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Tropical Storm Bret (1993)
Encyclopedia
Tropical Storm Bret was the second named storm of the 1993 Atlantic hurricane season
. The third tropical cyclone
of the season, Bret formed on August 4 from a westward moving, African tropical wave. Bret would later peak as a 60 mph (95 km/h) tropical storm as it neared Trinidad
. Tropical Storm Bret took an extremely southerly course through the Caribbean
, passing over the north coasts of Colombia
and Venezuela
. High terrain in the northern portions of those countries severely disrupted the circulation of Tropical Storm Bret. Bret had weakened to a tropical depression but re-strengthened to a tropical storm before it made landfall in Nicaragua
on August 10. Tropical Storm Bret again weakened over Central America
, though it reached the Pacific Ocean and ultimately became Hurricane Greg.
Though Bret was only a tropical storm, it caused heavy damage and nearly 200 deaths as it moved through the southern Caribbean Sea
during August of the 1993 Atlantic hurricane season. Bret was the deadliest Atlantic tropical cyclone in 1993, in addition to causing the most fatalities by an Atlantic tropical cyclone since Hurricane Gilbert
in 1988.
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 1,250 mi (2,010 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 the storm peaked at 60 mph (95 km/h) 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 August 7, 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 18,947 ft (5,775 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; post-analysis did not confirm that Tropical Depression Bret had actually dissipated. The circulation re-organized and developed more convection, and by that night, it was again declared a tropical depression. The storm had had re-strengthened into Tropical Storm Bret by August 10. Bret continued its fast westward movement, and quickly reached winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) before making a final landfall in southern Nicaragua
near Bahia Punta Gorda on August 10.
As it headed towards the Pacific, it was designated Tropical Depression Eight-E. However, it rapidly weakened over Central America
and dissipated near the Pacific coast on August 11. It continued west-northwestward, re-organized, and later became 135 mph (215 km/h) Hurricane Greg. In the Pacific, Hurricane Greg would last until August 28, at which time it had been declared dissipated.
Tropical Storm Bret caused devastation throughout its path, especially in Latin America. In total, Bret left 211 fatalities, and $25 million (1993 USD, $ USD) in damage. Bret afflicted its worst affects on Venezuela, where there were 173 fatalities, and the entire damage total was reported in that country.
, a weather station reported sustained winds of 37 mph (59 km/h), with gusts to 45 mph (85 km/h). A ship known as the Lady Elaine, reported winds of 45 mph (75 km/h), while anchored at Hog Island on the south coast of Grenada. In addition, wind gusts of 53 mph (85 km/h) were reported on Isla Margarita
.
and northern South America
, it brought heavy rainfall, amounting to as much as 13.3 in (340 mm) of rain in some locations. The capital city of Caracas, Venezuela experienced nearly six in (150 mm) of rain, with fairly strong wind gusts of 50-60 mph (85-95 km/h). 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
).
Tropical Storm Bret moved through the country of Colombia
as a minimal tropical storm, affects were vastly less severe compared to Venezuela, with the storm causing only one fatally.
After re-intensifying somewhat, Tropical Storm Bret made landfall in Nicaragua
, causing ten fatalities in that country, nine of which perished when a Spanish
vessel sank. Tropical Storm Bret also left 35,000 people homeless in Nicaragua.
In addition, Bret disrupted the coral reef in Curaçao
, where 25-50% of the reef's branches were broken off. The animals and plants there were affected as well.
1993 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1993 Atlantic hurricane season was a period in the annual formation of tropical cyclones. It officially began on June 1, 1993, and lasted until November 30, 1993. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin...
. The third tropical cyclone
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
of the season, Bret formed on August 4 from a westward moving, African tropical wave. Bret would later peak as a 60 mph (95 km/h) tropical storm as it neared Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
. Tropical Storm Bret took an extremely southerly course through the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
, passing over the north coasts of Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
and Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. High terrain in the northern portions of those countries severely disrupted the circulation of Tropical Storm Bret. Bret had weakened to a tropical depression but re-strengthened to a tropical storm before it made landfall in Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
on August 10. Tropical Storm Bret again weakened over Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
, though it reached the Pacific Ocean and ultimately became Hurricane Greg.
