more than 5,000 American tourists were evacuated from [[Cancún]].<ref name="300 feared dead"/> Storm surge [[beach erosion|washed away]] 60% of the city's beaches and penetrated up to {{convert|5|km|mi|abbr=on|order=flip}} inland.<ref>{{cite news|last=León|first=Mario Alberto |title='Gilberto', el monstruo de viento y lluvia |url=http://www.esmas.com/noticierostelevisa/investigaciones/460583.html |access-date=2011-12-31 |newspaper=[[esmas.com]] |date=2005-07-18 |language=es |publisher=[[Noticieros Televisa]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110704130344/http://www.esmas.com/noticierostelevisa/investigaciones/460583.html |archive-date=2011-07-04}}</ref> A local official estimated that Gilbert demolished and substantially damaged approximately 80% of [[Palapa (structure)|palapa]]s, a type of structure that roughly 60% of residents live in.<ref name="Cancún"/>{{rp|78}} Many public schools being used as shelters flooded.<ref name="Cancún"/>{{rp|76}} Three ferries used for transportation between [[Isla Mujeres]] and the mainland capsized.<ref name="gilbert batters"/> In [[Quintana Roo]], Gilbert caused significant defoliation in the jungle. The debris eventually fueled a fire in 1989, which ultimately burned {{convert|460|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Natural Hazards Map">{{cite book|title=Natural Hazards of North America|publisher=[[National Geographic Society]]|date=July 1998}}</ref> Quintana Roo Governor [[Miguel Borge]] reported that damages in Cancún were estimated at more than 1.3&nbsp;billion Mexican pesos (1988 pesos; $500&nbsp;million in USD). A further loss of $87&nbsp;million (1989&nbsp;USD) due to a decline in tourism was estimated for the months of October, November and December in 1988.<ref name="Cancún">{{cite journal|author=Aguirre, Benigono |title=Cancun Under Gilbert: Preliminary Observations|journal=International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters |date=March 1989 | volume = 7| issue = 1 |pages = 69–82 |doi=10.1177/028072708900700105 |s2cid=255718009 |access-date=2006-10-01|url=http://www.udel.edu/DRC/Aguirre/publications/ag35.pdf|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070620211210/http://www.udel.edu/DRC/Aguirre/publications/ag35.pdf <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-06-20}}</ref>{{rp|69}} 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]].

Strong winds in the state of [[Yucatán]] littered the streets with hundreds of tree branches and pieces of corrugated tin roofs. Additionally, high tensions towers crashed on to a highway from [[Mérida, Yucatán|Mérida]] to [[Valladolid, Yucatán|Valladolid]] and a number of electrical and telephone lines were downed, almost completely severing communications from the state. In Valladolid, the hurricane destroyed dozens of homes.<ref name="kirby"/> Four deaths occurred in [[Dzidzantún]] when a wall collapsed. Many residents throughout the state lost electrical and water services.<ref name="kirby"/> In [[Campeche (city)|Campeche]], an employee of the newspaper ''Novedades de Campeche'' remarked that "there is no light, there is no radio ... The whole city is flooded." Gilbert also downed many trees and tossed boats up to hundreds of yards inland. Two infants drowned while residents evacuated from a low-lying neighborhood.<ref name="gilbert batters">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tulsa-world/184092879/|agency=Associated Press|title=Gilbert Batters Yucatan Peninsula; Six Report Killed|newspaper=Tulsa World|page=A11|accessdate=November 1, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

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.<ref name="Mexican Hurricanes/Gilbert"/><ref name="300 feared dead">{{cite news|title=300 Feared Dead|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1K1UAAAAIBAJ&pg=5405,855710&dq=hurricane+gilbert+mexico&hl=en|location=[[Mexico City]], Mexico|agency=[[Associated Press]]|newspaper=[[New Straits Times]]|date=1988-09-19|access-date=2012-03-14}}</ref> 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.

