Hurricane Gilma (1994)
Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | July 21, 1994 |
Remnant low | July 31, 1994 |
Dissipated | August 2, 1994 |
Category 5 major hurricane | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
Highest winds | 160 mph (260 km/h) |
Lowest pressure | 920 mbar (hPa); 27.17 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | None |
Damage | Minimal |
Areas affected | Hawaiian Islands, Johnston Atoll |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the 1994 Pacific hurricane season |
Hurricane Gilma was one of the
The storm peaked early on July 24 with winds of 160 mph (255 km/h) and a
Meteorological history
Hurricane Gilma originated from a tropical wave that moved off the coast of Africa and traversed the Atlantic Ocean during the second week of July 1994. The wave was of little note until it crossed Central America and entered the Northeastern Pacific hurricane basin on July 15–16. Convection began to increase; however, the system remained disorganized. Tracking westward, gradual development took place, leading to the Dvorak classification being initiated on July 20. Several hours later, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) designated the system as Tropical Depression Seven-E.[1] A strong ridge situated north of the depression steered the system steadily westward.[2] This movement would remain the same throughout most of the storm's existence.[1] The depression was initially hard to locate due to its large size.[3]
Following an increase in organization, the depression intensified into a tropical storm early on July 22, at which time it was
On July 24, the storm crossed
Most intense Pacific hurricanes[10] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rank | Hurricane | Season | Pressure | ||
hPa | inHg | ||||
1 | Patricia | 2015 | 872 | 25.75 | |
2 | Linda | 1997 | 902 | 26.64 | |
3 | Rick | 2009 | 906 | 26.76 | |
4 | Kenna | 2002 | 913 | 26.96 | |
5 | Ava | 1973 | 915 | 27.02 | |
Ioke | 2006 | ||||
7 | Marie | 2014 | 918 | 27.11 | |
Odile | |||||
9 | Guillermo | 1997 | 919 | 27.14 | |
10 | Gilma | 1994 | 920 | 27.17 | |
Listing is only for tropical cyclones in the Pacific Ocean north of the equator and east of the International Dateline
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After maintaining Category 3 intensity for 24 hours, the combination of increasing wind shear and degrading outflow, Gilma resumed its weakening trend.[1][7] Late on July 27, the hurricane weakened to a tropical storm as winds fell below the 74 mph (119 km/h) threshold.[8] Although weakening, CPHC forecaster Sasaki noted that the storm may have re-intensified slightly shortly after being downgraded.[11] The following morning, the center of Gilma became devoid of convection, exposing the low-level circulation.[12] By this time, the weakening storm began a west-northwesterly track, eventually taking the storm within 100 mi (160 km) of Johnston Atoll late on July 28. Gradual weakening continued to take place throughout the rest of the storm's existence, leading to its downgrade to a tropical depression on July 30. Several hours after being declared a tropical depression, the storm dissipated early on July 31 over open waters south of Midway Atoll.[7]
Impact
The hurricane's only impact was on
See also
- List of Category 5 Pacific hurricanes
- 1994 Pacific hurricane season
- Hurricane Emilia (1994) – a similar hurricane that preceded Gilma
- Hurricane Walaka (2018)
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Richard J. Pasch (January 20, 1995). "Hurricane Gilma Preliminary Report (Page 1)". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved January 3, 2010.
- ^ Miles B. Lawrence (July 21, 1994). "Tropical Depression Seven-E Discussion One". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved January 3, 2010.
- ^ Edward N. Rappaport (July 21, 1994). "Tropical Depression Seven-E Discussion Two". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved January 3, 2010.
- ^ Edward N. Rappaport (July 22, 1994). "Tropical Storm Gilma Discussion Six". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved January 3, 2010.
- ^ Lixion A. Avila (July 22, 1994). "Hurricane Gilma Discussion Eight". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved January 3, 2010.
- ^ a b Max Mayfield (July 23, 1994). "Hurricane Gilma Discussion Eleven". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved January 3, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e "The 1994 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved January 3, 2010.
- ^ a b c d "Eastern North Pacific Tracks File 1949-2008". National Hurricane Center. 2009. Archived from the original on July 15, 2009. Retrieved January 3, 2010.
- ^ Rosendal (July 25, 1994). "Hurricane Gilma Discussion Eighteen". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved January 3, 2010.
- ^ National Hurricane Center; Hurricane Research Division; Central Pacific Hurricane Center (April 4, 2023). "The Northeast and North Central Pacific hurricane database 1949–2022". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. A guide on how to read the database is available here. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Sasaki (July 27, 1994). "Tropical Storm Gilma Discussion Twenty-Six". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved January 3, 2010.
- ^ Farrell (July 28, 1994). "Tropical Storm Gilma Discussion Twenty-Eight". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved January 3, 2010.
- ^ a b Richard J. Pasch (January 20, 1995). "Preliminary Report Hurricane Gilma (Page 2)". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved January 3, 2010.
- ^ "61st Interdepertmental Hurricane Conference" (PDF). Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology. March 2007. p. 115. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
- ^ "Fact Sheet Tropical Cyclone Names" (PDF). World Meteorological Organization. July 1, 2005. p. 4. Retrieved August 26, 2008.
External links