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Hurricane Gilbert was a powerful Category 5 storm that struck Jamaica in 1988, causing significant destruction and leaving approximately 500,000 people homeless. It was one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record, with a minimum central pressure of 888 millibars and maximum sustained winds of 160 knots (184 miles per hour). Hurricanes are intense storms characterized by strong winds and heavy rain, fueled by warm, moist air over tropical oceans and driven by low atmospheric pressure. The strength of a hurricane is often measured by its minimum central atmospheric pressure.12

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