 The center of Alma was elongated , causing gale @-@ force winds to extend 75 mi ( 120 km ) to the north while extending only 25 miles ( 40 km ) to the south . On August 14 the Hurricane Hunters reported gusts of 80 mph ( 130 km / h ) ; however , the storm weakened after its initial peak . Alma continued westward at 23 mph ( 37 km / h ) , which National Hurricane Center ( NHC ) Director Neil Frank noted was unusually rapid for a tropical cyclone at this time and location . Alma was able to maintain its low latitude movement to the west due to a strong subtropical ridge , which was at an unusually lower latitude than expected in August . 
