…AIR FORCE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT SCHEDULED TO INVESTIGATE
THIS AFTERNOON…
SUMMARY OF 1100 AM AST…1500 UTC…INFORMATION
———————————————–
LOCATION…13.0N 52.5W
ABOUT 470 MI…760 KM E OF BARBADOS
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…60 MPH…95 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…W OR 280 DEGREES AT 14 MPH…22 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…1001 MB…29.56 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
——————–
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:
The government of St. Lucia has issued a Tropical Storm Warning for
St. Lucia.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Tropical Storm Warning in in effect for…
* St. Lucia
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for…
* Barbados
* Dominica
* Martinique
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are
expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.
A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are
possible within the watch area, in this case within the next 24 to
48 hours.
Interests elsewhere in the Lesser Antilles should monitor the
progress of Bret. Additional watches or warnings will likely be
required for these islands today.
For storm information specific to your area, please monitor
products issued by your national meteorological service.
DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
———————-
At 1100 AM AST (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Bret was
located near latitude 13.0 North, longitude 52.5 West. Bret is
moving toward the west near 14 mph (22 km/h), and 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 move
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.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km)
from the center.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 1001 mb (29.56 inches).
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
———————-
Key messages for Bret can be found in the Tropical Cyclone
Discussion under AWIPS header MIATCDAT3, WMO header WTNT43 KNHC and
on the web at hurricanes.gov/text/MIATCDAT3.shtml