The National Hurricane Center has backed off the possibility of Tropical Storm Bret becoming the season's first hurricane, due to expected continued impacts from wind shear on the system.
No matter its strength, interests in the Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are urged to keep a close on Bret as it barrels westward.
The NHC expects Bret will dissipate by the weekend, but notes that other models suggest this could occur earlier.
"The track guidance has shifted southward on this cycle, under the assumption that low-level ridging will have a greater impact on preventing a weaker Bret from gaining much latitude," noted forecasters.
The NHC also continues to monitor a tropical wave to the east of Tropical Storm Bret.
"Showers and thunderstorms are gradually showing signs of organization in association with a tropical wave located several hundred miles southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands," said forecasters Tuesday morning. "Environmental conditions appear conducive for further development of this system, and a tropical depression will likely form during the next couple of days while the system moves westward at 10 to 15 mph across the eastern and central tropical Atlantic."
There is no threat to Louisiana or the Gulf Coast from either system.