Though Bret was only a tropical storm, it caused heavy damage and nearly 200 deaths as it moved through the southern Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
during August of the 1993 Atlantic hurricane season. Bret was the deadliest Atlantic tropical cyclone in 1993, in addition to causing the most fatalities by an Atlantic tropical cyclone since Hurricane Gilbert
Hurricane Gilbert
Hurricane Gilbert was an extremely powerful Cape Verde-type hurricane that formed during the 1988 Atlantic hurricane season and created widespread destruction in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. It is the second most intense hurricane ever observed in the Atlantic basin behind only...
in 1988.
Meteorological history
A tropical wave moved off the coast of AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
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 1,250 mi (2,010 km) east of Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
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 the storm peaked at 60 mph (95 km/h) winds, and retained that strength until passing over Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
on August 7. Its low level inflow was restricted to the south as it crossed the Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
coastline late on August 7, and Bret weakened as it continued westward.
After spending hours over Venezuela, Bret again reached the extreme southern Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
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
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
. There, Bret's circulation came near the Pico Cristóbal Colón
Pico Cristóbal Colón
Pico Cristóbal Colón is the highest mountain in Colombia and the fifth most prominent in the world . The nearest peak that is higher is Cayambe, some away. There is a permanent snowcap on this peak and on the nearby mountains. It is part of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta range, along with Pico...
, the tallest mountain in Colombia with a peak of 18,947 ft (5,775 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; post-analysis did not confirm that Tropical Depression Bret had actually dissipated. The circulation re-organized and developed more convection, and by that night, it was again declared a tropical depression. The storm had had re-strengthened into Tropical Storm Bret by August 10. Bret continued its fast westward movement, and quickly reached winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) before making a final landfall in southern Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
near Bahia Punta Gorda on August 10.
As it headed towards the Pacific, it was designated Tropical Depression Eight-E. However, it rapidly weakened over Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and dissipated near the Pacific coast on August 11. It continued west-northwestward, re-organized, and later became 135 mph (215 km/h) Hurricane Greg. In the Pacific, Hurricane Greg would last until August 28, at which time it had been declared dissipated.
Impact
| Death Tolls by Country | |
|---|---|
| Country | Deaths |
| Venezuela Venezuela Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south... |
173 |
| Colombia Colombia Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the... |
1 |
| Nicaragua Nicaragua Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean... |
10 |
| Total | 184 |
Tropical Storm Bret caused devastation throughout its path, especially in Latin America. In total, Bret left 211 fatalities, and $25 million (1993 USD, $ USD) in damage. Bret afflicted its worst affects on Venezuela, where there were 173 fatalities, and the entire damage total was reported in that country.
Caribbean
Bret passed between Trinidad and Tobago on August 7. Rainfall and light winds on those islands resulted in some power outages. In addition, houses on southern Trinidad and central Tobago sustained minor damage, mostly from flooding and trees falling. On nearby GrenadaGrenada
Grenada is an island country and Commonwealth Realm consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea...
, a weather station reported sustained winds of 37 mph (59 km/h), with gusts to 45 mph (85 km/h). A ship known as the Lady Elaine, reported winds of 45 mph (75 km/h), while anchored at Hog Island on the south coast of Grenada. In addition, wind gusts of 53 mph (85 km/h) were reported on Isla Margarita
Isla Margarita
Margarita Island is the largest island of the state of Nueva Esparta in Venezuela, situated in the Caribbean Sea, off the northeastern coast of the country. The state also contains two other smaller islands: Coche and Cubagua. The capital city of Nueva Esparta is La Asunción, located in a river...
.
Latin America
When Tropical Storm Bret crossed the southern Caribbean SeaCaribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
and northern South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, it brought heavy rainfall, amounting to as much as 13.3 in (340 mm) of rain in some locations. The capital city of Caracas, Venezuela experienced nearly six in (150 mm) of rain, with fairly strong wind gusts of 50-60 mph (85-95 km/h). Because of this, severe mudslides were seen. 10,000 homes were destroyed from the mudslides in Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, killing 173 people and causing $25 million in damage (1993 USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
).
Tropical Storm Bret moved through the country of Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
as a minimal tropical storm, affects were vastly less severe compared to Venezuela, with the storm causing only one fatally.
After re-intensifying somewhat, Tropical Storm Bret made landfall in Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
, causing ten fatalities in that country, nine of which perished when a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
vessel sank. Tropical Storm Bret also left 35,000 people homeless in Nicaragua.
In addition, Bret disrupted the coral reef in Curaçao
Curaçao
Curaçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The Country of Curaçao , which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao , is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
, where 25-50% of the reef's branches were broken off. The animals and plants there were affected as well.
See also
- Other storms of the same name