 Steered by a mid- to low @-@ level wind flow , the depression decreased in forward speed and continued west @-@ northwest toward Martinique . Satellite images showed the development of a central dense overcast , and reconnaissance soon revealed that wind speeds near the center had increased to gale force . Based on this , the NHC upgraded the depression to Tropical Storm Cindy at 1800 UTC on August 14 , at which time the cyclone was located over Martinique with winds of 40 mph ( 65 km ) . Although Cindy briefly developed a favorable outflow , its upper @-@ level structure debilitated after it moved away from the Lesser Antilles , preventing further development . Over the course of August 15 , Cindy 's cloud pattern remained disorganized due to unfavorable wind shear ; the center of circulation became ill defined , with the strongest thunderstorms confined to the eastern portion of the cyclone . Despite the unfavorable conditions , the storm managed to strengthen marginally on August 16 , attaining its peak intensity with winds of 45 mph ( 75 km / h ) and a minimum pressure of 1007 mbar ( hPa ; 29 @.@ 74 inHg ) , roughly 85 mi ( 140 km ) southeast of Santo Domingo . 
