 A strong tropical wave exited the west coast of Africa on August 16 . No development occurred until August 19 , when convection began consolidating around a well @-@ defined low @-@ level circulation . As a result , the system became Tropical Depression Seven at 1800 UTC on that same day , while located about 1 @,@ 035 miles ( 1 @,@ 665 km ) east of the Windward Islands . Favorable conditions allowed the depression to become Tropical Storm Debby early on August 20 and further strengthening into a hurricane occurred 24 hours later . At 1200 UTC on August 21 , sustained winds peaked at 85 mph ( 140 km / h ) . Debby made three landfalls on August 22 , in Barbuda , Saint Barthélemy , and Virgin Gorda , before re @-@ entering the Atlantic north of Puerto Rico . As Debby paralleled the north coast of Hispaniola late on August 23 , it weakened to a tropical storm . Unexpectedly , the storm continued westward and weakened further , instead of approaching Florida and strengthening into a major hurricane . While south of eastern Cuba on August 24 , Debby was downgraded to a tropical depression , six hours becoming completely dissipating . 
