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Tropical Storm Bret formed Monday afternoon in the open Atlantic Ocean.

Tropical storm warnings are in effect for portions of the southern Windward Islands and northeastern Venezuela.

Heavy rain and gusty winds are expected in these areas into Tuesday.

Tropical Storm Bret will spread heavy rain and gusty winds across the southern Windward Islands and northeastern Venezuela into Tuesday.

(MORE: 5 Changes to Hurricane Season Forecasts)

Here's the latest from the National Hurricane Center:

Little change in strength is expected during the next 12 to 24 hours.

After passing through the Windward Islands, the forecast calls for this systemto weaken into a tropical depression on Wednesday, due to increasing southerly wind shear and land interaction with Venezuela.

(MORE: Hurricane Season Outlook |Hurricane Central)

Tropical storm conditions, including gusty winds and heavy rain,have likely begun in portions of the southern Windward Islands and the northeastern coast of Venezuela, making outside preparations difficult or dangerous.

Total rainfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches are currently expected over the Windward Islands and the eastern coast of Venezuela into Tuesday.

Tropical storm warnings remain in effect for Trinidad, Tobago,Grenada and Venezuela (Pedernales to Cumana, including Isla de Margarita). A tropical storm watch is in effect for Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao.

This portion of the Atlantic Basin is an unusual spot for tropical development this early in the season.

Tropical Storm Bret isan outlier that is only joined by a few tropical systems that have formed in June in the open Atlantic. The system is also somewhat odd because it formed farther south than most tropical cyclones around the globe.

The western Caribbean andGulf of Mexicoare two of the areas we typically look for the development of tropical storms in June.

Any storms that do form typically track north or northeastward, which brings the Gulf Coast and the Southeast coast in play for potential impacts.

On average, there's onenamed storm in June in the Atlantic, Caribbean or Gulf of Mexico every one to twoyears.

Tropical development in the open Atlantic only happens about once per decade.

Last Junewas an outlier, when Bonnie, Colin and Danielle all spun through the Atlantic Basin as tropical storms.

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Excerpt from:

Tropical Storm Bret Spreading Heavy Rain, Gusty Winds Across Windward Islands, Northeastern Venezuela - The Weather Channel