Tropical Storm Bret (1993)

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Tropical Storm Bret
Type=Tropical storm
Year=1993
Basin=Atl
Image location=Tropical Storm Bret (1993).jpg


Formed=August 4, 1993
Dissipated=August 11, 1993
1-min winds=50
Pressure=1002
Da

Inflated=0
Fatalities=184 direct [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastdeadlyapp1.shtml]
Areas=Windward Islands, Venezuela, Colombia, Nicaragua
Hurricane season=1993 Atlantic hurricane season

Tropical Storm Bret, though only a tropical storm, caused heavy damage and nearly 200 deaths as it moved through the southern Caribbean Sea during August of the 1993 Atlantic hurricane season.

Meteorological history

A tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa on August 1. Unlike the other waves before it, this one retained its convection, due to favorable upper level winds and warm water temperatures. The convection concentrated around the wave, and banding features appeared, and increased satellite intensity estimates. Because of this, Tropical Depression Three developed convert|1250|mi|km east of Trinidad on August 4 at the low latitude of 10° N.

An established deep-layered high pressure system forced the depression westward, where it became Tropical Storm Bret early on August 5. Bret's westward momentum increased, and the low level circulation was able to strengthen with favorable upper level outflow. On August 6 ths storm peaked at convert|60|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on winds, and retained that strength until passing over Trinidad and Tobago on August 7. Its low level inflow was restricted to the south as it crossed the Venezuela coastline late on the 7th, and Bret weakened as it continued westward.

After spending hours over Venezuela, Bret again reached the extreme southern Caribbean Sea late on August 7. Early the next day, after passing near the capital city of Caracas, the storm hit the Falcón State of the country, where soon after it entered northeastern Colombia. There, Bret's circulation came near the Pico Cristóbal Colón, the tallest mountain in Colombia with a peak of 18947 ft (5775 m). Because of this, the storm quickly weakened, but was still a minimal tropical storm when it exited the country on August 9.

Over the Southwestern Caribbean Sea, conditions were favorable for Bret to re-intensify. However, the circulation was so disrupted that it was declared dissipated early on August 9. The circulation re-organized and developed more convection, and by that night, it was again declared a tropical depression. Bret continued its fast westward movement, and quickly reached winds of convert|45|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on before hitting southern Nicaragua near Bahia Punta Gorda on August 10. As it headed towards the Pacific, it was designated Tropical Depression 8-E. [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/epacific/ep1993/greg/tropdisc/nep0893.001] However, it rapidly weakened over Central America and dissipated near the Pacific coast on August 11. It continued west-northwestward, re-organized, and ultimately became convert|135|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on Hurricane Greg.

Impact

When Tropical Storm Bret crossed the southern Caribbean Sea and northern South America, it brought heavy rainfall, amounting to as much as convert|13.3|in|mm of rain in some locations. The capital city of Caracas, Venezuela experienced nearly convert|6|in|mm of rain, with fairly strong wind gusts of 50-60 mph. Because of this, severe mudslides were seen. 10,000 homes were destroyed from the mudslides in Venezuela, killing 173 people and causing $25 million in damage (1993 USD).

1 death and 1 injury was reported in Colombia, where the weakening storm wasn't able to do as much damage.

In Nicaragua, 10 people were killed, of which 9 people died when a Spanish vessel sank. 35,000 people were left homeless in the country.

In addition, Bret disrupted the coral reef in Curacao, where 25-50% of the reef's branches were broken off. The animals and plants there were affected as well.

Lack of retirement

The name was not retired and was re-used in 1999 and 2005, and will be again in 2011.

ee also

*List of tropical cyclones

External links

* [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1993.pdf Monthly Weather Review]
* [ftp://ftp.nhc.noaa.gov/pub/storm_archives/atlantic/atl1993/bret/tropdisc/nal0393.021 Bret declared dissipated]
* [http://www.nacri.org/greylit/VeghelandHoetjesEffectsBret-BullMarSci56(2)1995.pdf Coral Reef effects]