[nb 1] Moving northwestward in favorable conditions, the system quickly intensified to tropical storm status and attained hurricane intensity the next day.

Rapid intensification ensued shortly thereafter, bringing the storm to its peak intensity on July 21 as a Category 4 hurricane, with a minimum barometric pressure of 929 mbar (hPa; 27.43 inHg) and maximum sustained winds of 155 mph (250 km/h).

However, the outer rainbands of the hurricane caused flooding and mudslides in southern Mexico and Guatemala, while rough surf toppled a lighthouse and damaged 60 restaurants along the coast.

Situated in an area of favorable atmospheric conditions and warm sea surface temperatures, the tropical cyclone quickly strengthened, developing an intermittent eye before being classified as a hurricane at 1800 UTC on July 19.

[9][1] Although the hurricane's initial weakening phase was gradual,[9] the overall structure of Dora quickly deteriorated in response to increasingly hostile wind shear around the storm.

[1] Continued weakening prompted the NHC to downgrade Dora to a tropical depression two days later at 1200 UTC as the system curved west of the Baja California Peninsula.

[1] In Guerrero, the threat of flooding prompted the state government to prepare 900 shelters, while boaters were ordered to exercise caution due to rough seas generated by the nearby tropical cyclone.

[15] After passing southwestern Mexico, Dora was expected to track near the Baja California Peninsula, forcing port authorities in Los Cabos Municipality to suspend boat tours and other tourist services.