Tropical Storm Bret has surfaced in the Atlantic, with meteorologists expecting it to develop into a hurricane by Thursday. Potential floods from heavy rainfall, hurricane-strength winds, storm surges, and waves have placed the Lesser Antilles on high alert.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported that Bret is progressing westward at 21 mph and sustaining winds of 40 mph. The NHC advises Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to remain vigilant, follow Bret’s forecast updates, and ensure their hurricane contingency plans are ready.
As of 5:00 p.m., the heart of Tropical Storm Bret was identified near 11.3 North latitude and 42.2 West longitude. Bret is projected to maintain a westward trajectory for the upcoming few days.
Bret stands as the second named storm of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season.
The system, closely observed by the NHC since its entry from Africa into the Atlantic Ocean last week, was formerly known as disturbance Invest 92L before transforming into Tropical Depression Three on Monday morning.
While Tropical Storm Bret advances westward, its path beyond the Caribbean Sea remains uncertain. Some predictive models forecast a northern turn before reaching the Bahamas, while others indicate a continued direction into the Gulf of Mexico.
NOAA Hurricane Predictions
Scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predict that the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season will likely fall within the “near normal” range, featuring at least 12 named storms.
Before the season’s onset, NOAA projected that there would be anywhere from 12 to 17 named storms, including five to nine, which would intensify into hurricanes. One to four hurricanes are anticipated to develop into major hurricanes.
The Atlantic hurricane season spans from June 1 to November 30. When a tropical depression attains maximum sustained winds of 39 mph or more, it upgrades to a tropical storm and is given a name.
It further escalates to a hurricane when its sustained winds hit at least 74 mph. Major hurricanes, classified as Category 3, 4, or 5, exhibit even greater intensity.