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Hurricane Gilma (1994)

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Hurricane Gilma
Category 5 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS)
Hurricane Gilma on July 25 near peak strength
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 of the 1994 Pacific hurricane season was 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 makes 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
Saffir–Simpson scale
  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 began as a tropical wave that crossed the Atlantic Ocean and North America in the first half of July. Upon entering the Pacific, thunderstorms consolidated, and part of the wave organized into a tropical depression on July 21. It headed westward and out to sea, strengthening 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, the cyclone attained winds 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] Gilma was the fourth tropical cyclone to cross into the Central Pacific that July; the only season that had more is 1978, with 5.[2]

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.[3]

Forecasting, impact and records

Gilma's track was well-forecast due to the steady westward path it took for most of its life. By contrast, its intensity was often underforecast.[4] Although it was operationally forecast to become a Category 5 hurricane,[5] it was never at that intensity in real time.[6][7] The hurricane's only impact was on Johnston Atoll. That island received light rain, wind gusts to near gale force,[4] and some surf.[3] No one was killed and no damage was reported.[4]

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.[8] 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.[9] 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 equaled by the 2002 season).[8] Finally, Gilma is the strongest hurricane of its season. However, Gilma's lowest pressure record may be incomplete; the 920 millibar reading of pressure is at the first of four data points when Gilma was a Category 5 hurricane;[8] that report is at the edge of a range typical of a Category 5 hurricane.[10] The remaining data points do not provide pressure levels[8] because the source provided by the Central Pacific Hurricane Center, and used by the National Hurricane Center for storm path and intensity data, does not generally provide pressure readings.[11][12]

Gilma's name was not retired after the 1994 season, and it was used again in the 2000 and 2006 seasons.[8] At a conference in 2007, Gilma's name was proposed for retirement.[13] That proposal was not accepted and the name "Gilma" remains on the list for 2012.[14]

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. ^ Hablutzel (1994-07-30). "Tropical Depression Gilma Discussion Number 40" (GIF). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
  3. ^ a b "The 1994 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  4. ^ a b c Richard J. Pasch (1995-01-20). "Preliminary Report Hurricane Gilma" (GIF). National Hurricane Center. p. 2. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
  5. ^ Avila (1994-07-23). "Hurricane Gilma Discussion Number 12" (GIF). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
  6. ^ Sasaki (1994-07-24). "Hurricane Gilma Marine Advisory Number 13" (GIF). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
  7. ^ Rosendal (1994-07-24). "Hurricane Gilma Discussion Number 14" (GIF). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Eastern North Pacific Tracks File 1949-2006" (plain text). National Hurricane Center. 2008-03-21. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
  9. ^ "Previous Tropical Systems in the Central Pacific". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
  10. ^ Chris Landsea. "Subject: D1) How are Atlantic hurricanes ranked?". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-08-28.
  11. ^ Richard J. Pasch (1995-01-20). "Preliminary Report Hurricane Gilma" (GIF). National Hurricane Center. p. 3. Retrieved 2008-08-28.
  12. ^ Jim Gross (1989-08-30). "Preliminary Report Hurricane Dalilia" (GIF). National Hurricane Center. p. 3. Retrieved 2008-08-28.
  13. ^ "61st Interdepertmental Hurricane Conference" (PDF). Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology. 2007. p. 113. Retrieved 2008-08-28. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  14. ^ "Fact Sheet Tropical Cyclone Names" (PDF). World Meteorological Organization. 2005-07-01. p. 4. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
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