on august 19, a tropical wave crossed over dakar, senegal, shortly before entering into the atlantic ocean. the wave quickly organized once in the atlantic and developed into tropical depression nine on august 22. due to low wind shear and warm sea surface temperatures, the depression strengthened into tropical storm humberto six hours later. it continued west-northwestward and then westward under the influence of a mid-level trough. early on august 23, humberto intensified into a hurricane. by early on august 24 the storm developed a well-defined eye after becoming a category 2 hurricane.