The first named storm of the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season which began on June 1 (Arlene was long before in April) formed Monday, but did not appear a threat to the local area. Instead, Bret was expected to affect mainly Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada and the Eastern coast of Venezuela, as well as potentially the ABC islands (see related story).
It should nevertheless serve to remind interests in the local area that while it may be early in the season, weather systems coming off the West African shoreline must be closely monitored to avoid unpleasant surprises. Even disturbances starting in the Western Caribbean should not be overlooked.
After all, rare occurrences such as Hurricane Lenny becoming the first known tropical cyclone to move from West to East instead of the other way around before hitting St. Maarten hard in November 1999 can never be ruled out. In general, despite advanced technology and sophisticated modern equipment, accurately predicting such phenomena continues to be a challenge.
Residents, businesses and government entities are therefore strongly advised to get ready now, rather than having to do so under time-pressure with all possible consequences once storms actually start coming this way. Early preparation remains the key to mitigating the negative impact of tropical cyclones.
