Initially forecast to remain a weak tropical storm, the cyclone rapidly strengthened and developed an eye, before making landfall on May 29 in Nicaragua, near León, with peak winds of 65 mph (105 km/h).

[1] On May 26, a large trough extended from the southwestern Caribbean Sea across Costa Rica into the eastern Pacific Ocean, forming a broad low-pressure area across the region.

[5] With a mid-level ridge located in the Gulf of Mexico, the depression drifted generally northward through an area of warm water temperatures and low wind shear.

[5] However, the system quickly developed intense thunderstorms near the center with increased banding in its southern semicircle, and at 1500 UTC on May 29, the NHC upgraded the depression to Tropical Storm Alma, about 55 miles (89 km) southwest of Managua, Nicaragua.

[7] However, one hour after it was upgraded to tropical storm status, the NHC re-assessed the intensity as 65 mph (105 km/h), citing updated observations from satellite imagery and QuikSCAT.

[8][6] An eye feature formed, surrounded by a very tight ring of convection,[9] and at around 1900 UTC on May 29, Alma made landfall near León, Nicaragua as a strong tropical storm.

[10] The storm quickly weakened after moving ashore, though a small area of thunderstorms persisted as it crossed into the mountainous region of southern Honduras.

[11] After passing near Tegucigalpa Alma weakened to tropical depression status,[12] and at 1500 UTC on May 30, the cyclone's low-level lcirculation center dissipated, while the system was situated near the border of Honduras and Guatemala.

[14][15] Coinciding with the first advisory on the depression, the government of Costa Rica issued a tropical storm warning for the entire Pacific coast of the country.

[16] About four hours prior to landfall, when Alma was named, a tropical storm warning was in effect for the entire coastlines of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador.