[1] Over the next 3 days, it drifted into the extreme southwestern Caribbean Sea, and soon developed an area of low pressure, until it stalled just north of Panama.

[2] By October 17, the easterly and northerly trade winds flowed into the low, producing a disorganized area of convection, or thunderstorms across the region.

Convection increased over the low on October 18, and the National Hurricane Center noted the possibility of further organization due to favorable environmental conditions.

[10] The wind shear decreased, and despite the presence of dry air to its northwest, the depression intensified to Tropical Storm Richard by 1500 UTC on October 21, based on confirmation from the Hurricane Hunters.

[12] Upon intensifying to tropical storm status, Richard was moving southeastward, still in an area of weak steering currents and in the midst of undergoing a loop in its track.

[15] After turning westward, Richard moved parallel just offshore the Honduras coast, and its circulation became difficult to locate on satellite imagery.

By then, there was little deep convection remaining,[25] and after emerging into the Bay of Campeche Richard degenerated into a remnant low on October 26, but then turned back east as the system was forced to because of the strong wind shear.

The remnants of Hurricane Richard continued to move north over the Gulf of Mexico as it weakened, until the system dissipated completely, late on October 27.

[30] While Hurricane Richard was approaching Belize on October 24, the Government of Honduras discontinued all watches and warning that had been issued in association with the storm as was no longer considered a possible threat for landfall.

[33][34] The Government of Belize began warning of the threat of Richard on October 22, starting with a tropical storm watch issued for the entire east coast of the country.

The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center, a major attraction for ecotourists and Belizeans, was in the path and heavily damaged forcing it to close to remove debris and repair their animal exhibits.

[12] The Government of Mexico also gave warnings of the approaching Richard, first issuing a hurricane watch also the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula from Punta Gruesa southward to the city of Chetumal, which is on the border with Belize.

[35] In addition to the hurricane watch issued for that portion for the Yucatán Peninsula, a tropical storm warning was set in effect for the same area.

[29] Although Hurricane Richard approached closely to the Mexican portion of the Yucatán Peninsula, there were no changes to the watches and warning from 1500 UTC October 23 to the time of landfall in Belize.

[41] Governor of Quintana Roo Félix González Canto declared Chetumal as the highest state of alert prior to Richard.