Danny actually formed from an upper air disturbance that drifted southward from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico in mid July. A large area of thunderstorms then formed south of Louisiana gradually assuming tropical characteristics. On the 17th of July, the system intensified and became Tropical Storm Danny.

Tracking northeastward toward southeast Louisiana, Danny strengthened to a minimal hurricane on the 18th just before crossing the Mississippi River southeast of New Orleans. A wind gust of 95 mph was recorded at Grand Isle, Louisiana where considerable damage occurred to marine facilities.

Following a slow, erratic path across the Chandeleur Islands, Danny turned northward reaching the Fort Morgan Peninsula on the 19th. Danny entered Mobile Bay where it stalled and, in an unusual move, achieved its lowest barometric pressure. Although the storm was small, it packed strong wind gusts that reached 80 mph over the Fort Morgan Peninsula, Bon Secour Bay, and Dauphin Island. In fact, a gust of 101 mph was recorded at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. Wind gusts of 70-75 mph were felt over Gulf Shores, Mullet Point, and the western shore of Mobile Bay south of Dog River.

With Hurricane Danny in the Alabama coastal waters on the night of Friday July 18, 1997 there was a sizeable difference in forecast paths between the "Official" National Hurricane Center and the Coastal Weather Research Center. Hurricane Danny actually moved into Mobile Bay 8 hours later. You may see an example of the Blackwell Over-surface Hurricane Wind (BLOHW) Model as it demonstrates the two different forecast paths.