ORLANDO, Fla. — 11:30 a.m. update:
Bret is still forecast to move over the Lesser Antilles on Thursday evening as a strong tropical storm.
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During the weekend, Tropical Storm Bret will interact with a lot of dry air and wind shear, which will weaken the storm, eventually causing it to fizzle out before it reaches the western Caribbean.
Tropical Depression 4 is expected to develop into a tropical storm. If it does so, it will be named Cindy. But it will have limited potential to strengthen any further.
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Models indicate that the system will likely remain out in the Atlantic Ocean.
“We could see it impact our seas with large swells by the middle of next week,” meteorologist Kassandra Crimi said.
A hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning are in effect for St. Lucia, and a tropical storm warning is in effect for Martinique and Dominica.
Tropical storm watches remain in effect for Barbados and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Watch Channel 9 Eyewitness News at Noon for live updates on the tropics.
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11 am AST: Tropical Storm #Bret is nearing the Lesser Antilles and is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rains to portions of that area tonight. Here are the Key Messages. Visit https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ for details. pic.twitter.com/3gmUyUt85J
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) June 22, 2023
Earlier story:
Tropical Storm Bret will enter the Caribbean as a strong tropical storm or hurricane.
Bret is then forecast to weaken when it is south of Puerto Rico.
Watch: Tropical Storm Bret slowly strengthens, expected to weaken to depression by weekend
The storm system is moving west at 15 mph.
Bret currently has winds around 70 mph.
There are a few more tropical systems in the Atlantic that are being monitored by Channel 9 meteorologists.
Tropical Depression 4 formed Thursday morning and could strengthen into a named storm over the next few days.
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If it becomes named, it will be called Cindy.
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Thankfully, none of the storm systems are currently forecast to impact Florida.
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