National Hurricane Center: Tropical Storm Bret forms, may strengthen to hurricane in days
Tropical Storm Bret formed over the central Atlantic Monday, according to the National Hurricane Center.
According to the NHC's 5 p.m. update, the center of Tropical Storm Bret was located near latitude 11.3 North, longitude 42.2 West. Bret is moving toward the west near 21 mph, and this motion is expected to to continue for the next several days.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 40 mph with higher gusts. Strengthening is forecast, and Bret could become a hurricane in a couple of days.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center.
On the forecast track, the system should be approaching the Lesser Antilles late this week, according to the NHC.
Bret is the second named storm of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season.
What does an "invest" mean? Breaking down the weather forecaster's term
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Here's the latest update from the National Hurricane Center as of 5 p.m. Monday, June 19:
What's out there and where are they?
Tropical Storm Bret, formerly Tropical Depression Three and Invest 92L : Forming over the Central Atlantic, Bret was about 1295 miles east of the Southern Windward Islands.
Tropical wave 2: As of 2 p.m. Monday, a tropical wave located several hundred miles south-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands continued to produce a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Environmental conditions appeared favorable for further development of this system, and a tropical depression could form in a couple of days while the system moves westward at 10 to 15 mph across the eastern and central tropical Atlantic.
How likely are they to strengthen?
As of 5 p.m. Monday, June 19, Tropical Storm Bret is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane in the next few days.
As of 2 p.m. Monday, for tropical wave 2 (AL93), formation chance through 48 hours was medium, 40 percent. Formation chance through 7 days was medium, 50 percent.
Who is likely to be impacted?
It's too early to determine if there will be any impact to the U.S. from Invest 92L, but all residents in the Southeast should be prepared.
Forecasters urge all residents to continue monitoring the tropics.
Weather radar and forecast for West Palm Beach
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When is the Atlantic hurricane season?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.
When is the peak of hurricane season?
The peak of the season is Sept. 10, with the most activity happening between mid-August and mid-October, according to the Hurricane Center.
Arlene, Whitney and ...? Here are the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season names. Is your name on the list?
Tropical forecast over the next seven days
Excessive rainfall forecast
What's out there?
What's next?
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This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Tropics watch: Tropical Storm Bret forms in Atlantic
