after becoming a tropical storm, gilbert underwent a period of significant strengthening. passing to the south of dominican republic and haiti, it became a hurricane late on september 10 and further strengthened to category 3 intensity on the saffir–simpson scale the next day. at that time, gilbert was classified as a major hurricane with sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure 960 mbar (hpa; 28.35 inhg). on september 12, the hurricane made landfall on the eastern coast of jamaica at this intensity; its 15 mi (25 km)-wide eye moved from east to west across the entire length of the island.