Hurricane watch issued for St Lucia as Tropical Storm Bret nears hurricane strength

A hurricane watch was issued for St Lucia on Thursday as Tropical Storm Bret heads toward the eastern Caribbean at near-hurricane strength.

St Lucia’s Prime Minister Philip Pierre has urged citizens to protect their lives, property, and livelihoods.

Airports, businesses, schools, and offices were closed in St Lucia and Dominica following warnings of torrential downpours, landslides, and flooding.

Reports are that the storm was located about 170 miles (265 kilometers) east of Barbados on Thursday morning and was moving west at 15 mph (24 kph).

It had maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 kph), just below the 74 mph (119 kph) winds of a Category 1 hurricane.

The storm was expected to start affecting islands in the eastern Caribbean late Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.