Tropical Storm Bret Makes Rare June Strike on Lesser Antilles in 2023
Tropical Storm Bret formed on 19 June 2023 over the tropical Atlantic during an unusually early period of the hurricane season. The storm reached peak intensity on 22 June with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h, 60 kt) east of Barbados. Bret brought tropical-storm-force winds, heavy rainfall, and rough seas to portions of the Lesser Antilles, especially the Windward Islands. The cyclone dissipated over the south-central Caribbean Sea on 24 June after increasing wind shear weakened its circulation.
From African Wave to Named Storm: Bret’s Formation Over the Tropical Atlantic
Tropical Storm Bret developed from a tropical wave that moved off the west coast of Africa on 15 June 2023. The disturbance traveled westward across the tropical Atlantic with a broad area of showers and thunderstorms before gradually becoming more organized south of a mid-level ridge.
By 0600 UTC on 19 June, the system had organized into a tropical depression about 1,300 nautical miles east of Barbados. Later that day, satellite intensity estimates confirmed that the depression had strengthened into Tropical Storm Bret as convection became more concentrated around the center.
Bret moved quickly westward after formation and continued strengthening while crossing the tropical Atlantic. Between 20 and 21 June, the storm developed stronger convection and a more defined circulation while approaching the eastern Caribbean. Its maximum sustained winds increased from 35 kt early on 20 June to 50 kt by 21 June.
The storm reached its peak intensity at 0600 UTC on 22 June near 13.5°N, 55.9°W. At that time, Bret produced maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h, 60 kt) with a minimum central pressure of 996 mb. As the storm moved closer to the Lesser Antilles, it drew attention across the eastern Caribbean because of its projected path toward populated islands.
Peak at 70 mph East of Barbados: Bret’s Strongest Hours Before Landfall
As Bret approached the Windward Islands, meteorological agencies issued tropical cyclone alerts for areas facing possible impacts. Tropical Storm Warnings were issued for parts of the Lesser Antilles as officials prepared for strong winds, heavy rainfall, dangerous seas, and possible flooding.
Bret passed near the northern tip of Barbados shortly after 2100 UTC on 22 June. The strongest winds remained concentrated mainly north of the center, creating uneven conditions across the islands depending on their location relative to the storm circulation.
The cyclone continued westward and made landfall on the island of St. Vincent around 0315 UTC on 23 June with estimated maximum winds of 50 kt. The storm brought tropical-storm-force winds and locally heavy rainfall to affected communities, while rough seas disrupted marine activities around the eastern Caribbean.
After crossing the Windward Islands, Bret moved into the eastern Caribbean Sea and began weakening. Increasing southwesterly vertical wind shear disrupted the storm’s structure, causing thunderstorms to become displaced from the low-level center and reducing the system’s ability to maintain strength.
Shear and Speed Take Their Toll: Bret’s Dissipation Over the Caribbean Sea
Bret continued westward on 23 June while losing organization under unfavorable atmospheric conditions. The combination of stronger wind shear and the storm’s rapid movement caused the low-level center to become exposed as convection weakened and shifted away from the circulation.
Aircraft reconnaissance and satellite observations showed that Bret’s wind field was gradually declining. Although the storm continued producing scattered showers and thunderstorms, its internal structure deteriorated as the circulation weakened over the Caribbean Sea.
By 1200 UTC on 24 June, Bret had degenerated into a trough of low pressure near 13.0°N, 70.9°W. The remaining disturbance continued to produce disorganized weather over the region after the tropical cyclone circulation had ended.
Bret’s five-day journey across the Atlantic and Caribbean began with the development of a tropical wave from Africa, reached peak strength east of Barbados, brought tropical-storm conditions to the Windward Islands, and ended after atmospheric shear removed its organized circulation over the Caribbean Sea.
Source: National Hurricane Center