SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico—Tropical Storm Bret grew stronger on Wednesday as it took aim at islands in the eastern Caribbean that braced for torrential rainfall, landslides and flooding.
Bret had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 kph) early Wednesday morning and was moving westward across the Atlantic Ocean at 14 mph (22 kph), according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
The storm was located some 470 miles (760 kilometers) east of Barbados and is expected to grow stronger before lashing several eastern Caribbean islands on Thursday at near hurricane strength. A tropical storm watch was in effect for Barbados, Martinique, and Dominica, as officials in the region urged people to prepare for Bret. A tropical storm warning was issued for St. Lucia….