Tropical Storm Bret Forms Off Venezuelan Coast [UPDATED]

(Updated) HOUSTON, TX — The hurricane seasons second named storm has fomred off the coast of Venezuela in the Caribbean.

Tropical storm Bret is the second storm this year with Arlene forming in May, weeks before the actual start of the hurricane season.

Arlene never made landfall, and Bret is expected to remain a tropical storm and should not impact the Texas coast. (Want to get daily updates about traffic news and other events going on in your area? Sign up for the free Houston Patch morning newsletter.)

Meanwhile, weather experts are keeping a close eye on the Yucatan Peninsula where tropical storm Cindy is expected to form Tuesday.

Hurricane Hunters flew into the disturbance Monday and detected circulation, accordingto KTRK, and believe the disturbance could develop into a weak tropical storm.

Officials with the Harris County's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management are watching to see how this disturbance develops.

"Our worst case scenario is that it develops into a tropical storm, and it moves into the west of us or south of us and we have a potential flooding event. We need to be prepared for that,” Mark Sloan, coordinator of the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management of Harris County told KPRC.

The National Hurricane Center predicted a greater than 60 percent chance of development on Saturday, but the chances have increased to near 90 percent for a tropical depression or tropical storm to develop over the next three to four days.

However, weather experts said they will have a better idea when they are able to send hurricane hunter aircraft into the storm and determine when it could potentially form.

Read Also: 2017 Hurricane Season Is Underway

Officials said it is rare for named storms to develop this early in the eastern Caribbean, according to KTRK, but it has happened before with both Colin and Danielle in June 2016.

While any of those storms are unlikely to directly impact the Houston-Galveston area, residents are advised to be prepared for the potential of heavy rain later this week.

Image: Kabsik Park via Flickr

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