An atypical, poorly organized tropical cyclone, Colin developed from a low pressure area over the Gulf of Mexico near the northern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula late on June 5.

By late on June 7, Colin transitioned into an extratropical cyclone offshore North Carolina before being absorbed by a frontal boundary the following day.

[1] The National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued a Tropical Weather Outlook (TWO) over the Gulf of Mexico and northern Yucatán Peninsula on June 1.

[2] By June 3, a concentrated area of showers and thunderstorms developed in the western Caribbean Sea, resulting in an increasing probability of tropical cyclogenesis within 48 hours.

[3] Despite land interaction with the Yucatán Peninsula and unfavorably strong wind shear, the system reached an 80% chance of developing in the next 48 hours by early on June 5.

[9] Despite the intensification, the storm remained poorly organized due to strong wind shear, with the low-level center being indistinguishable on infrared satellite imagery.

[10] Early on June 6, data from surface observations, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and a reconnaissance aircraft flight suggested that two small-scale circulations existed.

[13] Despite this, Colin was able to reach its peak intensity at 00:00 UTC on June 7, with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (80 km/h) and a minimum atmospheric pressure of 1,001 mbar (29.6 inHg).

[6] Continuing rapidly northeastward, Colin quickly crossed North Florida and southern Georgia, reaching the Atlantic Ocean before 09:00 UTC.

[6] Upon the development of Colin at 15:00 UTC on June 5, a tropical storm warning was issued on the west coast of Florida from Englewood to Indian Pass.

[15] Six hours later, a tropical storm watch was put into effect from the Flagler–Volusia county line on the east coast to Altamaha Sound in Georgia.

[28] Boat ramps in Levy County were closed, while schools in Cedar Key and Yankeetown had an early release day on June 6.

[29] Sandbags were available in several counties, including Alachua, Bradford,[30] Citrus, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough,[31] Lake,[32] Manatee,[31] Marion,[33] Pasco, Pinellas,[31] St. Johns,[34] and Volusia.

[35] In coastal Georgia, Liberty County schools, Armstrong State University, Savannah Technical College, closed early on June 6.

The health departments in Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, and McIntosh counties were also closed earlier than normal on that day.

Military personnel and civilian employees at Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield were ordered not to return until after the storm safely passed.

[36] The storm brought heavy rainfall and flooding to western Cuba, particularly Pinar del Río Province,[37] where some locations recorded more than 7.9 inches (200 mm) of precipitation in 24 hours.

[38] In low-lying and flood prone communities, authorities remained alert to the possibility of evacuations due to rivers beginning to overflow.

[43] In several counties, such as Alachua, Bradford, Duval, Flagler, Hardee, Martin, Orange, Putnam, and St. Lucie, impact was primarily limited to falling trees, which blocked roads, knocked down some power lines, or left generally minor damage to homes and vehicles.

[54] In North Carolina, rainfall in Dare County inundated portions of Highway 12 and nearby side roads, as well as adjacent low-lying areas.