Laura hit the Lesser Antilles and Puerto Rico as a tropical storm, then moved across the islands of Hispaniola and Cuba, prompting tropical storm warnings and the evacuation of more than 260,000 people in the latter country. Early on August 25, Laura entered the Gulf of Mexico and began organizing into a Category 1 hurricane. Though moderate wind shear and dry air delayed significant intensification, Laura's pressure began dropping quickly later that day as more favorable atmospheric conditions and warm sea surface temperatures allowed it to rapidly strengthen.