Gilbert — the most terrifying hurricane of the 20th century
Hurricane Gilbert is considered one of the most devastating storms ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean.
In Mexico, Gilbert tore through the states of Quintana Roo, Yucatán, Campeche, Nuevo León, Coahuila, and Tamaulipas, leaving at least 250 people dead, nearly 150,000 displaced, and causing $750 million USD in damages.
Nicknamed “the hurricane of the 20th century,” Gilbert formed on September 8, 1988, as a tropical depression. As it moved through the Caribbean Sea, it quickly gained strength, reaching Category 3 status.
It struck Jamaica, killing 49 people and causing massive damage to infrastructure and agriculture. After leaving the island, Gilbert intensified rapidly again, reaching sustained winds of 296 km/h (184 mph).
On September 14, it made landfall again—this time on the Yucatán Peninsula—as a Category 5 hurricane. The first area hit was Cozumel, followed by Playa del Carmen, X-can, and Chemax. Gilbert held its Category 5 intensity for about 85 kilometers inland.
It wasn’t until 3:30 PM that Gilbert weakened to Category 4 as it passed through Tizimín. It exited Yucatán around 7:00 PM, leaving behind:
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Around 35,000 displaced people
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Over 60,000 homes destroyed
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Damages exceeding $1 billion USD