a westward-moving tropical wave developed into tropical depression thirteen at 12:00 utc on august 27. initially, strong vertical shear hindered the depression from strengthening significantly; by early on august 29, however, it acquired sufficient organization to be named tropical storm luis. the storm continued to strengthen slowly until wind shear decreased on august 30, causing luis to become a hurricane later that day. by september 1, luis became a major hurricane after it reached category 3 intensity. later that day, luis was further upgraded to a category 4 hurricane. early on september 3, maximum sustained winds reached 150 mph (240 km/h), though the lowest pressure in relation to luis was not recorded until september 8. after weakening slightly, luis passed near antigua and made landfall in barbuda early on september 5, before brushing saint barthélemy, saint martin, and anguilla. after remaining a major hurricane for a week, luis weakened to a category 2 hurricane while northeast of the bahamas on september 8; the weakening was possibly as a result of the storm crossing over decreasing ocean temperature due to upwelling from hurricane felix. on september 10, luis rapidly accelerated northeastward and weakened to a category 1 hurricane. luis made landfall on the avalon peninsula of newfoundland early on september 11. while crossing the island, cold, dry air began impacting the storm, causing it to rapidly become extratropical and merge with a frontal zone shortly after reentering the atlantic ocean.