MIAMI, CMC -Tropical Storm Bret was inching closer to the Lesser Antilles on Wednesday, with a US Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft scheduled to investigate the storm later this afternoon.
The Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that Bret, packing maximum sustained winds of 60 miles per hour (mph), was now 470 miles east of Barbados.
The St. Lucia government has issued a Tropical Storm Warning for the island, while a Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Barbados, Dominica, and Martinique.
“Interests elsewhere in the Lesser Antilles should monitor the progress of Bret. Additional watches or warnings will likely be required for these islands today,” the NHC said, adding that Bret is moving toward the west near 14 mph.
It said this general motion with an increase in forward speed is expected during the next.
Several days.
“On the forecast track, the center of Bret is expected to approach the Lesser Antilles on Thursday, move across the Lesser Antilles late Thursday and Thursday night, and then proceed.
Westward across the eastern and central Caribbean Sea Friday and Saturday.
“Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph (95 km/h) with higher gusts. Some increase in strength is forecast before Bret reaches the Lesser Antilles. Weakening is expected by Friday once Bret moves over the Caribbean Sea, and the system is likely to dissipate on Saturday,” the NHC said.
The NHC said that through Saturday, storm total rainfall amounts of three to six inches with maximum amounts of 10 inches are possible across portions of the Lesser Antilles from Guadeloupe south to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, including Barbados.
“The heavy rainfall could lead to flash flooding, especially across higher terrain areas.
Urban flooding is also possible,” the NHC said, adding that swells generated by Bret are expected to begin affecting portions of the Lesser Antilles on Thursday.
“These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions,” it added.
and then 