Meteorological Analysis
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Bret originated from an interaction between an upper level low and a tropical wave. On
August 5th a tropical wave left the coast of Africa. The wave continued west under the
subtropical ridge and was located over the Yucatan by the 18th. The wave then interacted
with an upper level low which was located over the Caribbean and a surface low formed
on the 18th over the Yucatan peninsula. The surface low then moved into the Bay of
Campeche and became a tropical depression on the 18th. As shear decreased, the
depression began to strengthen and became tropical storm Bret on the 19th. As Bret was
strengthening, it moved north on the edge of the subtropical ridge. Environmental
conditions then became very favorable and Bret rapidly intensified into a 145 mph Cat 4
with a pressure of 944 mb on the 22nd. Bret then turned more westerly and slowed due
to the combined presence of a ridge over the Gulf of Mexico and a low over Mexico. Bret
began to weaken as it was approaching land and made landfall with 115 mph winds
between Brownsville and Corpus Christi, Texas on the 23rd. Bret then moved westward
across Texas as it weakened and dissipated over Mexico on the 25th.
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Casualty and Damage Overview
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Amazingly, there are no casualties attributed to Bret. Damage was also light with Bret, and
only reached $60 million. This was due to Bret land-falling in a very rural area of Texas,
which was an extremely fortunate turn of events for surrounding metropolitan areas.
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Bret Hurricane Research Division Products
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Imagery
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Tracking Data
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Hurricane Bret
Time Lat Lon Wind(mph) Pressure Storm type
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18 GMT 08/18/99 19.5N 94.4W 35 1010 Tropical Depression
0 GMT 08/19/99 19.5N 94.5W 35 1008 Tropical Depression
6 GMT 08/19/99 19.6N 94.6W 35 1008 Tropical Depression
12 GMT 08/19/99 19.7N 94.6W 35 1008 Tropical Depression
18 GMT 08/19/99 19.8N 94.7W 40 1005 Tropical Storm
0 GMT 08/20/99 19.8N 94.7W 45 1000 Tropical Storm
6 GMT 08/20/99 20.0N 94.6W 50 998 Tropical Storm
12 GMT 08/20/99 20.4N 94.5W 60 993 Tropical Storm
18 GMT 08/20/99 21.2N 94.4W 65 991 Tropical Storm
0 GMT 08/21/99 21.9N 94.5W 75 983 Category 1 Hurricane
6 GMT 08/21/99 22.5N 94.7W 85 980 Category 1 Hurricane
12 GMT 08/21/99 23.1N 94.9W 90 979 Category 1 Hurricane
18 GMT 08/21/99 23.8N 95.0W 105 975 Category 2 Hurricane
0 GMT 08/22/99 24.7N 95.1W 140 954 Category 4 Hurricane
6 GMT 08/22/99 25.5N 95.5W 145 950 Category 4 Hurricane
12 GMT 08/22/99 26.2N 96.1W 145 944 Category 4 Hurricane
18 GMT 08/22/99 26.6N 96.8W 140 946 Category 4 Hurricane
0 GMT 08/23/99 26.9N 97.4W 115 951 Category 3 Hurricane
6 GMT 08/23/99 27.0N 97.9W 90 963 Category 1 Hurricane
12 GMT 08/23/99 27.3N 98.3W 70 980 Tropical Storm
18 GMT 08/23/99 27.6N 98.8W 40 993 Tropical Storm
0 GMT 08/24/99 28.0N 99.5W 35 1000 Tropical Depression
6 GMT 08/24/99 28.0N 100.4W 35 1003 Tropical Depression
12 GMT 08/24/99 27.8N 101.3W 30 1006 Tropical Depression
18 GMT 08/24/99 27.7N 102.1W 30 1007 Tropical Depression
0 GMT 08/25/99 27.6N 103.0W 25 1008 Tropical Depression
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Tracking maps courtesy of NHC
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Selected Hurricane Research Division Radar Image
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Selected Satellite Image
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