Marco has strengthened into a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday, while Tropical Storm Laura brings heavy rain to Hispaniola and eventually Cuba.
Both storms will affect the United States early next week and this could be the first time in a long time that we see two systems in the Gulf at the same time.
Marco Comes First
On Friday night, Tropical Storm Marco formed in the western Caribbean and moved into the Gulf of Mexico over the weekend.
An Air Force reconnaissance aircraft investigating Marco on Sunday morning found the storm has strengthened into a hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph.
There remains a great deal of uncertainty in the future track of Marco. Some computer models show Marco remaining offshore over the next several days, weakening from strong wind shear.
Another possibility is the storm moves inland over Louisiana sometime on Monday.
Forecast cone of Hurricane Marco over the next five days.
A hurricane warning is in effect from Morgan City, Louisiana to the mouth of the Pearl River. Storm surge warnings extend into coastal Mississippi.
Meanwhile, a tropical storm warning is in effect from the mouth of the Pearl River to the Mississippi/Alabama border, including the city of New Orleans.
On Sunday evening the tropical storm warning was extended from west of Morgan City to Cameron, LA.
Tropical storm watches stretch from the the Mississippi/Alabama border to the Alabama/Florida border.
Marco is continuing to track to the northwest Sunday morning after strengthening this weekend. Little change in strength is expected over the next day or so as strong upper winds prevent further intensification.
Impacts to Louisiana begin Monday. Depending on the exact track, Marco could make landfall as early as Monday afternoon.
Laura Follows Behind
Tropical Storm Laura formed in the central Atlantic on Friday and continues to move on a west track as a ridge in the western Atlantic steers it. It’s moving briskly to the west, but will slow down as it turns northwest.
It’s moved across Hispaniola over the weekend, bringing torrential rain, flash flooding, and mudslides. Heavy rain will soon move across Cuba.
Tropical storm warnings are in place for parts of Haiti, Cuba, the Bahamas. A tropical storm watch is in effect for the Florida Keys.
Forecast track for Tropical Storm Laura.
This storm appears to pose a direct threat to the U.S. later this week, though the track and the storm’s strength are both uncertain.
Its intensity won’t change much for now as it moves near lCuba. As it moves into the Gulf of Mexico Tuesday, it should enter more favorable conditions and we can expect to see strengthening.
Laura could also see some interaction with Marco which may also impact the track and intensity. It’s possible Laura could approach major hurricane status as it nears thr Gulf Coast.
Spaghetti model tracks for Laura.
Spaghetti model data show some disagreement as Laura moves into the Gulf. We’ll have to keep a close eye on the storm and where it tracks.
Setting Records
Laura became the earliest “L” named storm to ever form in the Atlantic and an M-named storm had never formed in the month of August in the Atlantic before Marco.
These storms follow what has already been a record-setting season in the Atlantic.
With 13 storms already this year, this is the fastest start to a hurricane season in recorded history. The climatological peak of hurricane season is in mid-September.
If Marco and Laura make landfall as expected, the tally of landfalls so far this year would be seven.
