ORLANDO, Fla. — 11 p.m. update
The latest updated track for Tropical Storm Bret shows some slow strengthening, but then weakening back to a depression by Saturday, then dissipating before the fifth day.
5:30 p.m. update:
Tropical Storm Bret’s maximum sustained winds increased to 45 mph Tuesday afternoon as a tropical storm watch was issued for the Caribbean island of Barbados.
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Although the storm had strengthened some, it remained on the weaker-end as far as tropical storms go.
It is forecast to approach the Lesser Antilles on Thursday morning and move over the islands throughout the day and evening.
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Bret is not expected to strengthen into a hurricane.
More tropical storm watches for Caribbean islands are expected to be issued Tuesday evening, the National Hurricane Center said.
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11:15 a.m. update:
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The forecast was beginning to improve Tuesday morning as it relates to Tropical Storm Bret.
The system is no longer forecast to become a hurricane.
“It should weaken quickly as it moves into the eastern Caribbean,” certified meteorologist Rusty McCarnie said. “Bret is now expected to dissipate on Saturday.”
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The National Hurricane Center said that Bret is expected to approach the Lesser Antilles through early Thursday and then move across the islands into Thursday evening. The storm will bring heavy rainfall and the risk of flooding, strong winds and dangerous waves to those islands.
Earlier story:
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Tropical Storm Bret continues to hold steady as it moves west towards the Caribbean.
Bret has winds around 40 mph and is moving west at 17 mph.
Bret is still forecast to briefly become a hurricane as it heads towards the Lesser Antilles.
A weakening trend is then expected as it moves into the eastern Caribbean, south of Puerto Rico.
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Another tropical disturbance behind Bret is also moving west through the Atlantic Ocean.
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That storm system is expected to develop this week.
It’s too early to forecast if either storm system will impact Florida.
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