Laura and Marco: Gulf Coast prepares for possible two-hurricane blow; Florida Keys under watches

Marco, now a Category 1 hurricane, and Tropical Storm Laura are both forecast to hit the Louisiana coast next week at hurricane strength, according to the National Hurricane Center..

Hurricane Marco formed in the Gulf of Mexico Sunday afternoon as Tropical Storm Laura continued churning through the Caribbean Sea.

Laura’s forecast has it at hurricane strength on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Based on the latest forecast track, each storm would be making landfall at hurricane strength in Louisiana, west of New Orleans, with Marco landing Monday afternoon, and Laura about 60 hours later.

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.

As of 12:30 p.m., Marco was about 475 miles southeast of Layfayette, La., and was moving north-northwest at 14 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.

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 remained in effect Sunday for the Florida Keys from Ocean Reef to Key West. 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 50 mph by Sunday morning.

However, Laura is not forecast to strengthen much until Monday when it enters the Gulf of Mexico, the NHC said in its 11 a.m. advisory, 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’s center was located just west of the west coast of Haiti, according to an 11 a.m. forecast discussion, which also stated that upper-level winds and warm Gulf waters will be conducive for further strengthening once Laura passes over the Caribbean Islands.

Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center said in the 11 a.m. Sunday advisory that Laura was moving toward the west-northwest at around 21 mph. According to the advisory, the storm was about 95 miles southeast of the eastern tip of Cuba, where it is expected to make landfall Sunday before entering the southeastern Gulf of Mexico late Monday.

A Hurricane Hunter aircraft investigated Laura and found it had become ragged and disorganized. By late Saturday, forecasters shifted the storm’s track west enough to take the whole of Florida out of the predicted potential path.

MAP: Here are the tracks of Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura u00bb

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.

The Cuban government issued a tropical storm warning for its eastern provinces and the Bahamas issued a watch for Andros Island, while previous warnings for Laura had been posted for Puerto Rico, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Haiti and the Bahamas and several others in the eastern Caribbean.

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.

RELATED: Twin hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico? It would be the first time in history it’s happened. u00bb

Also on Friday, Gov. Ron DeSantis sent a letter asking President Donald Trump to declare a pre-landfall emergency in 34 counties, including Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach.

Laura will bring swells, rainfall and/or heavy wind in portions of Hispaniola, Cuba, the Bahamas and the Keys this weekend.

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.

Staff writers Wayne K. Roustan, David Fleshler and Keven Lerner contributed to this report.

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