ORLANDO, Fla. — Update:
The latest track for Tropical Storm Bret has not intensified since 5 p.m., Channel 9 certified meteorologist George Waldenberger said.
Bret is still forecast to become a Category 1 hurricane by Wednesday, then weaken back to a tropical storm upon entering the Caribbean.
Waldenberger said there is still considerable uncertainty on the intensity and track, and we will keep monitoring.
Potential impacts, if any, could be seen in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico by Friday. We will monitor the storm to see if it’s still organized it becomes and where it could head next week.
Read our earlier coverage below:
Tropical Storm Bret officially formed in the Atlantic Monday afternoon.
It formed out of the third depression of the season and is forecast to develop into a hurricane on Wednesday.
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As of 5 p.m., the storm has winds of 40 mph and is moving west at 21 mph.
After strengthening into a hurricane on Wednesday, the storm is then forecast to move over some of the Lesser Antilles Caribbean Islands Thursday night and into the eastern Caribbean by Friday. Channel 9 meteorologists will monitor any potential impacts late week in the week for the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
Many changes to the track are expected as it moves through the Atlantic.
WATCH: ‘Calm Before the Storm’
Tropical Storm Bret just officially formed...on cue pic.twitter.com/0uPt3PuSuZ
— George Waldenberger (@GWaldenWFTV) June 19, 2023
Tropical Depression #3 (soon-to-be Bret) has formed in the far eastern Atlantic. T.D. #3 is forecast to intensify through the week and become a hurricane on Wednesday. The initial forecast track takes TD 3 into eastern Caribbean, south of Puerto Rico. Many changes ahead. pic.twitter.com/txXhzul3Hy
— Rusty McCranie (@RMcCranieWFTV) June 19, 2023
The storm is one of two areas meteorologists are tracking off the coast of Africa.
Both are moving through the far eastern Atlantic basin and could develop through the week ahead.
The one farther to the west is around 2,500 miles from Central Florida.
Tropical development in this area is not historically common this time of year.
Read: Hurricane season: Are you ready? Survey says many Floridians are not
The waters of the coast of Africa are typically not warm enough in June to foster tropical systems.
It is too early to tell if either storm system could impact Florida.
Read: Hurricane season: What is the Saffir-Simpson scale; how does it work; is there a Category 6?
Follow our Severe Weather team on Twitter for live updates:
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