hurricane gilbert was an extremely powerful tropical cyclone that formed during the 1988 atlantic hurricane season, peaked as a category 5 strength hurricane that brought widespread destruction to the caribbean and the gulf of mexico, and is tied with 1969's hurricane camille as the second-most intense tropical cyclone to make landfall in the atlantic ocean. gilbert was also one of the largest tropical cyclones ever observed in the atlantic basin. at one point, its tropical storm-force winds measured in diameter. in addition, gilbert was the most intense tropical cyclone in recorded history to strike mexico. gilbert is also the second most intense tropical cyclone on record in the atlantic basin in terms of barometric pressure, only behind hurricane wilma in 2005.