In [[Saltillo]], five people died in road accidents caused by heavy rain, and almost 1,000 were left homeless.<ref name="300 feared dead"/> Rainfall in northeastern Mexico peaked at over {{convert|10|in|mm}} in localized areas of inland [[Tamaulipas]].<ref name="rain"/> 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 [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|Red Cross]] ambulance fell into a flooded [[Arroyo (watercourse)|arroyo]] near Los Chorros after a bridge collapsed.<ref>{{cite news|last=Muñoz|first=Camelia|title=Huracán Gilberto: Hace 21 años fue un caudal de destrucción|url=http://www.zocalo.com.mx/seccion/articulo/Huracan-Gilberto-Hace-21-anos-fue-un-caudal-de-destruccion|access-date=2012-01-01|newspaper=El Zócalo|date=2009-09-17|location=[[Saltillo]]|publisher=Grupo Zócalo|language=es}}</ref> Gilbert dumped torrential rains and spawned some tornadoes.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hurricane roars into Mexico again with less force |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/17/us/hurricane-roars-into-mexico-again-with-less-force.html|author=Applebome, Peter |date=1988-09-17|access-date=2012-03-14|work=The New York Times}}</ref>

===United States===
Gilbert caused three deaths and approximately $80&nbsp;million in damage in the United States,<ref name="1988 AHS"/><ref name="Dead 2011"/> mostly in south Texas.<ref name="1988 AHS"/> According to ''[[Storm Data]]'', the cyclone spawned 47&nbsp;tornadoes, including 41&nbsp;in Texas, 3&nbsp;in Alabama, 2&nbsp;in Mississippi, and 1&nbsp;each in Louisiana and Oklahoma.<ref name="sd"/>{{rp|28}} In Florida, abnormally high tides flooded streets in [[Key West]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald/183712238/|newspaper=Miami Herald|page=19A|title=Gilbert grows into monster|author=Markowitz, Arnold|date=September 14, 1988|accessdate=October 26, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> where a thunderstorm associated with Gilbert produced wind gusts as high as {{convert|58|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite news|date=September 14, 1988|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-progress/183712425/|title=Hurricane Brings Rain To Key West|newspaper=The Daily Progress|page=A12|location=Charlottesville, Virginia|accessdate=October 26, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> All three tornadoes spawned in Alabama uprooted trees, while one also toppled permanent signs in [[Daleville, Alabama|Daleville]].<ref name="sd"/>{{rp|30}} In Mississippi, a tornado deroofed a home near [[Waveland, Mississippi|Waveland]] and another damaged a roof and a car in [[Moss Point, Mississippi|Moss Point]].<ref name="sd"/>{{rp|36}} Tides generally {{convert|2|ft|m|abbr=on}} above normal impacted Louisiana east of the [[Mississippi River]] and {{convert|2|to|4|ft|m|abbr=on}} above normal west of the river. Some roads near bayous in southern [[Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana|Terrebonne Parish]] flooded, while up to {{convert|60|ft|m|abbr=on}} of beachfront was lost at parts of [[Grand Isle, Louisiana|Grand Isle]].<ref name="sd">{{cite journal|volume=30|number=9|journal=Storm Data|title=Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena|date=September 1988|url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/pub-pdf/storm_1988_09.pdf|issn=0039-1972|access-date=October 26, 2025|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250508181607/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/pub-pdf/storm_1988_09.pdf|archivedate=May 8, 2025}}</ref>{{rp|35}} An F0 tornado in [[Lacombe, Louisiana|Lacombe]] caused slight damage to a commercial building and ripped branches from trees.<ref>{{cite report|url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=10046576|title=Event Details: Tornado|date=September 1988|publisher=[[National Centers for Environmental Information]]|accessdate=October 26, 2025}}</ref>

[[Oklahoma]] recorded the highest rainfall in the United States at {{convert|8.6|in|mm}}, in [[Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge]].<ref name="rain"/> Isolated locations in Texas and Oklahoma reported over {{convert|7|in|mm}}.<ref name="rain"/> In the latter, nearly 100&nbsp;people in the city of [[Kingfisher]] after Kingfisher Creek overflowed its banks. A tornado touched-down in [[Ottawa County, Oklahoma|Ottawa County]], impacting two barns and crossing Ottawa Indian Cemetery, where it destroyed a small building and damaged 20&nbsp;tombstones.<ref name="sd"/>{{rp|39}} Up to {{convert|3|in|mm}} fell in central [[Michigan]].<ref name="rain"/>

