Hurricane Hunters find Tropical Storm Bret has grown stronger

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Tropical Storm Bret has grown slightly stronger as of the 5 p.m. Wednesday advisory, with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph.

The National Hurricane Center said Hurricane Hunters flew into Bret on Wednesday afternoon and found the storm had grown in strength.

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A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for St. Lucia and Martinique, which means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Barbados and Dominica. This means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, in this case within the next 24 to 48 hours.

Action News Jax First Alert Weather Chief Meteorologist Mike Buresh said in the latest “Talking the Tropics With Mike” that Bret is strengthening, but strong shear awaits and Bret should rapidly weaken in the Caribbean.

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The National Hurricane Center said 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.

As of now, Bret is not forecast to impact Florida.

Just before 11 a.m. Monday, the wave now known as Bret became Tropical Depression 3.

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Just ahead of the 5 p.m. Monday advisory, the depression became Tropical Storm Bret.

Read the latest Talking the Tropics with Mike for the latest information about Invest 93-L and a third wave coming off the coast of Africa.

Follow Action News Jax Meteorologists on Twitter for updates:

Mike Buresh | Garrett Bedenbaugh | Corey Simma | Trevor Gibbs

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