Bret (2011)

A low pressure area that formed off the U.S. Southeast coast became a tropical depression about 1800 UTC on 17 July 2011 roughly 60 nautical miles north of Grand Bahama Island. It strengthened to Tropical Storm Bret by 0000 UTC 18 July and moved generally northeastward over the western Atlantic. Bret reached its peak late on 18 July, then gradually weakened as wind shear increased and it moved over cooler water. It became a tropical depression early on 22 July, lost its deep convection later that day, became a remnant low by 1200 UTC 22 July, and dissipated by 1200 UTC 23 July about 425 nmi south‑southwest of Cape Race, Newfoundland.

Bret did not make landfall. Tropical storm watches were issued for Grand Bahama Island and the Abaco Islands on 17 July and were upgraded to warnings early on 18 July, but the warnings were discontinued the same day as Bret passed to the north of those islands.

The storm’s maximum sustained winds were 60 knots (70 mph) at 1800 UTC 18 July, with a minimum central pressure estimated at 995 mb. Bret’s peak intensity was therefore at tropical storm strength (below hurricane strength).

Storm surge and heavy inland rainfall impacts were minimal. No formal storm-surge measurements tied to Bret were reported in the NHC report. Observations near the Bahamas included unofficial wind gust reports (42 kt = about 48 mph) at Rocky Bay, Elbow Cay, Abaco. A NOAA buoy about 120 nmi northwest of the storm reported a 1‑minute mean wind of 33 kt with a 37 kt gust on 21 July. The report did not list significant rainfall totals or coastal surge heights for specific towns or counties.

There were no reports of damage or casualties—no confirmed direct or indirect deaths associated with Bret. Noteworthy items in the operational review: the tropical transition of the precursor low was not well anticipated in forecasts prior to formation, but once Bret existed the official NHC track and intensity forecasts performed well and were better than recent averages.