Tropical Storm Bret heads toward St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Tropical Storm Bret was about 160 miles from St. Vincent Friday morning headed west at 18 mph with sustained maximum winds of 60 mph. Storm warnings were in effect for St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

A NOAA weather statement said, "Bret is moving toward the west near 18 mph (30 km/h), and this general motion is expected to continue through the weekend. On the forecast track, the center of Bret will continue moving westward away from the Windward Islands and across the eastern and central Caribbean Sea during the next couple of days."

Tropical storm warnings were discontinued for St. Lucia and Martinique.

According to NOAA, Bret will weaken over the next couple of days.

"Weakening is forecast during the next couple of days, and Bret is expected to dissipate over the central Caribbean Sea by Saturday night or Sunday."

The storm is expected to continue its westward motion, traveling across the eastern and central Caribbean Sea Friday and Saturday.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles mainly to the north of the center.

Total rainfall amounts of 3-6 inches with as much as 10 inches in some areas are forecast for parts of the Lesser Antilles from Guadeloupe to St. Vincent in the Grenadines, including Barbados.

The heavy rainfall could lead to flash flooding, especially across areas of higher terrain, according to NOAA. Urban flooding is also possible.

Flash floods caused by heavy rainfall and urban flooding are possible and Bret may generate surf swells, including life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Bret formed on Monday and is the second named storm of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, following Arlene, which formed in early June.

Behind Bret in the Atlantic, forecasters are watching a tropical depression that is moving west but expected to dissipate.