Marco Makes Landfall; Laura To Hit Gulf Coast As Hurricane: NHC

A weakened tropical storm Marco — now downgraded to a tropical depression — made landfall near the mouth of the Mississippi River Monday evening, bringing tropical storm force winds and heavy rain that is expected to continue along portions of the north-central Gulf Coast through Monday night. Meanwhile, weather officials are warning that Laura is on track to become a major hurricane when it reaches the northwestern Gulf Coast late Wednesday and early Thursday.

Marco will make its way west near the Louisiana coast over the next day, the National Hurricane Center predicts. The storm is expected to further weaken and become a remnant low on Tuesday before dissipating early Wednesday, according to the latest forecast from the hurricane center.

Laura, on the other hand, is expected to bring hurricane-like conditions by late Wednesday where a hurricane watch is in effect and tropical storm conditions are likely by Wednesday afternoon.

According to the hurricane center, a storm surge watch is in effect for Laura from San Luis Pass, Texas, to Ocean Springs, Mississippi. As of 11 p.m., the storm surge watch had been extended to lakes Pontchartrain, Maurepas and Borgne. Storm surges are expected to cause flooding, while 4-8 inches of rain from Laura are expected Wednesday afternoon into Saturday across the west-central U.S. Gulf Coast, with isolated amounts of up to 12 inches, according to the latest forecast.

Weather officials described the risk from the storm surges as life-threatening and urged residents to follow any advice from local officials.

The city of Galveston has already issued a voluntary evacuation for residents in low-lying areas and west of the end of the Seawall in advance of Laura. The voluntary evacuation went into effect at 1 p.m. Monday.

"There is still a high degree of uncertainty regarding the track and strength of this storm, and residents should be aware changes could occur quickly, necessitating a mandatory evacuation of the island as early as tonight or tomorrow morning depending on developments in the storm," the city said in a news release.

Officials also urged residents to have a plan in place, as the storm track could change quickly. Anyone with questions is being asked to call the emergency operations center at 409-765-3710.

>>>See the full advisory from the city of Galveston.

A hurricane watch is in effect for Laura from Port Bolivar, Texas, to west of Morgan City, Louisiana. Also, a tropical storm watch is in effect from south of Port Bolivar to San Luis Pass and from Morgan City to the mouth of the Mississippi River.

As of the latest update from weather officials, the storm is packing wind speeds of 65 miles per hour and Laura is expected to become a hurricane by late Tuesday, according to federal weather officials. The storm is expected to further strengthen on Wednesday and could be near major hurricane strength when it reached the coast, the forecast says.

Weather officials are also warning that tropical storm-force winds will extend outward up to 175 miles.