 A broad area of low pressure in the central Caribbean Sea developed into a tropical depression early on May 22 . The circulation moved northward , and it made landfall in southwest Haiti around 1200 UTC with winds of 35 mph ( 56 km / h ) . Over the next day , the system crossed Hispaniola and the Turks and Caicos Islands with winds unchanged . Turning to the northeast , it strengthened into a tropical storm at 1200 UTC on May 24 while over the southwest Atlantic . Shortly afterward , the tropical cyclone turned to the north . On May 25 , the storm 's forward motion slowed to a crawl ; within a few hours , the storm attained its estimated peak intensity of 50 mph ( 80 km / h ) , as reported by reconnaissance aircraft , though no ships reported gale @-@ force winds . The next day , the cyclone started to weaken , and on May 27 , the system began to accelerate northward . The system diminished to a tropical depression on May 29 shortly prior to dissipation . 
