&sq=&lang=&file=File:Bret_2011-07-18_1755Z.jpg) Tropical Storm Bret north of the Bahamas on July 18 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | July 17, 2011 |
| Remnant low | July 22 |
| Dissipated | July 23, 2011 |
| Tropical storm | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Highest winds | 70 mph (110 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 995 mbar (hPa); 29.38 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | None reported |
| Damage | Minimal |
| Areas affected | Bahamas, Bermuda, East Coast of the United States |
| IBTrACS / [1] | |
Part of the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Tropical Storm Bret was the second named storm of the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season. Bret formed along the southwestern periphery of a weather front north of the Bahamas on July 17. At first, the storm moved little and gradually strengthened in response to favorable upper-level conditions, reaching peak sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h). Steering currents in the area subsequently became better established, and Bret turned toward the northeast only to encounter a substantial increase in vertical wind shear. Despite the shear, the storm maintained a well-defined wind circulation for several days, with intermittent bursts of thunderstorms near its center. By July 22, Bret had been devoid of strong thunderstorm activity for several hours, prompting the National Hurricane Center to discontinue public advisories when it was located about 375 miles (604 km) north of Bermuda.
Since Bret remained over the open Atlantic for most of its existence, its effects on land were limited. While moving little, the storm produced inclement weather and widespread cloudiness over much of the north-central Bahamas. Squalls off the eastern coast of Florida generated rough seas along coastlines, injuring a number of people. Although it stayed well offshore, the storm enhanced tropical moisture over Bermuda, causing beneficial rainfall in dry areas.