 On September 26 , a tropical wave developed into Tropical Depression Eight while centered about 345 miles ( 555 km ) north of Hispaniola . The depression tracked west @-@ northwestward toward the Bahamas . Initially , the depression remained weak , but after reaching the Gulf Stream it strengthened into Tropical Storm Earl at 1200 UTC on September 29 . Around that time , Earl began to veer east , lessening the threat to Florida . Early on October 1 , Earl reached maximum sustained winds of 65 mph ( 105 km / h ) and a minimum barometric pressure of 990 mbar ( 29 inHg ) . It gradually weakened thereafter , and Earl was downgraded to a tropical depression on October 3 . Later that day , Earl became extratropical about 295 mi ( 475 km ) south of Bermuda . 
