Bret (2005)

A small tropical cyclone formed from a tropical wave that moved into the Bay of Campeche late on 28 June 2005. Aircraft and satellite data indicate Bret became a tropical depression about 1800 UTC 28 June roughly 55 n mi northeast of Veracruz, Mexico, and strengthened quickly into a small tropical storm. Bret moved generally west-northwest to northwest, reached the Mexican coast late on 29 June, crossed inland, turned north-northwest, and dissipated over Mexico shortly after 0000 UTC 30 June. The storm existed about 30 hours in total.

Bret made landfall on 29 June 2005 near Tuxpan, Veracruz. The center reached the coast around 1200 UTC 29 June and was assessed to be a tropical storm at landfall with estimated maximum sustained winds near 35 kt (about 40 mph). After moving inland the system weakened to a depression and dissipated over interior Mexico by 30 June.

The storm’s maximum intensity was estimated at 35 kt (about 40 mph) with a minimum central pressure near 1002 mb. Aircraft flight-level winds at about 1,000 ft peaked at 45 kt; surface wind reports did not show tropical-storm-force sustained winds at land stations.

Storm surge and heavy rainfall produced coastal flooding and large rain totals in Veracruz state. Reported storm-tide or surge-related water levels and rainfall totals at several locations include: El Raudal (10.47 inches of rain), Gutiérrez Zamora (8.58 in), El Remolino (7.11 in), Tuxpan and Martínez de la Torre (each 4.62 in), Rancho Nuevo Ayotoxco (4.59 in), Cuetzalan (4.14 in), Poza Rica (3.59 in), and Papantla (3.40 in). The table in the official data shows Tuxpan recorded about 4.62 inches; specific numeric surge heights at individual tide stations were not widely reported in the observations table.

Flooding from the heavy rains caused most of the impacts. One person drowned in Cerro Azul in Veracruz state; several others were reported missing after vehicles were swept away in Naranjos (those persons were later presumed to have survived). The greatest impacts were in coastal and nearby inland areas of Veracruz from flooding and overflowing rivers.

Notable points: Bret was short-lived and very small, so it was not well forecast far in advance—the National Hurricane Center did not predict its formation until about 12 hours beforehand. Official track forecasts did, however, place landfall in roughly the right location and time. Because the storm was brief, there are limited forecast verification statistics.