Tropical Storm Bret gains strength and threatens Caribbean.

Tropical Storm Bret is expected to bring gusty winds and heavy rain to some of the Leeward Islands on Thursday before weakening and dissipating in the central Caribbean over the weekend. The storm is not expected to become a hurricane, but tropical storm warnings and watches are in effect for some islands. Another tropical wave to the east of Bret in the central Atlantic could become a tropical depression in the next day or two. The Atlantic hurricane season began on June 1 and lasts until Nov. 30, with NOAA predicting a near-average season.