510:. At the time of Bret's landfall, portions of the Mid-Atlantic states were experiencing a strong drought, though the amounts of precipitation were not enough for farmers in Virginia to save their crops. In Virginia Beach, local street flooding and a brief tornado were reported. Minor beach erosion occurred in the area due to tides reaching about 0.9 feet (0.27 m) above normal. One fatality was confirmed in North Carolina when a woman was killed after getting stuck in rip currents at Nags Head. Offshore, two boats lost contact with the
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487:. Around 0300 UTC on July 1, all gale warnings were discontinued in North Carolina, while the remaining warnings in Maryland and Virginia were canceled about five hours later. Additionally, a small craft advisory was also posted for the North Carolina and Virginia coastlines. Officials in North Carolina closed off beaches at
518:
and the other on the
Virginia coast. The Coast Guard began cleanup of an oil spill at Nags Head caused by Bret off the coast. About 8 miles (13 km) of the shoreline was filled with oil, little of which polluted the water. Most of the oil was thin and easily cleanup private contractor. Locally
237:, locally heavy rainfall flooded some streets and basements. Elsewhere, Bret dropped 1 to 3 inches (25 to 76 mm) of precipitation to several states. One fatality was confirmed after a woman was killed by rip currents at
210:, and was consequently reclassified as a tropical storm early on June 30. Around that time, Bret peaked with sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h). The storm then began weakening and struck near
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as a minimal tropical storm early on July 1. Upon moving inland, Bret weakened to a tropical depression and subsequently accelerated prior to dissipating over northern
Virginia that same day.
428:
and weakened to a tropical depression. Later on July 1, Bret moved inland over mainland
Virginia and continued to weaken, until dissipating over the northern portion of the state.
499:
from swimmers due to rip currents and tides. After Bret dissipated, the small craft warning remained in effect and mariners were told to remain in port until the weather calmed.
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flight observed hurricane-force winds, though Bret was not upgraded to a hurricane because the minimum barometric pressure was considered too high. About an hour later, the
551:
412:, causing further intensification to become unlikely. Subsequently, the storm curved west-northwestward and rapidly weakened. At 0500 UTC on July 1, Bret made
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In its early stages, the subtropical precursor of Bret tracked north of
Bermuda and dropped light rainfall on the island, peaking at 3.34 inches (85 mm).
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offices issued gale warnings. At 2000 UTC on June 30, a gale-force warning was issued for a portion of the North
Carolina coastline extending from
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In its early stages, Bret dropped light rainfall on
Bermuda, peaking at 3.34 inches (85 mm). Impact in the United States was generally minor. In
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385:
became apparent on infrared satellite imagery. As a result, subtropical storm transitioned into
Tropical Storm Bret later that day at 0600 UTC.
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527:. Elsewhere, Bret dropped 1 to 3 inches (25 to 76 mm) of precipitation in several states. Overall, no considerable damage was reported.
