Tropical Storm Marco expected to become hurricane before battering Louisiana
The first of two devastating storms is baring down on Louisiana as of Sunday morning and could become a hurricane as early as this afternoon.
Tropical Storm Marco currently sits about 210 miles northwest of the western tip of Cuba and about 360 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River, as of the National Hurricane Center’s 8 a.m. update. Winds are swirling up to 70 mph and moving north-northwest toward land.
Marco is “nearing hurricane strength” as it progresses into the Gulf of Mexico, weather experts said, and could stay at those levels as it approaches southeastern Louisiana on Monday.
A hurricane warning is already in effect for Morgan City and a hurricane watch in place in Intracoastal City, Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas and Metropolitan.
A storm surge warning has also been issued from Morgan City, La., to Ocean Springs, Miss.
Marco is expected to drop two to four inches of rain, and up to six inches, across the central U.S. Gulf coast through Tuesday.
The NHC also warned about potentially life-threatening surf and rip current conditions and an isolated tornado along the coast.
Related: Damage from hurricane Isaias
Jefferson Parish in Louisiana issued a voluntary evacuation order for the towns of Jean Lafitte, Lower Lafitte, Crown Point and Barataria that went into effect at 6 p.m. Saturday.
“We want to make sure residents are safe as these storms approach so we are taking all the necessary precautions to be fully prepared,” Mayor Tim Kerner, Jr. said.
“We are issuing this voluntary evacuation as an extra precaution to encourage citizens to move to an area of safety before the storms approach.”
As Marco continues to strengthen, Tropical Storm Laura is not far behind, threatening to batter the same area. The storm is currently swirling at 45 mph about 40 miles north-north east of Port Au Prince, Haiti, and is projected to veer into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico Monday night or Tuesday morning.
A tropical storm warning is in place for areas of the Dominican Republic, Haiti, the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos and Cuba.