====Texas====
Despite concerns that Texas might suffer a direct hit,<ref name="at least 33"/> Gilbert made landfall about {{convert|120|mi|km|abbr=on}} south of the border.{{Atlantic hurricane best track}} Consequently, a few locations observed sustained tropical storm-force winds, peaking at {{convert|67|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} at [[South Padre Island]], which also recorded the strongest wind gust, {{convert|83|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}. Tides also reached {{convert|6|ft|m|abbr=on}} above normal, also the highest reported.<ref name="prelim10">{{cite report|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1988-prelim/gilbert/prelim10.gif|title=Preliminary Report Hurricane Gilbert: 08–19 September 1988|access-date=October 30, 2025|date=October 26, 1988|format=GIF|publisher=National Hurricane Center|page=10|series=1988 Atlantic Hurricane Season: Atlantic Storm Wallet Digital Archives|author=Clark, Gil}}</ref> According to the [[Weather Prediction Center]], rainfall in Texas peaked at {{convert|7.45|in|mm|abbr=on}} in [[Anson, Texas|Anson]],{{Tropical Cyclone Rainfall for the Gulf Coast}} although ''Storm Data'' noted that {{convert|8.71|in|mm|abbr=on}} of precipitation fell in [[Lamar, Texas|Lamar]]. While some places experienced flash flooding, rainfall in Texas was generally beneficial.<ref name="sd"/>{{rp|42}} Gilbert also spawned 41&nbsp;tornadoes in the state.<ref name="sd"/>{{rp|28}}

Winds in coastal south Texas downed some trees and a few power poles and caused minor crop losses. However, a floating marina at [[Port Isabel, Texas|Port Isabel]] experienced major damage.<ref name="sd"/>{{rp|42}} Gilbert spawned at least 29&nbsp;tornadoes in south Texas.<ref name="1988 AHS"/> In [[Cameron County, Texas|Cameron County]], a tornado near the northside of [[Brownsville, Texas|Brownsville]] inflicted severe damage to homes and apartment complexes and another twister moved across [[Harlingen, Texas|Harlingen]], damaging 20&nbsp;to&nbsp;30&nbsp;car windshields and some roofs, shattering windows at a hospital and nearby residences, and collapsing a wall and roof of a doctors office, with damage totaling at least $1&nbsp;million. Several tornadoes touched-down in neighboring [[Hidalgo County, Texas|Hidalgo County]]. Although nearly all of them resulted in little to no impact, one toppled many trees, substantially damaged the roofs of some residences, and destroyed a home, a church, and least one mobile home.<ref name="sd"/>{{rp|42}} 
[[File:Hurricane Gilbert aftermath at Kelly AFB, Texas.JPEG|thumb|Damage at [[Kelly Field Annex|Kelly Air Force Base]], Texas]]
In the [[Corpus Christi, Texas|Corpus Christi]] area, storm surge and abnormally high tides inundated coastal roads and the [[John F. Kennedy Memorial Causeway]], which was temporarily closed. Three tornadoes were spawned in [[Nueces County, Texas|Nueces County]], one downing many trees; another damaging some fences, signs, and trees; and a third damaged some buildings at [[Naval Air Station Corpus Christi]] and residences at a nearby unoccupied housing development. A tornado in [[Pettus, Texas|Pettus]] destroyed a municipal waterworks, two mobile homes, and some outbuildings. In neighboring [[Karnes County, Texas|Karnes County]], a twister demolished a shed and chain-link fence and caused slight damage to a dwelling.<ref name="sd"/>{{rp|42}} A tornado spawned by Gilbert in [[Fayette County, Texas|Fayette County]] deroofed some barns and outbuildings and uprooted at least 15&nbsp;trees and another in [[Caldwell County, Texas|Caldwell County]] also toppled trees. In [[Comal County, Texas|Comal County]], a tornado deroofed a mobile home and inflicted minor roof damage to some homes.<ref name="sd"/>{{rp|43}} A 3-year old girl drowned near [[Port Lavaca, Texas|Port Lavaca]].<ref name="aas">{{cite news|title=200 feared dead in Mexico; tornadoes tear through Texas|author=Phillips, Jim|newspaper=Austin American-Statesman|date=September 18, 1988|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman/183974104/|page=A18|accessdate=October 30, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Minor coastal flooding occurred in the [[Greater Houston]] area.<ref name="sd"/>{{rp|42}}

