ORLANDO, Fla. – Tropical Storm Bret is continuing on its path toward the Lesser Antilles with a tropical storm watch now issued for Barbados.
The National Hurricane Center said as of 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Bret is 835 miles east of the southern Windward Islands and has maximum sustained winds of 45 mph.
The tropical storm is moving west at 18 mph and is expected to continue at this pace for the next several days, according to the NHC. Bret should be approaching the Lesser Antilles on Thursday as a tropical storm.
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While Bret did get a little stronger, it’s not anticipated to reach hurricane strength before crossing over the Lesser Antilles late Thursday and staying south of Puerto Rico.
Forecasters said Bret brings a risk of flooding, strong winds, and dangerous storm surge and waves.
“Given the larger than usual uncertainty in the track forecast, it is too early to specify the location and magnitude of where these hazards couple occur,” the NHC said. “However, everyone in the Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands should closely monitor updates to the forecast for Bret and have their hurricane plan in place.
The NHC is monitoring another disturbance that is behind Bret.
As of the NHC’s 2 p.m. update, the tropical wave is several hundred miles southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands. Shower and thunderstorm activity with the tropical wave has diminished, however, environmental conditions appear conducive for further development.
It is expected to develop into a tropical depression sometime this week as it moves across the Atlantic.
This area has a 70% chance of development through the next 48 hours and 80% chance of development in the next seven days.
Hurricane season runs through Nov. 30.
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