Tropical Storm Bret has formed in the south central Atlantic, becoming the second named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.

As of 11 p.m., Bret had sustained winds of 40 mph and was about 30 miles south of Trinidad and about 150 south of Grenada.

Models take it westward, north of Venezuela, and toward Central America. It's moving into a hostile environment that potentially could keep the storm from strengthening.

Elsewhere, the tropical wave in the northwestern Caribbean Sea also has a high potential for formation. Gradual development is expected throughout today and into Tuesday while it moves across the southern and central Gulf of Mexico, where a tropical or subtropical cyclone is likely to form.

Regardless of development, heavy rain is expected over portions of Central America, the Yucatan peninsula, the Cayman Islands and western Cuba during the next day or two. Hurricane Hunter aircraft are scheduled to investigate this system later today, if necessary.

In April, a rare tropical storm formed in the Atlantic and became Arlene, the first named storm of 2017.


The low pressure system heading into the Gulf of Mexico has a high probability of becoming the 3rd named storm of the season. It would be called Cindy.