Hurricane Gilbert originated in the Caribbean in early September of 1988 and rapidly intensified into a fearsome storm. It reached its peak intensity as a Category 5 hurricane, with sustained winds of 185 mph and the lowest barometric pressure recorded at 888 mb, making it the most powerful hurricane in the Western Hemisphere at the time. The storm's massive size—over 600 miles in diameter—allowed its effects to be felt across several Caribbean islands, particularly devastating Jamaica, where it made landfall on September 12 with catastrophic winds and torrential rain. Following this, it continued northwest into Mexico, causing severe damage in several coastal cities such as Cancún, where the infrastructure was heavily impacted.Gilbert's passage caused widespread devastation, with reports of significant destruction to homes, buildings, and agriculture, leading to economic repercussions. The aftermath saw extensive efforts in relief and rebuilding, underscoring the failures and challenges in disaster preparedness of the affected regions. The storm's immense scale prompted discussions about the impacts of such natural disasters on vulnerable populations and the need for improved forecasting and response strategies. Gilbert's powerful legacy in meteorology persisted until it was surpassed by Hurricane Wilma in 2005, which claimed the record for the lowest pressure ever recorded in a hurricane in the Atlantic basin.