Three tornadoes touched-down in [[Bexar County, Texas|Bexar County]], home of [[San Antonio]], with each causing structural impacts. The first downed many trees and destroyed nine homes and five mobile homes over the southside of the county, injuring one person and killing another.<ref name="sd"/>{{rp|42}} Next, a twister crossed [[Kelly Field Annex|Kelly Air Force Base]] and continued on the ground for {{convert|2|mi|km|abbr=on}}, demolishing 2&nbsp;warehouses and severely damaging about 12&nbsp;others, damaging at least 20&nbsp;vehicles, and injuring 18&nbsp;people. Damage from this tornado totaled about $28&nbsp;million. The third tornado damaged roughly 500&nbsp;vehicles, 173&nbsp;homes &ndash; 78&nbsp;severely &ndash; partly deroofed a supermarket, and shattered windows at an apartment building and hospitals, with the [[Audie L. Murphy Memorial VA Hospital]] also suffering major roof damage. Overall, this twister caused approximately $6&nbsp;million in damage.<ref name="sd"/>{{rp|43}} A second person died in Bexar County after winds snapped an electrical pole, which crashed through the window of a home.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/weather/stories/MYSA073105.2B.thennow_tornadoes.3683805.html|title=Then & Now: The tornadoes of 1988 |date=2005-07-31 |access-date=2012-03-04 |author=Huddleston, Scott |work=[[San Antonio Express-News|MYSanAntonio.com]]|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929095614/http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/weather/stories/MYSA073105.2B.thennow_tornadoes.3683805.html |archive-date=2007-09-29}}</ref>

In [[Val Verde County, Texas|Val Verde County]], four tornadoes touched-down.<ref>{{Cite report|title=Hurricane Gilbert: September 8-19 1988|url=https://www.weather.gov/lch/1988Gilbert-Tornado|publisher=National Weather Service Lake Charles, Louisiana|access-date=October 25, 2025|language=EN-US}}</ref> Although two inflicted no impacts, one damaged some outbuildings near [[Comstock, Texas|Comstock]] and another along the northside of [[Del Rio, Texas|Del Rio]] severely damaged 89&nbsp;homes, 15&nbsp;to&nbsp;20&nbsp;cars, and a marina on [[Amistad Reservoir|Lake Amistad]], and destroyed 18&nbsp;residences, while several mobile homes experienced either substantial damage or were demolished.<ref name="sd"/>{{rp|43}} Damage from the Del Rio tornado totaled about $2.5&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite report|url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=10139485|title=Event Details: Tornado|publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information|accessdate=October 31, 2025}}</ref> Gilbert dropped {{convert|4|to|5|in|mm|abbr=on}} of rain over Val Verde County, causing the [[Devils River (Texas)|Devils]] and [[Pecos River|Pecos]] rivers to overflow. Floodwaters inundated the [[Texas State Highway 163]] bridge, leading to its closure. [[Concho County, Texas|Concho County]] reported six tornadoes, although only one rendered any impacts, limited to minorly damaging a barn and toppling several trees on the west end of [[Eden, Texas|Eden]].<ref name="sd"/>{{rp|43}} [[Downburst]]s relating to Gilbert affected the northside of the [[Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex|Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area]]. A downburst in [[Collin County, Texas|Collin County]] nearly destroyed a hardware and lumber store, flattened several dwellings that were under construction, damaged the roof of a home, and tossed several cars. In [[Denton County, Texas|Denton County]], a downburst that produced wind gusts up to {{convert|70|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} downed power lines in [[Valley View, Texas|Valley View]].<ref name="sd"/>{{rp|41}}

==Aftermath==
{{Wettest tropical cyclones in Jamaica}}
[[File:Hurricane Gilbert aftermath.JPEG|thumb|Aftermath in [[San Antonio]]]]
The overall property damage was estimated at $2.98&nbsp;billion (1988 USD). Earlier estimates put property damage from Gilbert at $2.5&nbsp;billion but were as high as $10&nbsp;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.<ref name="severe aftermath">{{cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl/1988_572776/hurricane-gilbert-aftermath-gilbert-no-normal-hurr.html|title=Hurricane Gilbert: Aftermath/Gilbert: No normal hurricane|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|author=Marshall, Thom |date=1988-09-25|access-date=2012-03-04}}</ref>

