 Tracking away from the Leeward Islands on September 6 , Luis maintained Category 4 status for another 24 hours before downgrading to a Category 3 hurricane . A strong mid- to upper @-@ level low located over the Gulf of Mexico was forecast to steer the hurricane in a general northeastern direction . From September 6 to 7 , a ship named the Teal Arrow sailed directly into the center , encountering wind gusts of up to 145 mph ( 235 km / h ) and seas to 50 feet ( 15 m ) . The storm 's eye further shrank to a diameter of 23 mi ( 37 km ) . The NHC anticipated re @-@ strengthening as the central pressure decreased . The winds failed to intensity ; however , the central pressure continued to decrease until 0000 UTC on September 8 , when it fell to 935 mbar ( 27 @.@ 61 inHg ) , the lowest recorded during the storm 's existence . Tracking around the periphery of the ridge of high pressure , Luis began to slow . Late on September 7 , a double eye featured developed , indicating an eyewall replacement cycle , with the strongest winds being recorded in the outer eyewall . By the afternoon of September 8 , the eye became cloud filled , indicating weakening ; however , the inner eyewall dissipated later that day , leaving a large , 52 mi ( 84 km ) wide eye in its place . Tracking towards the north @-@ northwest , Luis was forecast to move over an area of cooler waters upwelled by Hurricane Felix . 
