 A hurricane was first observed south of Dominican Republic on July 28 . Shortly thereafter , it made landfall in Azua Province with an intensity equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane . Early on July 29 , the system weakened to a tropical storm , shortly before emerging into the southwestern Atlantic Ocean . It then moved west @-@ northwestward and remained at relatively the same intensity over the next 24 hours . The storm made landfall near Islamorada , Florida on July 30 . Crossing the Florida Keys , it soon emerged into the Gulf of Mexico . The storm began to re @-@ intensify on July 31 and became a hurricane later that day . Early on August 1 , it peaked with winds of 100 mph ( 155 km / h ) , several hours before making landfall near Apalachicola , Florida at the same intensity . The storm quickly weakened inland and dissipated over southern Alabama on August 2 . 
