 A tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa on August 14 , and organized into Tropical Depression Three on August 16 while located about halfway between the Windward Islands and the coast of Africa . It moved to the west @-@ northwest , and strengthened into Tropical Storm Andrew on August 17 . After reaching winds of 50 mph ( 85 km / h ) , strong southwesterly shear weakened the storm , and by August 20 it weakened to a minimal storm with a pressure of 1 @,@ 015 mbar ( 30 @.@ 0 inHg ) . It bypassed the Lesser Antilles completely , and turned to the west in response to a building high pressure system to the north . Upon turning to the west , a trough of low pressure positioned to the southwest of Andrew created an environment with little vertical shear and well @-@ defined outflow . The storm quickly intensified due to its small size , and became a hurricane on August 22 . Andrew rapidly intensified under ideal conditions for development , and on August 23 the hurricane peaked with winds of 175 mph ( 280 km / h ) . It crossed the Bahamas at that intensity , weakened slightly , and re @-@ intensified to a 165 mph ( 270 km / h ) Category 5 hurricane before making landfall near Homestead , Florida . It weakened slightly over the state to a 135 mph ( 215 km / h ) hurricane , but restrengthened to a 145 mph ( 235 km / h ) hurricane over the Gulf of Mexico . A strong mid @-@ latitude trough turned Andrew northward , where it greatly weakened before hitting west of Morgan City , Louisiana on August 26 as a 115 mph ( 185 km / h ) Category 3 hurricane . It turned northeastward , and dissipated over Tennessee on August 28 . 
