Cyclone Gilbert was an intense tropical system recorded during the 1988 North Atlantic cyclone season. According to historical data maintained in the International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS v04r01) by NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), the system was tracked over a multi-day span in September 1988.
Storm Overview and Timeline
Official records from the designated World Meteorological Organization agency (hurdat_atl) document Gilbert from its initial tracked position on September 8, 1988, at 18:00 UTC, through its final recorded entry on September 20, 1988, at 00:00 UTC. Over the course of this tracking period, the archive includes 93 distinct main-track observation points.
Peak Intensity and Pressure Measurements
During its life cycle, Gilbert reached extreme intensity as measured by both sustained wind speeds and minimum barometric pressure:
- Maximum Sustained Wind: 160.0 knots (approximately 296.3 km/h), as determined by the responsible regional agency.
- Minimum Central Pressure: 888.0 millibars (mb).
In tropical meteorology, central atmospheric pressure serves as a primary indicator of cyclone strength, with lower pressure values correlating to deeper, more intense atmospheric circulation.
Data Archive and Historical Context
The historical record for Gilbert is cataloged under system identifier 1988253N12306 in IBTrACS. Because the system's operational lifecycle concluded in September 1988, the entry represents a finalized, non-provisional historical best-track dataset used for meteorological research and climatological analysis.
Frequently asked questions
When did Cyclone Gilbert occur?
Gilbert was tracked in the North Atlantic basin between September 8, 1988, and September 20, 1988.
What was the maximum wind speed recorded for Gilbert?
Gilbert achieved a maximum sustained wind speed of 160.0 knots (296.3 km/h), according to WMO agency records in IBTrACS.
What was the lowest central pressure observed during Gilbert?
The minimum central pressure recorded for Gilbert was 888.0 mb.
Image credits
- NOAA / Satellite and Information Service — Wikimedia Commons source — Public domain
Sources and further context
Official datasets support the event-specific facts.