Tracking Tropical Storm Bret - Will It Become a Hurricane?

As the 2023 Atlantic Hurricane season unfolds, the world watches with bated breath as the second named storm, Bret, forms over the central Atlantic. Currently classified as a tropical storm, Bret is forecasted to strengthen and become a hurricane in the coming days¹².

For a Real-time, Accurate Visualization of Storm Bret, we suggest using the official NHC website (opens in a new tab) data as the only credible source.

Will Tropical Storm Bret Become Hurricane?

To predict whether Storm Bret Can become a Hurricane, we need to go for close observation of the historical data of Tropical Storms and Hurricanes hitting the Atlantics region of North America and the Caribbean.

The following data visualization displays how a Tropical Storm becomes Hurricane:

Interested in creating more data visualizations like this? Browse our Data Visualization Gallery and try out RATH, the tool behind these remarkable visualizations!

(opens in a new tab)

• The data in orange demonstrates a Tropical Storm, while the data in grey demonstrates a Hurricane.
• On Monday, Bret is blowing with maximum sustained winds of 40 miles per hour, which is rapidly reaching the tipping point of 60 to reach the level of a hurricane.

As projected, the current stake of Storm Bret should be closely watched due to its high potential of developing into a hurricane.

The Formation and Path of Bret

Tropical Storm Bret was the second named storm of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. It formed on June 19, 2023, nearly 1,300 miles east of the southern Windward Islands. Bret moved west at 21 miles per hour toward the Caribbean Sea. It had sustained winds of 40 mph and tropical storm-force winds extended outward up to 45 miles from the center.

Bret was forecast to continue to strengthen and could be a Category 1 hurricane by Wednesday afternoon. It was expected to move across the Lesser Antilles as a hurricane on Thursday and Friday. Bret brought a risk of flooding from heavy rainfall, hurricane-force winds, and dangerous storm surge and waves.

The formation of Bret so early in the season is a rare occurrence, indicative of the record-warm waters between the Caribbean and West Africa³. As of June 19, Bret was approximately 1210 miles from the southern United States¹⁴. The storm is moving westward at a speed of 21 mph, a motion expected to continue over the next several days⁵. The path of Hurricane Bret is being closely monitored by meteorologists and hurricane trackers¹.

Where is Tropical Storm Bret Headed?

In addition to Florida, other areas along the U.S. Atlantic coast should also keep a close watch on Bret's path. The storm's trajectory and intensity could change rapidly, and all coastal residents should be prepared to take action if necessary.

Forecasters are closely monitoring the development of Bret, particularly its potential impact on the Lesser Antilles and Puerto Rico. The storm is predicted to move across the Lesser Antilles as a hurricane by Thursday and Friday, bringing with it a risk of severe weather⁵. Residents of these areas, as well as those in the Virgin Islands and Barbados, are advised to stay updated with the latest forecasts and prepare for potential impacts.

Will Bret Hit Florida? The Florida Weather Forecast

The path of Bret is of particular concern for Florida, given the state's history with hurricanes. While it's too early to predict with certainty, the possibility of Bret hitting Florida cannot be ruled out¹. Residents are urged to monitor the storm's progress and prepare for possible impacts, including high winds, heavy rain, and storm surge.