Tropical Storm Bret barrels toward eastern Caribbean at near-hurricane strength
Published:Thursday | June 22, 2023 | 9:40 AM
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A hurricane watch was issued for St Lucia as Tropical Storm Bret barrelled toward the eastern Caribbean on Thursday at near-hurricane strength.
The storm was located about 170 miles (265 kilometres) east of Barbados on Thursday morning and was moving west at 15 mph (24 kph).
It had maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 kph), just below the 74 mph (119 kph) winds of a Category 1 hurricane.
Airports, businesses, schools and offices were closed in St Lucia and Dominica as forecasters warned of torrential downpours, landslides, and flooding.
“Protect your lives, property, and livelihoods,” urged St Lucia Prime Minister Philip Pierre.
Residents across the island filled up their cars with gasoline and stocked up on water and canned food, hoping the storm wouldn't cause too much damage.
“You always have to be ready,” Ben Marcellin, who manages a guesthouse, said in a phone interview.
“You never know. It can become serious.”
A tropical storm warning was in effect for Dominica, St Lucia and Martinique, while a tropical storm watch was issued for Barbados and St Vincent and the Grenadines.
The storm was expected to start affecting islands in the eastern Caribbean late Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
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