Tropical Storm Bret was a short-lived tropical storm of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season that made landfall in the Mexican state of Veracruz, the first of four during the season. The second named storm of the season, Bret developed along a tropical wave on June 28 in the Bay of Campeche, and quickly intensified. Tracking to the west-northwest, Bret moved ashore within 24 hours of forming, and dissipated shortly thereafter. Bret was the first of six tropical cyclones to make landfall in Mexico during the season. With the formation of the tropical storm on June 28, the 2005 season became the first since 1986 with two storms in the month of June. The storm dropped heavy rainfall along its path, peaking at 266 mm. About 7,500 people were affected, and damage was estimated at 100 million pesos. Two people died related to the storm.
Meteorological history
A tropical wave accompanied by a weak surface low pressure area crossed Central America and eastern Mexico from June 24 through June 27. An area of disturbed weather associated with the system moved into the Bay of Campeche early on June 28, though initially unfavorable upper-level wind shear and land interaction limited initial development. It tracked west-northwestward at 8–16 km/h, and after moving into open waters the organization of deep convection increased with curved banding features developing. Based on data from a Hurricane Hunters flight into the system, it is estimated it developed into Tropical Depression Two at 18:00 UTC on June 28, while located about northeast of the city of Veracruz. At the time of its first advisory, the government of Mexico issued a tropical storm warning from Veracruz to Tampico. About four hours after formation, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Bret, upon which it attained a minimum central pressure of 1002 mbar. Shortly thereafter, its appearance on radar deteriorated, and convection warmed around the center. With a mid-level anticyclone over Texas, Bret tracked steadily to the west-northwest, and began to re-organize just before moving ashore; at 12:00 UTC on June 29, the storm made landfall just southeast of Tuxpan with winds of 65 km/h. After crossing the coast, the storm quickly degenerated to tropical depression status, though Bret retained a well-organized cloud pattern with deep convection. The center turned to the north-northwest, and early on June 30 Bret dissipated inland over Mexico.
Impact
Tropical Storm Bret produced heavy rainfall along its path, with a peak 24‑hour rainfall total of 266 mm recorded in El Raudal, Veracruz; several other locations reported over 4 inches of precipitation. The rainfall caused widespread flooding in Veracruz, especially in the city of Naranjos where an overflown river flooded portions of the city with 2 m of water. Bret killed two people in Mexico - one in Naranjos and the other in Cerro Azul. The damage total from Bret was estimated at 100 million pesos. Shortly after the passage of the storm, the government of Veracruz opened 6,000 emergency storm shelters for impacted citizens. Floodwaters from the rainfall inundated scores of houses and cars, forcing 2,800 people to evacuate, and affecting 7,500 families in Veracruz. The Mexican Army, combined with the efforts of police officers and state officials, worked with amphibious vehicles to rescue families in flooded houses, of whom many waited on rooftops. Landslides from the flooding cut communications and left 66 villages temporarily isolated. Across Veracruz, the most affected localities were Naranjos, Chinampa de Gorostiza, Tamalín, Tantima, Benito Juárez, Tamiahua, and Tempoal de Sánchez. The government of Veracruz declared a state of emergency for 14 municipalities. Damage in the state totaled over 100 million pesos ; the state government requested 100 million pesos in reconstruction aid.
