Bret — 2023

Bret formed as a tropical depression over the central tropical Atlantic on June 19 near 10.7°N, 37.3°W, about 965 miles west-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands, then became a tropical storm that day. It moved quickly westward, strengthened, and reached its peak on June 22 near 13.5°N, 55.9°W, about 250 miles east of Bridgetown, Barbados. Bret weakened while crossing the Lesser Antilles and continued west into the Caribbean, where it fell apart on June 24. Bret did not make landfall in Barbados; its center passed near the island’s northern tip late on June 22. It made landfall on St. Vincent around 0315 UTC on June 23 near 13.3°N, 61.2°W, near Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, with estimated sustained winds of 55 knots (63 mph) and a pressure of 1001 millibars. Bret’s peak winds were 60 knots (about 69 mph), with a minimum pressure of 996 millibars. It remained a tropical storm at peak and never reached hurricane strength. Heavy rain was limited by Bret’s fast movement. Jennings Station on St. Vincent recorded 5.98 inches (151.8 mm), the highest reported storm total. Other totals included 2.70 inches at South Rivers, St. Vincent; 2.60 inches at Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados; and 2.78 inches at Hewanorra Airport, St. Lucia. Most of the Windward Islands received 2 to 3 inches, with isolated totals of 5 to 6 inches. The report gives no storm-surge measurements. There were no reported deaths or serious injuries. Downed trees, power outages, and limited home damage affected Barbados, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines; roofs on 35 structures and 17 homes were reported damaged. About 50–60 percent of customers lost power on St. Lucia and in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and some agricultural damage was reported in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Bret’s formation was unusually far south and east for a June storm: in the satellite era, no tropical cyclone had formed so far south and east in the basin so early in the season. NHC forecasts identified the potential for formation well in advance, and the official intensity forecasts were more accurate than nearly all intensity guidance. Early model forecasts often predicted a stronger storm and a track farther north than Bret’s actual path.