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* [http://www.prh.noaa.gov/cphc/summaries/1994.php#Gilma CPHC Report]
* [http://www.prh.noaa.gov/cphc/summaries/1994.php#Gilma CPHC Report]
* [http://www.weather.unisys.com/hurricane/e_pacific/1994/GILMA/track.gif Storm path]
* [http://www.weather.unisys.com/hurricane/e_pacific/1994/GILMA/track.gif Storm path]

[[Category:1994 Pacific hurricane season|Gilma]]
[[Category:Category 5 Pacific hurricanes|Gilma]]

Revision as of 23:03, 18 August 2008

Hurricane Gilma on July 25
Category 5 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS)
Hurricane Gilma
FormedJuly 21 1994
DissipatedJuly 31 1994
Highest winds1-minute sustained: 160 mph (260 km/h)
Lowest pressure≤ 920 mbar (hPa); 27.17 inHg
FatalitiesNone
DamageNone
Areas affectedJohnston Atoll
Part of the 1994 Pacific hurricane season

Hurricane Gilma was a tropical cyclone of the 1994 Pacific hurricane season and one of the strongest Pacific hurricanes on record. Although it impacted no inhabited land, Gilma reached Category 5 intensity on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. Its minimum known pressure of 920 millibars is enough to make it the strongest Pacific hurricane on record in the month of July and the sixth-strongest overall.

Storm history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
  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
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

Gilma's genesis lies with a tropical wave which crossed the Atlantic and the continent in the first half of July. Upon entering the Pacific, thunderstorms consolidated, and the wave organized into a tropical depression on July 21. It headed westward and out to sea, and strengthened into a tropical storm on July 22, when it was named Gilma. Due to its rapid strengthening, Gilma became a hurricane exactly 24 hours after being named. In a very favorable environment, Gilma reached a windspeed of 130 knots (240 km/h) on July 24. Its intensification then slowed as it crossed 140°W and entered the area of responsibility of the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.[1]

Shortly after entering the central Pacific, Gilma reached its peak windspeed of 140 knots (260 km/h), which made it a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.[1] It then suddenly weakened for unexplained reasons, and weakened into a tropical storm on July 27. It became a depression on July 30 and dissipated the next day while south of Midway.[2]

Impact and records

Gilma's only impact was on Johnston Atoll. That island received light rain, wind gusts to near gale force,[3] and some surf.[2] No one was killed and no damage was reported.[3]

Gilma's central pressure of 920 millibars (920 hPa) is the sixth lowest ever recorded in a Pacific hurricane and the lowest ever in July.[4] Its one minute average sustained windspeed of 140 knots (260 km/h) is part of the three way tie for second highest ever in the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's area of responsibility.[5] Gilma is also the fifth known Pacific hurricane to reach Category 5 intensity on record and the second of a record three such cyclones in the 1994 Pacific hurricane season (since equalled by the 2002 season).[4]

References

  1. ^ a b Richard J. Pasch (1995-01-20). "Preliminary Report Hurricane Gilma" (GIF). National Hurricane Center. p. 1. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  2. ^ a b "The 1994 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  3. ^ a b Richard J. Pasch (1995-01-20). "Preliminary Report Hurricane Gilma" (GIF). National Hurricane Center. p. 2. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
  4. ^ a b "Eastern North Pacific Tracks File 1949-2006" (plain text). National Hurricane Center. 2008-03-21. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
  5. ^ "Previous Tropical Systems in the Central Pacific". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-08-18.