Two tropical storms swept across the Caribbean on Saturday as potentially historic threats to the U.S. Gulf Coast, one dumping rain on Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, while the other hit the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, which expanded resorts almost hit by pandemics were restrictions.
Tropical Storms Laura and Marco were both projected to approach the Gulf Coast during or during hurricane force. The current, uncertain track would bring them to Texas or Louisiana.
Two hurricanes have never occurred in the Gulf of Mexico at the same time, according to data dating to at least 1900, said hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach of Colorado State University. The last time two tropical storms were together in the Gulf was in 1959, he said.
The last time two storms occurred within 24 hours of each other in the United States was in 1933, Klotzbach said.
The projected track from the U.S. National Hurricane Center would put both storms together in the Gulf on Tuesday, with Marco hitting Texas and Laura making land a little less than a day later, though both tracks remain uncertain.
Laura fell early on Saturday over Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and was expected to dry up the Dominican Republic, Haiti and parts of Cuba during the day on its course to the west.
Alderman Wanda Vazquez, Puerto Rico declared a state of emergency and warned that floods could be less than what Tropical Storm Isaias unleashed three weeks ago because the ground is now saturated.
“No one should be on the streets,” she said.
The storm was centered about 50 miles south of San Juan, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph. It was moving west at 21 mph.
Marcos, meanwhile, intensified as he headed about 110 miles east of the island of Cozumel, going north-northwest at 12 mph. It had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph.
The Hurricane Center said it expects the storms to remain far enough apart to prevent direct interaction, as the region braces for the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, which is expected to be unusually active.
Both storms are expected to bring 3 to 6 inches of rain to areas they pass as close, threatening widespread flooding over an entire region.
“Many people will be affected by downpours and storm surges in the Gulf of Mexico,” said Joel Cline, the tropical program coordinator for the National Water Service. “Since you just do not know, you really need to take precautionary measures.”
It seems appropriate for such an unusual twin threat to come in 2020, said University of Miami hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy.
“Obviously, we need to have two hurricanes hitting land at the same time,” McNoldy said. “It’s best not to ask what’s next.”
Forecasters said that although the atmospheric conditions are favorable for Laura to grow, its passage over Puerto Rico and the mountains of Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Cuba that can disintegrate it or weaken it before the warm Gulf Water enters promotes for growth.
Officials in the Florida Keys, who Laura might cross over on her way to the Gulf, declared a local state of emergency Friday and issued a mandatory evacuation order for anyone living on boats, in mobile homes and in campers. Tourists staying in hotels should be aware of dangerous weather conditions and consider changing their plans from Sunday, Monroe County officials said in a news release.
Both storm systems were affected, Louisiana Gov. explained. John Bel Edwards a state of emergency Friday night. “It’s too early to know exactly where, when or how these double storms will affect Louisiana, but now is the time for our people to prepare for these storms,” Edwards said in a statement.
Laura had previously forced the closure of schools and government offices in the eastern Caribbean islands of Anguilla and Antigua, according to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency.
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