the storm to undergo rapid intensification. This rate of intensification continued throughout most of July 23, resulting in the system attaining Category 4 status on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale. By this time, a small, well-defined eye had developed within the center of the hurricane surrounded by very deep convection. On July 24, the storm crossed 140°W, entering the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's (CPHC) area of responsibility. Upon entering the region, Gilma became the fourth consecutive cyclone to move into the CPHC region. Several hours later, Gilma attained its peak intensity as a Category 5 hurricane with winds of and a barometric pressure estimated at 920 mbar (hPa; ). After maintaining this intensity for roughly 12 hours, the storm abruptly weakened. Within a few hours, maximum winds decreased by to , a low-end Category 3 hurricane. The reason for the sudden weakening is unknown; although the tropical upper tropospheric trough originally located over the storm, providing it with a favorable anticyclonic flow, shifted westward to the International Date Line. Additionally, the storm's eye became obscured by cirrus clouds. After maintaining Category 3 intensity for 24 hours, the combination of increasing wind shear and degrading outflow, Gilma resumed its weakening trend. Late on July 27, the hurricane weakened to a tropical storm as winds fell below the threshold. Although weakening, CPHC forecaster Sasaki noted that the storm may have re-intensified slightly shortly after being downgraded. The following morning, the center of Gilma became devoid of convection, exposing the low-level circulation. By this time, the weakening storm began a west-northwesterly track, eventually taking the storm within of Johnston Atoll late on July 28. Gradual weakening continued to take place throughout the rest of the storm's existence, leading to its downgrade to a tropical depression on July 30. Several hours after being declared a tropical depression, the storm dissipated early on July 31 over open waters south of Midway Atoll. Impact The hurricane's only impact was on Johnston Atoll. The island received light rain, wind gusts to near gale force, and some surf. No loss of life or damage was reported. Gilma's name was not retired after the 1994 season, and it was used again in the 2000 and 2006 seasons. However, in 2007, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center requested that the name Gilma, along with 14 other names, be retired as they have become memorable due to the threat of damage. That proposal