Storm history Tropical Storm Gilda (1973)

map plotting track , intensity of storm, according saffir–simpson scale

a tropical wave moved off west coast of africa on october 3. tracked westward, reaching caribbean sea on october 10. october 13, large area of convection persisted hispaniola southwestward through panama, , on next few days convection organized , concentrated in northwestern caribbean sea. anticyclone became established near jamaica on october 15, created favorable upper-level environment system reducing wind shear. around same time, low-level trough emerged intertropical convergence zone, heading north off coast of nicaragua. on october 16, system developed broad tropical depression halfway between central america , jamaica.

the initial motion of depression uncertain, steering currents have resulted in motion either west or north-northeast. possibility of western track, storm remarked being first serious hurricane threat southern florida since hurricane gladys in 1968. however, after formation depression moved north-northeastward. thunderstorm activity gradually became better organized while rainbands increased around circulation. 0000 utc on october 18, depression attained tropical storm status 100 mi (160 km) northwest of cayman islands, after named gilda national hurricane center (nhc). storm strengthened moved toward southern cuba, reaching peak winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) 18 hours after reaching tropical storm status. shortly thereafter, gilda made landfall near border of present day cuban provinces of sancti spíritus , ciego de Ávila.

tropical storm gilda weakened on cuba, crossing island in less twelve hours before emerging atlantic ocean on october 19. @ time, anticyclone on jamaica assisted cyclone instead remained on caribbean, increased shear on storm. caused convection gradually separate low-level circulation. on october 20, gilda passed southeast of andros island in bahamas, around same time hurricane hunters recorded atmospheric pressure of 994 mbar; lowest recorded pressure in association gilda while tropical cyclone. gradually weakened due wind shear, resulting in low-level steering currents becoming dominant. after moving through exuma island chain, storm passed near or on eleuthera, , late on october 21 gilda became stationary 60 mi (95 km/h) east of harbour island. late on october 22, after moving 6 mi (10 km) in 24‑hour period, gilda weakened tropical depression.

now tropical depression, gilda remained stationary 24 hours before accelerating northeastward, under influence of upper-level trough exiting east coast of united states. cold air trough interacted gilda, providing baroclinic environment intensifying, , on october 24 storm transitioned subtropical storm halfway between hispaniola , north carolina. made gilda first tropical storm on record transition subtropical cyclone. operationally, tropical storm advisories still issued on gilda while subtropical, due need maintain consistency , possibility again become tropical. circulation of storm became large, @ 1 point stretching new england bahamas, , eastward beyond bermuda, or diameter of more 1300 mi (2100 km). on october 25, gilda passed halfway between bermuda , cape hatteras, when reached peak winds of 70 mph (110 km/h). subsequently turned northeastward, , on october 27 attained minimum pressure of 984 mbar, lowest of duration while tropical or subtropical. later day, gilda became extratropical cyclone southeast of canadian maritimes moved on colder waters. after passing southeast of newfoundland, storm continued northeastward, becoming stationary off coast of greenland before dissipating on october 30.