Historical weather maps suggest that a tropical depression developed about north-northwest of Barranquilla, Colombia, early on October 11. The depression moved slowly westward and then northwestward without significant intensification for a few days. By October 15, the depression had reached tropical storm status. Late on October 16, the cyclone began intensifying at a quicker pace, becoming the equivalent of a modern-day Category 2 hurricane on October 17. Around 00:00 UTC the next day, it peaked with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h). Early on October 18, a ship reported a minimum pressure of 984 mbar (29.06 inHg) near the center, the lowest pressure measured during the life span of the storm.