As Bret moves into the eastern Caribbean Sea, environmental conditions are expected to make it unfavorable for further intensification. Photo: Zoom Earth

Tropical Storm Bret grew stronger and slowed down overnight, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center today, June 21, 2023. Photo: NHC

Winds have increased to 60 mph and Bret is moving west at 16 mph. Bret is forecast to strengthen slightly over the next 12 hours but remain a tropical storm as it moves into the Caribbean Friday.

Winds are expected to increase to 65 mph over the next 12 hours, making it a strong tropical storm but remaining below the 74-mph threshold to become a hurricane.

As Bret moves into the eastern Caribbean Sea, environmental conditions are expected to make it unfavorable for further intensification.

"As Bret moves into the eastern Caribbean later this week, the storm is forecast to encounter increasing wind shear. This wind shear would prevent further intensification and Bret will begin to lose organization Friday and into the weekend," explained AccuWeather Meteorologist Alex DaSilva.

How strong is Tropical Storm Bret & where is it going?

At 5 a.m., the center of Tropical Storm Bret was located 645 miles east of the Windward Islands (near latitude 12.8 North, longitude 51.4 West).

Bret is moving toward the west near 16 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue for the next several days. On the forecast track, the center of Bret is expected to move across portions of the Lesser Antilles Thursday afternoon and Thursday night, and then move across the eastern Caribbean Sea on Friday.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 60 mph, with higher gusts. Some additional increase in strength is possible before Bret reaches the Caribbean Sea.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles from the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 1001 mb.