Tropical Storm Bret is bearing down on Barbados with heavy rain and strong winds blowing through parts of the Lesser Antilles through this evening.
Current Movement/Position:
LOCATION...13.4N 59.6W
ABOUT 15 MI...25 KM NNW OF BARBADOS
ABOUT 100 MI...160 KM ESE OF ST. LUCIA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...65 MPH...100 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...W OR 265 DEGREES AT 16 MPH...26 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1002 MB...29.59 INCHES
Watches and Warnings:
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* St. Lucia
A Tropical Storm Warning in in effect for...
* Dominica
* St. Lucia
* Martinique
* Barbados
* St. Vincent and the Grenadines
At 500 PM AST (2100 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Bret was located near latitude 13.4 North, longitude 59.6 West. Bret is moving toward the west near 16 mph (26 km/h) and this general motion with an increase in forward speed is expected during the next few days. On the forecast track, the center of Bret is expected to move across the Lesser Antilles this evening and tonight, and then move westward across the eastern and central Caribbean Sea Friday and Saturday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph (100 km/h) with higher gusts. Gradual weakening is anticipated over the next couple of days, and the system is likely to dissipate over the central Caribbean Sea on Sunday.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles (185 km) from the center.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 1002 mb (29.59 inches).