Laura and Marco: A potential hurricane doubleheader
Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura were both forecast to hit the U.S Gulf Coast this week at hurricane strength, posing a dual threat to the coastal areas of Louisiana and Texas, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Based on the latest forecast track, Marco would come ashore Monday evening followed by Laura less than 48 hours later.
Marco, which formed in the Gulf of Mexico Sunday afternoon, is expected to soon bring life-threatening storm surge and hurricaneforce winds to the U.S. Gulf Coast by Monday, the National Hurricane Center said in its 8 p.m. Sunday public advisory.
Marco’s predicted path as of 8 p.m. Sunday had it on or near the Louisiana coastline by Monday afternoon.
As of 8 p.m., Marco was about 180 miles southsoutheast of the mouth of the Mississippi River and was moving north-northwest at 13 mph with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph. A Category 1 hurricane forms when sustained winds are in the range of 74 to 95 mph.
Tropical Storm Laura’s forecast has it at hurricane strength on Tuesday and Wednesday. Laura’s predicted path as of 8 p.m Sunday had it making landfall near the Lousiana-Texas border on Wednesday.
As of 8 p.m. on Sunday, Laura was over southeastern Cuba and was expected to bring several inches of rain to Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Jamaica through Tuesday.
But by Friday, Laura was “expected to produce rainfall of 5 to 10 inches, with isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches across portions of the west-central U.S. Gulf Coast near the Texas and Louisiana border north into portions of the lower Mississippi Valley,” the National Hurricane Center said.
If Laura and Marco became hurricanes simultaneously in the Gulf of Mexico, it would be an unprecedented occurrence, though, based on the latest advisory’s paths and intensities, it is a long shot.
Both storm tracks are unusually close to each other. If and how the two storms will interact with each other are highly uncertain, forecasters said.
By late Saturday night, the National Hurricane Center’s forecast track for Tropical Storm Laura had shifted west, putting the entirety of Florida outside the storm’s predicted path, though the Keys are expected to feel its impact.
A tropical storm watch was in effect for the Florida Keys from Key West to Craig Key, and from Key West to the Dry Tortugas, as of 8 p.m. Sunday. That means that the area of Craig Key in the middle Florida
Keys north to Key Largo was no longer under a tropical storm watch, as it had been earlier Sunday.
A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.
Tropical Storm Laura’s sustained winds had increased to 60 mph by Sunday at 5 p.m.
However, Laura is not forecast to strengthen much until Monday when it enters the Gulf of Mexico, the National Hurricane Center said, though it is expected to bring swells, rainfall and/or heavy wind in portions Cuba, the Bahamas and the Keys. Hispaniola could see life-threatening flooding and storm surge.
“Residents should continue to monitor the storm and be prepared for severe weather, 20-30 mph winds with gusts up to 50 mph, and strong squalls,” said Shannon Weiner, emergency management director of Monroe County, which includes the Florida Keys.
Hazardous weather is expected in the Keys early Monday through early Tuesday, Weiner said Sunday.
Laura, which was moving west-northwest at 21 mph, was expected to strengthen to a hurricane on Tuesday.
Haiti, the eastern provinces of Cuba, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, as well as the southeastern Bahamas remained under tropical storm warnings Sunday, while warnings in Puerto Rico, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, and portions of the Dominican Republic were lifted.
Heather Carruthers, the mayor of Monroe County, which includes the Florida Keys, declared a state of emergency on Friday, ordering the mandatory evacuation of all live-aboard vessels, mobile homes, recreational vehicles, travel trailers, and campers. The order was rescinded Sunday morning, citing the latest forecast.
Also on Friday, Gov. Ron DeSantis sent a letter asking President Donald Trump to declare a prelandfall emergency in 34 counties, including Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach.
Laura is expected to bring swells, rain, and heavy wind in portions of Hispaniola, Cuba, the Bahamas and the Keys. South Florida residents should continue to monitor its progress.
Marco is the 13th named storm of the hurricane season. Tropical Storm Laura was the 12th storm of the year, matching the record for the most number of tropical storms before September. The only other time that happened was in 2005, the year of Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma.
The next named storms of 2020 are Nana, Omar, Paulette, Rene, Sally, Teddy, Vicky and Wilfred.