A
tropical wave moved off the coast of
Africa on August 24, tracking westward at approximately with no associated deep
convection and a weak low-level inverted-V curvature. Initially difficult to locate on
satellites, the wave axis tracked through a moist environment and developed an area of scattered thunderstorms. By August 25 visible satellite imagery indicated broad cyclonic turning just north of the
Intertropical Convergence Zone. The wave continued to develop moderate to strong convection, and on August 27 a 1012
mbar (
hPa; 29.88
inHg)
low pressure area developed about 830
mi (1,340
km) west-southwest of
Praia,
Cape Verde. For the next several days the system failed to organize significantly; however, on August 30 the wave became better defined with more representation of the cyclonic turning into the low. Convection increased early the next day, and a
Hurricane Hunters flight into the system reported the presence of a closed low-level circulation; accordingly, the National Hurricane Center initiated advisories on Tropical Depression Six at 2100 UTC on August 31 while it was located about east-southeast of the southern Windward Islands. Upon becoming a tropical cyclone, the depression was located to the south of a strong
ridge, resulting in a west-northwest motion. The system maintained curved
rainbands with expanding
outflow, and with light
wind shear and warm water temperatures the environment favored further development. Felix quickly strengthened as it developed a small inner core of convection with tightly wound bands around the center, and by late on September 1 an
eye feature was observed on satellite imagery. Based on reports from reconnaissance aircraft, the National Hurricane Center estimated that Felix attained hurricane status by early on September 2 while located about east-northeast of
Bonaire. on September 2 Tracking through an area of extremely low wind shear and increasingly high
oceanic heat content, Felix quickly developed a well-defined eye, a symmetric cloud structure, and strong upper-level outflow; consequently, the hurricane commenced
explosive intensification shortly afterward. Felix attained major hurricane status at around 1800 UTC on September 2 while located about southeast of
Kingston,
Jamaica. Rapid strengthening continued, and later that day the hurricane attained Category 4 status on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale with the pressure dropping to ; this corresponded to a falling rate of per hour, which the National Hurricane Center described as "one of the more rapid deepening rates we have observed." A Hurricane Hunters flight reported a
stadium effect in the eye, and also reported the eye diameter shrank to . A subsequent Hurricane Hunters flight experienced flight level winds of , with peak surface winds of reported in the southwest quadrant of the eyewall; surface winds of were found in its northeastern quadrant, although the National Hurricane Center reported the peak reading could have been contaminated due to
graupel in the clouds. Based on the observations, it is estimated Felix attained winds of by 0000 UTC on September 3 while located about southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, making Felix a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. This also makes Felix the second-fastest intensifying Atlantic hurricane on record, just behind
Wilma 2 years prior. Continuing quickly westward, the diameter of the eye decreased to , however, its path remained nearly due westward. Subsequently, cloud tops near the center started to warm as the eye became less distinct, and by 1800 UTC on September 3, Felix weakened to Category 4 status with winds of . On September 4, Felix had completed an
eyewall replacement cycle and began strengthening again during the day. Felix was upgraded to a Category 5 for the second time at 1040 UTC, and made landfall in Nicaragua just south of its border with
Honduras, in the
Mosquito Coast region, as a Category 5 hurricane with winds. Hurricane Felix struck Nicaragua on the same day as
Hurricane Henriette struck the
Baja California Peninsula in the eastern
Pacific Ocean, which marked the second recorded occurrence that a
North Atlantic hurricane and a
Pacific hurricane made landfall on the same day; the previous occurrence was on August 23, 1992, when
Hurricane Andrew hit the
Bahamas on the same day
Hurricane Lester hit Mexico's Baja California Peninsula. By nine hours after moving ashore, the system maintained a well-organized cloud pattern and intense rainbands, although the winds rapidly decreased; early on September 5 Felix weakened to a tropical storm as its upper-level circulation became detached from the low-level portion. The system deteriorated to a tropical depression as it crossed into southern Honduras, and at 0900 UTC the National Hurricane Center issued the last advisory on Felix as it began degenerating into a broad low pressure area. The remnants of Felix tracked west-northwestward over other portions of
Latin America, and eventually dissipated over the
Mexican state of
Tabasco on September 7. ==Preparations==