Upon reaching the Gulf of Mexico later of September 29, Hilda began to track very slowly at an average speed of 9 mph , later meeting the threshold of hurricane intensity at 1200 UTC on September 30.Atlantic hurricane best track During that time, atmospheric conditions over the Gulf of Mexico rapidly improved; a preexisting belt of strong wind shear, which would have inhibited further cyclonic strengthening, disintegrated coincident with Hilda's passage of the gulf.