Tropical Storm Laura may bring storms to Florida Keys. Marco nears hurricane strength
Parts of South Florida, including the Florida Keys, could see some some stormy conditions from Tropical Storm Laura on Monday as it moves into the Gulf of Mexico.
The worst of the weather will be in the Florida Keys.
The Keys remain under a tropical storm watch from Ocean Reef to Key West and the Dry Tortugas, including the Florida Bay.
The area is also under a coastal flood watch Sunday night through late Monday with Laura expected to bring strong southeast breezes and possibly one to two feet of additional saltwater flooding, especially in areas that have south facing shorelines and canals, according to the National Weather Service.
The island chain could see winds between 39 to 57 mph and up to 2 feet of storm surge through early Tuesday though there is still some uncertainty regarding Laura’s track and strength, according to the National Weather Services threat and impacts page.
Monroe County is also under a State of Local Emergency and ordered the evacuations of all live-aboard vessels, mobile homes, recreational vehicles, travel trailers and campers in anticipation of the storm.
As of Sunday’s 8 a.m. update, Laura is bringing “torrential rainfall and life-threatening flooding” to the Dominican Republic and Haiti and is moving toward the west-northwest near 18 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. Its maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph with higher gusts.
The storm is about 95 miles east of Port-au-Prince, Haiti and is not expected to see any significant strengthening changes in the next 36 to 48 hours as it moves over or near Hispaniola and Cuba, according to the hurricane center.
Laura’s forecast track shows it being near or over Cuba Sunday night through Monday and then moving over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico late Monday through Tuesday, where strengthening will be possible.
The forecast shows it strengthening into a Category 1 hurricane by early Wednesday as it nears Louisiana.
South Florida may also feel the effects of Laura as tropical storm-force winds extend 140 miles from the center. Parts of Miami-Dade and Broward could see gusty showers Monday with 25 mph winds and gusts of up to 30 or 35 mph, forecasters said.
On Friday, Gov. Ron DeSantis sent a letter to President Donald Trump requesting that he declare a pre-landfall emergency for the state in anticipation of Tropical Storm Laura. He named 34 counties, including Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach.
Tropical Storm Laura Watches/Warnings
▪ Cuba issued a tropical storm warning early Sunday for the Cuban provinces of Ciego De Avila, Sancti Spiritus, Villa Clara, Cienfuegos, Matanzas, Mayabeque, La Habana, and Artemisa.
▪ Tropical storm warnings remain in effect for the northern coast of the Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano to the border with Haiti, the southern coast of the Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano to Punta Palenque, the northern coast of Haiti from Le Mole St. Nicholas to the border with the Dominican Republic, the southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
▪ The Cuban provinces of Camaguey, Las Tunas, Holguin, Guantanamo, Santiago de Cuba, Granma, Ciego De Avila, Sancti Spiritus, Villa Clara, Cienfuegos, Matanzas, Mayabeque, La Habana, and Artemisa are also under tropical storm warnings.
▪ Tropical storm watches remain in effect for the central Bahamas, Andros Island, the Florida Keys from Ocean Reef to Key West and the Dry Tortugas, Florida Bay and the Cuban province of Pinar Del Rio.
What type of weather will Tropical Storm Laura bring?
▪ Tropical storm winds are expected within the warning areas for Cuba Sunday afternoon through Monday and in the warning areas for the Dominican Republic and Haiti through Sunday night, according to the National Hurricane Center. Tropical storm conditions may also be possible in areas that are under tropical storm watches, including the Florida Keys, Sunday night through late Monday.
▪ Heavy rainfall could lead to life-threatening flash and urban flooding, with possible mudslides across the Greater Antilles through Tuesday.
▪ The Dominican Republic, Haiti and Cuba might see four to eight inches of rain, with maximum amounts of 12 inches through Tuesday, according to forecasters. The Turks and Caicos, the southeast Bahamas and Jamaica could see one to three inches of rain with isolated areas seeing up to five inches.
▪ One to three inches of rain is also forecast across the Florida Keys through Tuesday.
▪ The Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Hispaniola are also experiencing swells that are expected to spread across Cuba, much of the Bahamas and the Florida Keys during the next few days, according to the hurricane center.
Where is Tropical Storm Marco?
Tropical Storm Marco is nearing hurricane strength as it crosses the southeastern Gulf of Mexico Sunday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center.
It is about 210 miles northwest of the western tip of Cuba and is about 360 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River, according to the hurricane center’s 8 a.m. Sunday advisory. Its maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph with higher gusts.
The storm is moving toward the north-northwest near 13 mph across the central Gulf of Mexico Sunday and is forecast to approach southeastern Louisiana on Monday.
“Some strengthening is anticipated and Marco is forecast to become a hurricane later today and be at hurricane strength when it approaches the northern Gulf Coast on Monday. Rapid weakening is expected after Marco moves inland,” forecasters wrote.
Its tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles from the center.
Hurricane conditions, life-threatening storm surge and heavy rainfall are expected along portions of the Gulf Coast Monday, according to the hurricane center. Tropical Storm Laura could also bring additional storm surge, rainfall and wind impacts to the portions of the U.S. Gulf Coast by the middle of next week.
“This could result in a prolonged period of hazardous weather for areas that may also be affected by Marco,” forecasters wrote.
Tropical Storm Marco Watches/Warnings
▪ Hurricane warning remain in effect for Morgan City, Louisiana to the mouth of the Pearl River.
▪ Storm Surge warnings in effect for Morgan City Louisiana to Ocean Springs Mississippi, including Lake Borgne.
▪ Storm Surge Watch in effect from the Sabine Pass to Morgan City, Louisiana; Ocean Springs to the Alabama/Florida border; Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, and metropolitan New Orleans.
▪ Hurricane Watch in effect for Intracoastal City, Louisiana to west of Morgan City. Watch also in effect Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, and metropolitan New Orleans.
▪ Tropical storm warning in effect from the mouth of the Pearl River to the Mississippi/Alabama border. Warning also in effect for Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, and metropolitan New Orleans.
▪ Tropical Storm Watch in effect from the Mississippi/Alabama border to the Alabama/Florida border.
What about the other wave in the Atlantic?
The third wave dissipated Saturday evening and is no longer being tracked by the National Hurricane Center.
The next storm name on the list is Nana.
This story was originally published August 21, 2020 at 11:53 PM with the headline "Tropical Storm Laura may bring storms to Florida Keys. Marco nears hurricane strength."
