MIAMI.- Tropical Storm Cindy strengthened this Saturday en route to the Lesser Antilles, while Bret has continued to weaken and it is expected to dissipate over the course of this weekend, reported the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).
The NHC indicated in its most recent bulletin that Cindy, the third tropical storm of the hurricane season in the Atlantic, has maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (96 km/h) and is located about 675 miles (1,090 km) east of the Lesser Antilles.
Cindy formed Thursday night in the open ocean from tropical depression number four and is moving at 15 miles per hour (24 km/h) toward the Lesser Antilles, although experts forecast it will experience “some gradual weakening” after early in the next week.
Tropical storm-force winds extend up to 60 miles (95 km) from the center, and according to NHC projections, the system will hold well to the east and northeast of the northern Leeward Islands through early next week. .
As for Bret, the system is about 45 miles (72 km) north-northeast of Aruba and has been losing strength after crossing the Lesser Antilles.
It presents maximum sustained winds of 45 miles per hour (72 km / h) and the NHC predicts additional weakening throughout today until it dissipates over the center of the Caribbean Sea “tonight or early Sunday.”
Tropical storm force winds extend up to about 140 miles (220 km) north of the center of Bret.
The storm is moving at 18 miles per hour (30 km/h) and will continue moving on the forecast track today toward the west and center of the Caribbean Sea.
NHC meteorologists warn that the storm surge generated by Bret will affect coastal areas adjacent to the center of the Caribbean Sea this Saturday.
