Sub-module 2.3 B Lab.# 8-9 Hurricanes
Lab. Topic: Management of Atmospheric Hazards:
Case Study of Hurricane Gilbert, 12th September 1988, Jamaica
Introduction and objective:
Hurricane Gilbert struck the Caribbean, Yucatan Peninsula and the Gulf coast of Mexico during September 9-17, 1988. This tropical windstorm moved through the entire length of the Caribbean Basin, a distance of some 4,500 km, along a remarkably straight track oriented at approximately 1060- 2860, and wobbling within 5 km of its average track. It caused comprehensive damage in St. Lucia, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Mexico (see Figure 1 for place names).
News media dubbed Gilbert as " The Storm of the Century" because of the loss of lives and economic damage it caused and also because of the many meteorological records it set. Gilbert: Maximum sustained winds 160 knots (1 knot =1.15 mph =1.85kph); central barometric pressure 888 mb; average radius 1,750 km.
Physical characteristics of Gilbert underwent marked changes since its inception as a tropical wave on 3rd September 1988 in the open waters of the North Atlantic just off the NW African coast in Cape Verde area. Gilbert dissipated on 20th September as an extratropical depression near Lat. 43.400 ; Long. – 86.500.

The objective of this laboratory assignment is to analyze hurricane Gilbert in the Jamaican area in relation to its meteorology, rainfall, impacts and management and response.

Following information has been provided:
Fig.1 Hurricane tracking chart.
Fig. 2 Characteristics of hurricane Gilbert as it moved across the Caribbean area and Gulf of Mexico (to be used in plotting the track on Fig.1). From NHC, Miami
Fig. 3 Characteristics of Gilbert in the Jamaican area.
Fig. 4 Daily and total rainfall during Gilbert.
Fig. 5 Location of rainfall stations mentioned in Fig. 3.
Fig. 6 Topographic map of Jamaica.
Fig. 7 Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.
Fig. 8 Hurricane damage.