 A disturbance associated with the Intertropical Convergence Zone ( ITCZ ) left the coast of Africa on August 9 , with Dakar , Senegal reporting mid @-@ level winds of 75 mph ( 120 km / h ) . A weak circulation formed on August 10 within an area of thunderstorms . The disturbance moved slowly westward over the Atlantic Ocean , developing into a tropical depression at 18 : 00 UTC on August 12 around 10 ° north latitude , a latitude it would remain around throughout its lifetime . On August 13 , the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Alma about 375 mi ( 605 km ) east of Trinidad and Tobago , as indicated by a Hurricane Hunters flight reporting winds of 65 mph ( 105 km / h ) . This same flight also reported a circular eye with a diameter of 36 mi ( 58 km ) , the only report of an eye from this storm . 