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clouds became situated over the northwestern
Atlantic Ocean on June 27. By the following day, satellite imagery indicated that a
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began developing northwest of
Bermuda, along the northwest periphery of the frontal cloud band. Substantial amounts of deep
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eventually formed north and west of the low center. Thus, the system was designated as a subtropical storm at 1200
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720:(Report). Raleigh, North Carolina: National Hurricane Center; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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of 70 mph (110 km/h). About six hours later, at 1200 UTC, the storm also attained its minimum
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952:(Report). Norfolk, Virginia: National Hurricane Center; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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747:(Report). Washington, D.C.: National Hurricane Center; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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flooded streets and basements in some areas, with up to 4 inches (100 mm) of precipitation in
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In
Virginia, Bret produced relatively light rainfall, peaking at 4.48 inches (114 mm) in
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on June 29. Moving westward, the subtropical storm intensified while producing deep
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at a forward speed of 20 mph (32 km/h). Early on June 30, a well-defined
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925:(Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. p. 854
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Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
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1068:(Report). College Park, Maryland: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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202:, Bret developed as a subtropical storm from a large area of frontal clouds near
511:
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on June 29, while centered approximately 575 miles (925 km) east of
249:
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as a minimal tropical storm. About an hour later, the storm emerged into the
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sounds. Simultaneously, another gale warning was issued for areas along the
233:
occurred due to tides up to 0.9 feet (0.27 m) above normal. In western
396:
of 996 mbar (29.4 inHg). Around 2200 UTC on June 30, a
946:
Storm Report, Tropical Storm Bret and Heavy Rains and Tornado July 4, 1981
801:(Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
774:(Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
645:(Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
618:(Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
476:
405:
218:
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Upon becoming a tropical cyclone early on June 30, Bret attained
854:"Tropical Storm Bret Dissolves As It Reaches the Virginia Coastline"
580:
Preliminary Report Tropical Storm Bret 29 June – 01 July 1981
435:
248:
692:
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
221:, the storm produced up to 4.48 inches (114 mm) of rain in
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543:– made similarly rare landfalls on the Delmarva Peninsula
408:
at 20 mph (25 km/h) and entering a region of colder
277:
Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
272:
Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
1091:
National Hurricane Center's Archive on Tropical Storm Bret
345:, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression
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Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
292:
Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
287:
Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
282:
Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
914:
Miles B. Lawrence and Joseph M. Pelissier (July 1982).
514:
during the approach to land, one of which washed up at
827:. West Palm Beach, Florida. July 1, 1981. p. A11
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Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
194:, third designated tropical depression, and second
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795:Tropical Cyclone Discussion Tropical Storm Bret
768:Tropical Cyclone Discussion Tropical Storm Bret
590:National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
704:
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1111:
552:List of North Carolina hurricanes (1980–1999)
182:was a strong tropical storm that made a rare
8:
21:
1006:. Spartanburg, South Carolina. July 2, 1981
404:noted that Bret was moving westward toward
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1062:Tropical Storm Bret - June 29-July 3, 1981
1034:. Miami, Florida. July 2, 1981. p. 2A
950:National Weather Service Norfolk, Virginia
862:. Miami, Florida. July 1, 1981. p. 2A
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27:
20:
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821:"Tropical Storm Bret Closes N.C. Beaches"
745:National Weather Service Washington, D.C.
677:. United States Weather Prediction Center
639:Tropical Storm Bret Tropical Discussion 2
612:Tropical Storm Bret Tropical Discussion 1
895:. Fredericksburg, Virginia. July 1, 1981
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1026:"Tropical storm breaks up in Virginia"
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578:Miles B. Lawrence (July 11, 1981).
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793:Miles B. Lawrence (July 1, 1981).
667:Roth, David M. (January 3, 2023).
637:Gilbert B. Clark (June 30, 1981).
610:Gilbert B. Clark (June 30, 1981).
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944:Terry A. Rittin (July 13, 1981).
916:Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1981
889:"Rainfall Not Enough For Farmers"
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978:. Montreal, Quebec. July 3, 1981
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1060:David M. Roth (March 6, 2013).
669:"Tropical Cyclone Point Maxima"
449:East Coast of the United States
447:While Bret was approaching the
16:Atlantic tropical storm in 1981
1396:1981 Atlantic hurricane season
1128:1981 Atlantic hurricane season
674:Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Data
541:Tropical Storm Danielle (1992)
171:1981 Atlantic hurricane season
33:Tropical Storm Bret on June 30
1:
766:John R. Hope (July 1, 1981).
547:Other storms of the same name
190:in June 1981. The sixth
1042:– via Newspapers.com.
870:– via Newspapers.com.
835:– via Newspapers.com.
479:and on the east coast from
102:70 mph (110 km/h)
1422:
1003:Spartanburg Herald-Journal
588:(Report). Miami, Florida:
537:Tropical Storm Dean (1983)
519:heavy rainfall in western
1406:Tropical cyclones in 1981
1365:
1143:
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1126:Tropical cyclones of the
1066:Weather Prediction Center
972:"Yachts Safe After Storm"
923:National Hurricane Center
799:National Hurricane Center
772:National Hurricane Center
643:National Hurricane Center
616:National Hurricane Center
585:National Hurricane Center
440:Rainfall totals from Bret
402:National Hurricane Center
239:Nags Head, North Carolina
229:. Along the coast, minor
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154:
82:
26:
1401:Atlantic tropical storms
739:Werner (June 30, 1981).
