Update:
The latest from the National Hurricane Center and satellite data confirms that Tropical Storm Bret is struggling to better organize today. Intensification is still likely the next 2 days but Bret may never reach hurricane status. Weakening is on track when it hits the Caribbean with drier air and unfavorable conditions. Tropical Storm Watches are possible for the Lesser Antilles soon.
For now, Bret is still expected to stay away from the U.S. mainland, but enough uncertainty remains that the storm will need to be monitored closely.
Meanwhile in the Eastern Tropical Atlantic, a disturbance/INVEST 93L now has a high chance to develop into a tropical depression the next few days. Latest models push the system into the north-central Atlantic, but we'll still need to pay close attention heading into next week.
Read the previous story below:
Tropical Storm Bret formed Monday in the central Atlantic Ocean and is forecast to become the first hurricane of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season.
As of early Tuesday morning, Bret was about 1,130 miles east of the southern Windward Islands and moving west at 17 mph. Maximum sustained winds were 40 mph with higher gusts.
On this track, Bret is forecast to strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane later this week as it nears the Caribbean and Lesser Antilles.
Meteorologist Justin Ballard with the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network says it's too early to tell whether the storm will affect Florida.
"Bret developed (Monday) in an area of the Atlantic that doesn't typically see activity this early in the season," Ballard said. "Despite that, Bret is forecast to become the first hurricane of the season by mid- to late week, bringing impacts to the Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Any potential impacts to our area would likely not be felt until next week."
Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center say Bret's westward movement will continue for several days.
According to the hurricane center's forecast discussion, Bret will continue to intensify into midweek, but vertical shear "will likely cause a weakening trend to commence after Bret moves into the Caribbean."
Meanwhile, forecasters are tracking tropical wave in the Atlantic several hundred miles southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands. The hurricane center says the system has a strong chance of developing into a tropical depression later in the week.
Information from the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network was used in this report.
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