Tropical Storm Cindy has formed behind Tropical Storm Bret in the first case of two storms in the tropical Atlantic in June since records began, forecasters said.
Attributing the rare phenomenon to abnormally high sea temperatures, weather experts say that Cindy, anticipated to maintain tropical storm status, will venture northeast into open waters.
However, Bret has wasted no time making its presence felt, unleashing powerful winds, heavy rainfall, and colossal swells of up to 15 feet upon the eastern Caribbean islands early Friday morning. In anticipation of potential landslides and flooding, the region hunkered down, bracing itself for the impact.
Tragically, amidst the chaos, authorities in the French Caribbean island of Martinique are engaged in a frantic search for four individuals who were reportedly aboard a lifeboat after their catamaran succumbed to the tempestuous storm. Meanwhile, St Vincent and the Grenadines experienced power outages, forcing approximately 130 people to seek refuge in government shelters. The storm's relentless onslaught caused the destruction of one home and inflicted severe damage upon several others.
Barbados, too, fell victim to Bret's wrath, with reports flooding in from across the island detailing the extent of the damage. The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency confirmed receiving over a dozen distress calls as the turbulent weather system wreaked havoc.
As of now, the storm's epicentre lies west of St Vincent, hurtling westward at a speed of 18mph. With maximum sustained winds reaching 60mph, Cindy remains a force to be reckoned with. Recognizing the imminent danger, airports, businesses, schools, and offices in St Vincent, St Lucia, Dominica, Martinique, and neighbouring islands promptly shuttered their operations by midday on Thursday.
Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, urgently implored residents to seek shelter if their homes were ill-equipped to withstand the ferocious winds and torrential downpours, stating: "These storms can turn around fairly quickly." While initial projections anticipated St Lucia to bear the brunt of the storm's fury, its trajectory shifted south, sparing the island from a direct hit.
Prime Minister Philip Pierre of St Lucia urged citizens to prioritise the safety of their lives, property, and livelihoods. Responding to concerned residents, authorities in St Lucia opened a shelter for those apprehensive about the storm's potential consequences.
As the tropical storm warning remains in effect for St Vincent and the Grenadines, meteorologists predict rainfall ranging from 3 to 6 inches from Guadeloupe to St Vincent and the Grenadines, encompassing Barbados. The US National Hurricane Centre in Miami additionally cautioned about the looming threat of hazardous surf.
While Bret is expected to weaken upon entering the eastern Caribbean Sea, dissipating completely by the weekend, Cindy shows signs of potential intensification, with maximum sustained winds of approximately 45mph early Friday morning. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration anticipates a total of 12 to 17 named storms during this year's hurricane season, with five to nine potentially escalating into hurricanes, including up to four major hurricanes rated Category 3 or higher.
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