716:National Weather Service
508:Shenandoah National Park
485:Virginia Beach, Virginia
453:National Weather Service
410:sea surface temperatures
227:Shenandoah National Park
718:Raleigh, North Carolina
432:Preparations and impact
398:reconnaissance aircraft
390:maximum sustained winds
383:atmospheric circulation
441:
350:
245:Meteorological history
40:Meteorological history
709:JBP (June 30, 1981).
459:northward, including
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343:Extratropical cyclone
252:
976:The Montreal Gazette
516:Cape May, New Jersey
481:Ocean City, Maryland
264:Saffir–Simpson scale
107:Lowest pressure
893:The Free-Lance Star
825:The Palm Beach Post
394:barometric pressure
379:Mid-Atlantic states
333:Subtropical cyclone
180:Tropical Storm Bret
23:
22:Tropical Storm Bret
442:
422:Delmarva Peninsula
351:
188:Delmarva Peninsula
99:Highest winds
84:1-minute sustained
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359:low-pressure area
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149:Ohio River Valley
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353:A large band of
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375:North Carolina
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49:June 29, 1981
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1176:
1070:. Retrieved
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1055:
1038:September 9,
1036:. Retrieved
1031:Miami Herald
1029:
1020:
1008:. Retrieved
1001:
992:
980:. Retrieved
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954:. Retrieved
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939:
927:. Retrieved
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897:. Retrieved
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866:September 9,
864:. Retrieved
857:
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831:September 9,
829:. Retrieved
824:
815:
803:. Retrieved
798:
788:
776:. Retrieved
771:
761:
749:. Retrieved
744:
741:Gale Warning
734:
722:. Retrieved
714:
711:Gale Warning
679:. Retrieved
673:
647:. Retrieved
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632:
620:. Retrieved
615:
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593:. Retrieved
583:
521:Pennsylvania
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235:Pennsylvania
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179:
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169:
168:Part of the
145:Mid-Atlantic
83:
64:July 1, 1981
18:
512:Coast Guard
504:Big Meadows
225:section of
223:Big Meadows
196:named storm
1390:Categories
1072:January 1,
1010:January 1,
982:January 1,
956:January 1,
929:January 1,
899:January 1,
805:January 1,
778:January 1,
751:January 1,
724:January 1,
681:January 6,
649:January 1,
622:January 1,
595:January 1,
558:References
525:Brookville
493:Kitty Hawk
451:, various
363:convection
313:Storm type
208:convection
133:Fatalities
61:Dissipated
53:1981-06-29
489:Nags Head
461:Albemarle
1375:Category
1297:Thirteen
531:See also
477:Maryland
414:landfall
406:Virginia
307:Unknown
219:Virginia
184:landfall
136:1 direct
1345:Katrina
1321:Fifteen
465:Pamlico
420:on the
355:frontal
257:Map key
204:Bermuda
198:of the
186:on the
156:IBTrACS
68:1981-08
66: (
51: (
1285:Harvey
1213:Dennis
1153:Arlene
495:, and
305:
300:
295:
290:
285:
280:
275:
270:
200:season
46:Formed
1357:Three
1309:Irene
1261:Floyd
1249:Emily
1237:Eight
1225:Seven
1201:Cindy
919:(PDF)
416:near
88:SSHWS
1333:Jose
1273:Gert
1189:Four
1177:Bret
1074:2014
1040:2021
1012:2014
984:2014
958:2014
931:2014
901:2014
868:2021
833:2021
807:2014
780:2014
753:2014
726:2014
683:2023
651:2014
624:2014
597:2014
539:and
463:and
121:inHg
113:mbar
111:996
1165:Two
483:to
475:in
367:UTC
117:hPa
92:NWS
1392::
1352:TS
1328:TS
1316:TD
1292:TD
1232:TD
1220:TD
1196:TS
1184:TD
1172:TS
1160:TD
1148:TS
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