===Relief efforts===
[[Partners of the Americas]], a coalition of 60&nbsp;countries, established a special relief fund for Jamaica and Mexico. Red Cross chapters in the British and United States Virgin Islands solicited monetary contributions, which they used to purchase supplies such as batteries, candles, baby food, canned food, and flashlights.<ref name="reyna">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser/183710173/|date=September 16, 1988|author=Reyna, Patrick|title=Gilbert's Damage To Cost Jamaica Billions|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=The Montgomery Advertiser|accessdate=October 26, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> In Texas, a major disaster was declared on October 5, 1988, which included [[Bexar County, Texas|Bexar]], [[Cameron County, Texas|Cameron]], and [[Hidalgo County, Texas|Hidalgo]] counties.<ref>{{cite web|title=Texas: Hurricane Gilbert|accessdate=October 26, 2025|url=http://www.fema.gov/news/eventcounties.fema?id=2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104140640/http://www.fema.gov/news/eventcounties.fema?id=2017|archivedate=January 4, 2012}}</ref>

The government of Haiti requested that the [[United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs|Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Coordinator]] issue an appeal for international aid due to heavy damage in the southern parts of the country. The [[Armed Forces of Haiti|Armed Forces]] conducted damage and needs surveys. By October&nbsp;10, the governments of Canada, France, and Switzerland each donated more than $30,000, while [[Catholic Relief Services]] expended just over $111,000 in aid and [[CARE International]] contributed thousands of bottles of oil and bags of milk and wheat.<ref>{{cite report|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/haiti/haiti-hurricane-gilbert-sep-1988-undro-situation-reports-1-2|title=Hurricane Gilbert - Haiti: UNDRO Situation Report No. 2|date=October 11, 1988|work=Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Coordinator|accessdate=October 27, 2025}}</ref>

====Jamaica====
[[Jamaica Information Service|Jampress]] stated that [[Edward Seaga]], [[Prime Minister of Jamaica]], described shelters in [[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]] as appearing to have adequate supplies, but that food should be airlifted to inland communities left isolated due to impassible roads. Within a few days of Gilbert's landfall, Seaga viewed damage across Jamaica with [[List of ambassadors of the United States to Jamaica|U.S. Ambassador]] [[Michael G. Sotirhos]] and [[United States Agency for International Development]] (USAID) director William Joslyn. [[United States Navy]] cargo planes quickly sent water storage tanks and roof covering made of plastic. Additionally, USAID donated relief supplies with a monetary value of nearly $400,000, including 9,600&nbsp;blankets, almost 4,000&nbsp;water jugs, 360&nbsp;plastic sheeting rolls, 200&nbsp;tents, 18&nbsp;water tanks, and 10&nbsp;chain saws. On September&nbsp;15, the [[European Economic Community]] (EEC) agreed to allocate $728,000 to Jamaica. The EEC also announced their intentions to send an initial shipment of about 16,000&nbsp;blankets and 500&nbsp;plastic rolls via the [[British Red Cross]].<ref name="reyna"/>

The government enacted a curfew in Kingston via the Suppression of Crimes Act. Incidents of looting were reported in the aftermath of the storm, especially at grocery stores and supermarkets, with the total value of stolen items exceeding [[Jamaican dollar|J$]]51.2&nbsp;million. Police subsequently recovered approximately J$2.5&nbsp;million worth of goods.<ref name="nlj"/>

On January&nbsp;15, 1989, Seaga called [[1989 Jamaican general election|the next general election]] to be held on February&nbsp;9, allowing for the shortest possible time for campaigning.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-mobile-press/183777975/|date=January 16, 1989|title=General election scheduled in Jamaica|agency=Associated Press|page=9-A|newspaper=The Mobile Press|accessdate=October 27, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Although a Market Research Services Ltd. poll from November&nbsp;25 to December&nbsp;2, 1988, noted that 53% of respondents favored Seaga handling recovery efforts versus 38% for opposition leader [[Michael Manley]], election polls around that time indicated that Manley's [[People's National Party]] lead Seaga's [[Jamaica Labour Party]] by a margin of about 10%.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald/183778337/|page=21A|date=December 21, 1988|title=Poll rates Seaga best for rebuilding nation|newspaper=Miami Herald|accessdate=October 27, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Most candidates for the election inspected damage on the island and vigorously participated in relief efforts.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Gazette|title=Seaga vs. Manley: Final showdown looms|page=B-5|author=Kurlanksky, Mark|agency=The New York Times Magazine|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette/183778870/|date=November 27, 1988|location=Montreal, Quebec|accessdate=October 27, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

