 Embedded within deep east-southeasterly flow and along the periphery of a subtropical ridge, the depression moved rapidly along a west-northwest course; it soon made landfall over Grenada at 21: 00 UTC on July 4 with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km / h). Upon entering the Caribbean Sea, deep convection flared over the system. Environmental conditions ahead of the depression favored intensification into a hurricane, with little to no wind shear — analyzed to be roughly 25 mph (35 km / h) below average — and high sea surface temperatures around 84°F (29°C) present along its path. Based on satellite intensity estimates obtained through the Dvorak technique, the depression is assessed to have become a tropical storm by 12: 00 UTC on July 5. Accordingly, the NHC assigned it the name Dennis at this time. This marked the earliest formation of a season's fourth named storm on record; however, this was later surpassed by Tropical Storm Debby of 2012 which was named on June 23.
