Tropical Storm Bret pushes through Caribbean islands with gusty winds, heavy rainfall

Publish date: 2024-07-14

Tropical Storm Bret pulled away from the eastern Caribbean islands Friday after producing reported wind gusts upwards of 60 mph overnight Thursday.

At the same time, it lashed some of the islands of the Lesser Antilles.

All Tropical Storm Warnings have been dropped as the storm moves farther away and storm conditions abate.

Wind gusts recorded overnight from Tropical Storm Bret included a maximum 69 mph gust in Vieux Fort, Saint Lucia, a 56 mph gust on Barbados, a 53 mph in Martinique, and another 49 mph gust in Castries, Saint Lucia.

Tropical Storm Bret is not the only feature the FOX Forecast Center is tracking in the Atlantic basin.

To the east of Bret, Tropical Storm Cindy formed Thursday over the central Atlantic.

This marks the first time in recorded history that two tropical cyclones have formed east of the Lesser Antilles in the tropical Atlantic during June. 

According to long-term averages from the NHC, the season’s first named storm doesn’t typically form until June 20, the second named storm doesn’t usually develop until July 17, and the third named storm doesn’t tend to form until Aug. 3, so the Atlantic is off to a swift start this year.

Power poles in Barbados were damaged after Tropical Storm Bret passed through the island. REUTERS
A wave crashing on the shore was caught on camera as Tropical Storm Bret hits the area, in North Point, Barbados on June 22, 2023. Animal Flower Cave via Facebook

Where is Tropical Storm Bret?

As of early Friday morning, Tropical Storm Bret was centered about 235 miles west of St. Vincent.

The storm had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph and is moving west at about 21 mph.

What is the forecast for Tropical Storm Bret?

The NHC believes Tropical Storm Bret will weaken on Friday as it enters the eastern Caribbean Sea.

Rainbands started impacting the Lesser Antilles on Thursday, with winds in Martinique gusting to 50-60 mph.

Fox Weather mapped out the current location of Tropical Storm Bret in the Atlantic. Fox Weather
Tropical Storm Bret has hit Vieux Fort, Saint Lucia, Barbados, Martinique, and Castries, Saint Lucia. via REUTERS

The FOX Forecast Center said heavy rainfall and landslides could be some of the biggest impacts besides strong wind gusts.

Between 3 and 6 inches of rain, with isolated amounts of up to 10 inches, is possible through Saturday across portions of the Caribbean islands from Guadeloupe south to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, including Barbados.

The heavy rainfall could lead to flash flooding, especially across higher terrain areas.

By early Sunday, Tropical Storm Bret is expected to dissipate over the central Caribbean Sea.

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