Tropical Storm Bret continues to show signs of strengthening and is expected to become a hurricane within the next day or two as it moves toward the Caribbean Sea, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Bret is forecast to initially strengthen and then move across the Lesser Antilles near hurricane intensity on Thursday and Friday, bringing a risk of flooding from heavy rainfall, strong winds, dangerous storm surge and waves. The gusty winds and heavy rain could bring downed tree branches, minor roof damage and isolated flooding in low-lying areas of the eastern Caribbean, according to AccuWeather.
Given the larger than usual uncertainty in the track forecast, it is too early to specify the location and magnitude of where these hazards could occur.
While no watches or warnings have been issued as of 5 a.m. Tuesday, forecasters with the National Hurricane Center advised residents in the Lesser Antilles to monitor the progress of the tropical storm. Those in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands should also closely monitor updates to the forecast for Bret and have their hurricane plan in place.
Spaghetti models, forecast path for Tropical Storm Bret
Where is Tropical Storm Bret going and how strong is it?
At 5 a.m., the center of Tropical Storm Bret was located 1,130 miles east of the southern Windward Islands. Bret is moving toward the west near 17 mph, and this general motion is expected to to continue for the next several days.
Maximum sustained winds remain near 40 mph, with higher gusts. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1008 mb.
AccuWeather meteorologists urged residents in Bret’s path to look at the “entire window of movement” and not just the center, especially since it is possible the storm could take not only a westerly path but a “last-minute jog to the north” as it nears the Caribbean, according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
There continues to be a “significant spread in the three to five day track” for Bret, probably due in large part to differences in the storm’s predicted intensity, according to Hurricane Center forecasters.
Storm is unusual for June
Tropical Storm Bret was one of two systems forecasters were monitoring Monday. The appearance of the two systems in June is unusual.
Low wind shear, which tears budding tropical systems apart, and abnormally warm water temperatures are making conditions favorable for future development.
Bret is the farthest east a tropical storm has formed in the tropical Atlantic — south of 23.5 North — this early in the calendar year on record, according to Colorado State University hurricane meteorologist Philip Klotzbach. The storm is the seventh earliest third named storm on record.
It’s unusual for a tropical system to form in the eastern part of the tropical Atlantic from a tropical wave that emerged off Africa. Typically, that happens in August and September, according to AccuWeather.
Is a rare June hurricane possible?Forecasters are keeping their eyes on latest storm
Tropical depression could follow Tropical Storm Bret
As Tropical Storm Bret churns through the Atlantic on a path toward the Caribbean Tuesday, another tropical wave — Invest 93L — behind it could become a tropical depression in the next couple of days.
Showers and thunderstorms are gradually showing signs of organization in association with a tropical wave located several hundred miles southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands. Environmental conditions appear conducive for further development of Invest 93L, and a tropical depression will likely form during the next couple of days while the system moves west at 10 to 15 mph across the eastern and central tropical Atlantic.
It’s too early to determine if there will be any impact to the U.S. from Invest 93L.
Meanwhile, an Atlantic tropical wave known as Tropical wave 1 is located east of Dominica. It’s moving west at 23 mph. And in the central Caribbean, Tropical wave 2 is located south of Jamaica and is moving west at 27 mph.
Contributing:Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY
