The potential effects of Tropical Storm Bret prompted the issuance of a Tropical Storm Watch for Barbados on Tuesday afternoon. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Storm Bret was located at latitude 12.2°N and longitude 48.6°W which put it about 835 miles (1350 km) east of the Lesser Antilles. Tropical Storm Bret was moving toward the west at 18 m.p.h. (29 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1006 mb.

A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for Barbados.

The potential effects of Tropical Storm Bret prompted the government of Barbados to issue a Tropical Storm Watch on Tuesday afternoon. The circulation around Tropical Storm Bret strengthened gradually on Tuesday. More thunderstorms formed just to the west of the center of Bret’s circulation on Tuesday afternoon. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of circulation. Storms near the center generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 45 miles (75 km) from the center of Tropical Storm Bret.

Tropical Storm Bret will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Bret will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28˚C. It will move under the axis of an upper level ridge over the tropical Atlantic Ocean. The upper level winds are weak near the axis of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Storm Bret will intensify during the next 24 hours. Bret could strengthen to a hurricane later this week.

Tropical Storm Bret will move south of a subtropical high pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean. The subtropical high will steer Bret toward the west during the next 24 hours. Bret could move more toward the west-northwest later this week. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Bret could bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to Barbados on Thursday. Bret could reach some of the other islands in the Lesser Antilles by Thursday night. Additional watches and warnings are likely to be issued as Tropical Storm Bret moves closer to the Lesser Antilles. Planes are scheduled to start to fly reconnaissance missions into Tropical Storm Bret starting on Wednesday afternoon.