The storm intensified to a major hurricane on July 21 and subsequently reached its peak intensity with winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) prior to making landfall near Velasco, Texas.

A tropical depression was first noted at 1200 UTC on July 13, northeast of Grenada in the Windward Islands, with winds of 35 mph (55 km/h),[1] though whether it had a closed circulation at the time remains unclear.

[2][3] Nonetheless, the system remained a weak tropical depression for much of its early existence as it moved to the west-northwest through the eastern Caribbean Sea.

Weather reports throughout the Caribbean during this time were sparse and according to José Partagás, a former meteorologist at the National Hurricane Center, the system still may have not formed a closed circulation.

[2] However, once the depression was located south of Jamaica, it began to slowly strengthen and curve more towards the northwest, reaching tropical storm intensity by 0000 UTC on July 17.

[4] A minimum pressure reading of 985 mbar (hPa; 29.09 inHg) was reported offshore south of Louisiana by the ship S.S. Paraguay at 1800 UTC on July 20.

On July 21st, the storm attained its peak intensity as a modern-day Category 3 major hurricane, with sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a barometric pressure of 959 mbar (hPa; 28.32 inHg).

Over the following 24 hours, the system rapidly weakened over land and lost tropical characteristics near the Rio Grande during the afternoon of July 22.

[5] At its landfall in Velasco, the hurricane caused a wide swath of damage along the Texas coast and areas further inland.

Despite previously issued warnings, rough seas produced by the hurricane still caused several ship accidents.

[7] The Miriam was sunken by a submerged log, while the schooner Ed Gibbs was broken into pieces near La Porte.

The steamboat El Siglo (The Century) remained stranded offshore for twelve hours in winds estimated at 90 mph (145 km/h).

In Austin, the driftwood struck the newly constructed Congress Avenue Bridge, carrying away 200 ft (61 m) of trestle and resulting in $10,000 in damages.

[7] The Western Union Telegraph Company reportedly lost all direct communication with Galveston for a temporary period of time.

Maize fields which had been previously burned by wildfires caused by an ongoing drought in Kingsville were swept down, while cotton crops withstood the hurricane well.