BY: WEATHER TEAM | BocaNewsNow.com
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2023 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — It is Tropical Storm Bret Tuesday morning, but could be Hurricane Bret within a few days. That’s the word from the National Hurricane Center which is monitoring two systems east of Florida. Bret reached named status late Monday afternoon.
The second storm, now a tropical wave, is expected to grow over the next few days. This is the early Tuesday update from the National Hurricane Center:
Tropical Storm Bret Discussion Number 4
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL032023
500 AM AST Tue Jun 20 2023
Although Bret remains a well-organized tropical cyclone on satellite imagery, its overall appearance has changed little since yesterday evening. The cloud pattern consists of a developing CDO with some banding features mainly over the eastern portion of the circulation. Cirrus motions show that the upper-level anticyclonic outflow pattern remains well-defined. Subjective Dvorak intensity estimates from TAFB and SAB remain at 35 kt, and objective ADT estimates from UW-CIMMS are also near this value. Therefore, the advisory intensity is held at 35 kt at this time.
Bret continues to move slightly north of due west or at about 280/15 kt. A mid-level high pressure area is expected to remain positioned to the north of the tropical cyclone for the next few days. Thus, little change to the motion is likely through 72-96 hours. In the latter part of the forecast period, a mid-tropospheric trough near the Florida peninsula should cause the deep layer ridge to weaken somewhat. However, it is assumed that the cyclone will be weakening by that time and steered more by the low-level easterlies. There continues to be a significant spread in the 3-5 day track model guidance, probably due in large part to differences in the predicted intensity of Bret. The official track forecast is similar to the previous one except a little farther to the south near the end of the period. The simple and corrected consensus model solutions are even farther to the south.
Both the atmospheric and oceanic environment look conducive for strengthening during the next couple of days with low shear and abnormally warm ocean waters. Therefore, the forecast continues to call for Bret to become a hurricane in a couple of days. By 72 hours, however, vertical shear is predicted to increase in association with an upper-level trough over the eastern Caribbean and drier mid-level air should begin to get entrained into the system. This will likely cause a weakening trend to commence after Bret moves into the Caribbean as suggested by the global models. The official intensity forecast is similar to the previous NHC prediction and is above the model consensus and the SHIPS/LGEM guidance.
KEY MESSAGES:
- Bret is forecast to initially strengthen and then move across the Lesser Antilles near hurricane intensity on Thursday and Friday, bringing a risk of flooding from heavy rainfall, strong winds, and dangerous storm surge and waves.
- Given the larger than usual uncertainty in the track forecast, it is too early to specify the location and magnitude of where these hazards could occur. However, everyone in the Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands should closely monitor updates to the forecast for Bret and have their hurricane plan in place.
FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS
INIT 20/0900Z 11.7N 44.7W 35 KT 40 MPH
12H 20/1800Z 12.1N 46.9W 45 KT 50 MPH
24H 21/0600Z 12.6N 49.7W 55 KT 65 MPH
36H 21/1800Z 13.1N 52.4W 60 KT 70 MPH
48H 22/0600Z 13.5N 55.0W 65 KT 75 MPH
60H 22/1800Z 13.9N 57.8W 65 KT 75 MPH
72H 23/0600Z 14.3N 60.4W 60 KT 70 MPH
96H 24/0600Z 15.0N 65.8W 55 KT 65 MPH
