The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season is already one for the record books, forecasters said Friday.
For the first time since 1968, the Atlantic has two named storms – Bret and Cindy – at the same time in June, according to Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach.
While Bret roared through several islands of the eastern Caribbean early Friday, causing some damage, Cindy was not forecast to approach any land areas as it spins far from land in the open Atlantic.
Bret causes damage in the Caribbean
Bret brought winds and heavy rain early Friday to islands in the eastern Caribbean. Power outages were reported in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, with at least 130 people seeking protection in government shelters as the storm washed away one home and caused severe damage to several others, according to officials.
Authorities in Barbados said they received more than a dozen reports of damage across the island, according to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency.
Where is Bret now? What is the forecast for Bret?
As of 11 a.m. EDT Friday, Bret’s maximum sustained winds were near 60 mph, with higher gusts. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles, mainly to the north of the center.
Bret is pulling away from the Lesser Antilles, the National Hurricane Center said, “but showers and thunderstorms along with gusty winds will likely continue across portions of that island chain for much of the day.”
Bret is forecast to continue moving west across the eastern and central Caribbean Sea and gradually weaken during the next couple of days, the hurricane center said. It’s expected to dissipate by Sunday.
Spaghetti models, forecast track for Tropical Storm Bret
Where is Tropical Storm Cindy? What’s the forecast for Tropical Storm Cindy?
Meanwhile, Cindy’s maximum sustained winds were around 50 mph as of midday Friday, and forecasts called for some strengthening over the next few days. However, the storm’s forecast track shows it moving out over the open ocean, away from any land areas. The storm should dissipate by early next week, the hurricane center said.
Spaghetti models, forecast track for Tropical Storm Cindy
A historic start to the hurricane season
The historic event (of two storms at once in June) signals an early and aggressive start to the Atlantic hurricane season that began June 1 and whose peak usually runs from mid-August to mid-October. Forecasters blamed unusually high sea temperatures for the rare development.
Indeed, although at this time of the year wind shear conditions can pose challenges for developing tropical cyclones, the sea-surface temperatures within the basin are certainly warm enough to fuel formation, noted University of Georgia meteorologist Marshall Shepherd, writing in Forbes magazine. The typical threshold for tropical development is 79 degrees.
Contributing: The Associated Press; Cheryl McCloud, Treasure Coast Newspapers
