Tropical Storm Marco: System Could Hit Texas On Tuesday

HOUSTON, TX — Tropical Storm Marco continues to strengthen Saturday as it moves through the northwestern Caribbean Sea. And while the storm could hit Texas as early as Tuesday, forecasters say the system could weaken again before it makes landfall on the Gulf Coast.

Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday urged Texans to "remain vigilant" and closely monitor weather conditions. Tropical Storm Marco has the potential to bring heavy rain, potential flooding and power outages to affected areas.

The governor also requested the Texas Division Of Emergency Management to identify resources and crews that may be available to help once the storm makes landfall.

At 4 a.m. EDT Saturday, Marco was approaching the eastern coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. A hurricane watch and tropical storm warning are in effect for those areas.

The system is then expected to move into the Gulf of Mexico as a tropical storm on Sunday. Although some strengthening is anticipated as it moves northwest toward the Texas and Louisiana gulf coasts, forecasters say it could weaken as it approaches.

NHC forecasters say it's too early to tell how strong the storm will become and where exactly it could hit; however, forecasters predict tropical storm force winds could hit the Gulf Coast between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday.

Two Storms In Gulf Unprecedented

Meanwhile, the forecast track for Tropical Storm Laura shifted toward the west Friday morning and removed most of Florida from the direct path of the storm, though forecasters caution that it is too soon to predict the exact path of Laura.

The National Hurricane Center released updated forecast models that confirm the extraordinary possibility that both Marco and Laura might move through the Gulf of Mexico around the same time. While the storms could get sucked into an odd dance around each other, they could also fall apart as they soak the Caribbean and Mexico this weekend.

If the two storms make it, they could be crowded in the Gulf of Mexico at the same time Tuesday about 550 miles apart. That would leave open some weird possibilities, including the storms rotating around each other in a tropical two-step, pulling in closer to each other, nudging each other, weakening each other or — far less likely — merging.

Two hurricanes have never appeared in the Gulf of Mexico at the same time, according to records going back to at least 1900, Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach told the Associated Press.

The last time two storms made landfall in the United States within 24 hours of each other was in 1933, Klotzbach said.

It seems fitting for 2020 to have this type of twin threats, said University of Miami hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy.

“Of course, we have to have two simultaneously land-falling hurricanes,” McNoldy said. “It’s best not to ask what’s next.

If both storms survive the weekend, the National Hurricane Center forecast that Laura would strengthen to a hurricane before heading toward the central Gulf Coast around Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle.

Marco is aimed at Texas, and most likely will remain a tropical storm.

RELATED: Florida Urged To Prepare For Laura; TX, LA Await Marco

Texas Braces Amid Coronavirus

Marco is expected to hit Texas as the state continues to battle the coronavirus pandemic and just weeks after Hurricane Hanna lashed the gulf shore.

As of Friday, there were more than 138,600 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Houston region, including 2,571 deaths, according to data compiled by the Houston Chronicle. Statewide, the number of cases hovered just under 582,000 and 11,128 reported deaths.

On July 25, Hurricane Hanna pummeled the Texas Gulf Coast, making landfall twice as a Category 1 storm while lashing the state's shoreline with heavy rains, intense winds and damaging storm surge.

The first hurricane of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season made landfall both times in a little more than an hour. The first landfall happened about about 130 miles south of Corpus Christi, while the second landfall took place nearby in eastern Kenedy County.

Hanna came ashore with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph.

Hurricane Preparation

Texans are urged to take the following precautions ahead of the storm, according to Gov. Abbott's office:

• Know the flood risks in your area.
• Know your evacuation zone and routes.
• Sign up for your community’s warning system. The Emergency Alert System and NOAA Weather Radio also provide emergency alerts.
• Build an emergency supply kit. For more information on how to build a kit, visit https://www.ready.gov/kit.
• Purchase or renew your flood insurance policy, though it typically takes up to 30 days for a policy to go into effect. Homeowner’s policies do not cover flooding.
• Keep important documents in a waterproof container. Create password-protected digital copies.
• Protect your property. Move valuables to higher levels. Declutter drains and gutters. Install check valves. Consider a sump pump with a battery.
• Be extremely cautious of any water on roads or in creeks, streams, storm drains or other areas. Never attempt to cross flowing streams or drive across flooded roadways and always observe road barricades placed for your protection.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.