===Records===
On September&nbsp;13, Hurricane Gilbert attained a record low [[atmospheric pressure|central pressure]] of 888&nbsp;mb (hPa; 26.22&nbsp;inHg), surpassing the previous minimum of {{convert|892|hPa|inHg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} set by the [[1935 Labor Day hurricane]]. This made it the [[list of the most intense tropical cyclones|strongest]] tropical cyclone [[HURDAT|on record]] in the [[North Atlantic tropical cyclone|north Atlantic basin]] at the time. It was surpassed by [[Hurricane Wilma]] in [[2005 Atlantic hurricane season|2005]], which attained a central pressure of {{convert|882|hPa|inHg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}}.<ref name="HURDAT"/> Gilbert was the most intense tropical cyclone on record to strike Jamaica until it was surpassed 37 years later by [[Hurricane Melissa]] with a wind speed of 185 [[Miles per hour|mph]] and a pressure of 892 [[mbar]]. The storm also produced record-breaking rainfall in Jamaica, amounting to {{convert|27.56|in|mm|abbr=on}}. This ranked it (at that time) as the [[List of wettest tropical cyclones by country|fourth-wettest known storm]] to strike Jamaica.<ref name="1988 AHS"/>

===Retirement===
{{See also|List of retired Atlantic hurricane names}}
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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tropical Cyclone Naming History and Retired Names|url=https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutnames_history.shtml|publisher=National Hurricane Center|location=Miami, Florida|access-date=April 5, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Gilbert, Hugo cut from names for hurricanes |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52398122/|via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 5, 2024 |newspaper=The Arizona Republic |agency=Scripps Howard |date=May 26, 1990 |location=Phoenix, Arizona}}</ref> It was replaced by [[Hurricane Gordon|''Gordon'']] for the [[1994 Atlantic hurricane season|1994 season]].<ref>{{cite report|url=https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/Publications/NatHurricaneOpsPlans/HOPs-1994.pdf|page=3{{hyphen}}7|publisher=[[NOAA]] Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research|location=Washington, D.C.|title=National Hurricane Operations Plan|date=May 1994|access-date=April 5, 2024}}</ref>

===Popular culture===
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 [[music of Jamaica|Jamaican music]].<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Barker, David |author2=Miller, David |year=1990|title=Hurricane Gilbert: anthropomorphising a natural disaster|journal=Area|volume=22|issue=2|pages=107–116|jstor=20002812}}<!--|access-date=2012-03-05--></ref> In 1989, the [[PBS]] series ''[[Nova (American TV series)|Nova]]'' released the episode "Hurricane!" that featured Gilbert (later modified in 1992 to reflect [[Hurricane Andrew]] and [[Hurricane Iniki]]).{{citation needed|date=May 2013}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Tropical cyclones}}
{{Commons category|Hurricane Gilbert}}
* [[Timeline of the 1988 Atlantic hurricane season]]
* [[List of Atlantic hurricane records]]
* [[List of Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes]]
* [[Hurricane Allen]] (1980) – Category&nbsp;5 hurricane that took a similar path and impacted similar areas
* [[List of Jamaica hurricanes]]
* [[List of Mexico hurricanes]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=nb}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

{{Retired Atlantic hurricanes}}
{{Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes}}
{{1988 Atlantic hurricane season buttons}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gilbert (1988)}}
[[Category:1988 Atlantic hurricane season]]
[[Category:Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes]]
[[Category:Retired Atlantic hurricanes]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in the Leeward Islands]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in the Windward Islands]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Puerto Rico]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in the Dominican Republic]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Haiti]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Dominica]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Martinique]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Jamaica]]
[[Category:1988 natural disasters]]
[[Category:1988 in Jamaica]]
[[Category:1988 in the Caribbean]]
[[Category:1988 in Mexico]]
[[Category:1988 natural disasters in the United States]]
[[Category:1988 meteorology]]
[[Category:Tropical cyclones in 1988|Gilbert]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Coahuila]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Quintana Roo]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Tamaulipas]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Yucatán]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Belize]]