Both storms were predicted to hit the Louisiana coast as hurricanes within miles of each other and over a period of 48 hours – an event different from modern meteorological history, said National Weather Service meteorologist Benjamin Schott.
But Marco is currently facing unfavorable conditions that make it unlikely to return to hurricane strength, said CNN meteorologist Robert Shackelford. And although it was able to reach Louisiana Monday night as well as Tuesday morning with a grazing landfall, the storm could fizzle out as it moved parallel to the shoreline, he said.
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Laura, already proven deadly in the Dominican Republic, is getting stronger in the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea and is likely to become a hurricane on Tuesday. By Wednesday, Laura was able to reach Louisiana as a Category 2 storm.
‘There may not be much of a window’
If conditions are right for both Marco and Laura to land, then the effects could be a challenge for Louisiana officials and the residents.
With such a tight time frame, “there can not be much of a window” for rescuers as crew members for power to respond to casualties between the two storms, Louis Gov. John Bel Edwards.
As of Monday, Tropical Storm Marco was about 150 miles southeast of the Mississippi River estuary with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph. The storm was moving at 12 mph to the mouth of the river, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Also with sustained winds of 65 mph, Tropical Storm Laura was about 60 miles south of Camaguey, Cuba on Monday morning. The storm moved west-northwest at 21 mph.
Before Marco weakened, mandatory evacuations were issued Sunday for Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, and Grand Isle, Louisiana. Watches and alerts are in effect for parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Laura has parts of Cayman, Cuba and the Florida Keys under Tropical Storm watches and warnings.
Life-threatening storm surge
“Ultimately, the great concern will be storm surge,” said CNN meteorologist Allison Chinchar.
Marco was still able to bring current up to 6 feet into the Gulf Coast, along with “a tremendous amount of rain,” Chinchar said.
And Laura is expected to follow her heels closely.
“Even on Monday and Tuesday, Key West, Miami – you’ll get some of Laura’s outer bands producing very heavy rain and heavy wind,” Chinchar said.
Before it reaches the US, it is expected that Laura will bring up to 12 inches of rain to parts of the Caribbean.
The Dominican Republic already experienced Laura’s anger on Sunday. At least nine people have died in the Caribbean since the storm, at least three in the capital Santo Domingo, according to the country’s Center for Emergency Operations.
The victims in the capital include a 7-year-old boy who died with his mother after a wall collapsed in her house and a third person who died after a tree fell on a house.
Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader said Sunday that an army corporal had been killed while helping with rescue efforts in Pedernales province.
Five people were killed in Haiti, according to the country’s Civil Protection, including a 10-year-old girl.
The US is preparing for impact
In the U.S., President Donald Trump on Sunday approved a state of emergency for Louisiana, and ordered federal aid to coordinate disaster relief efforts.
Texas Abgott Greg Abbott requested a federal emergency declaration for 23 counties in his state. Galveston County Judge Mark Henry said that Sunday Hurricane Marco would probably not be a factor for residents. “Unfortunately, we can not say the same about Tropical Storm Laura,” Henry said.
Long lines formed outside Louisiana grocery stores as residents – long accustomed to preaching hurricane – before both storms.
Stacie Osborn told CNN that it took her 30 minutes to get through the checkout to a New Orleans market.
“I provided enough food for the week, extra water and gassed my car in case – the usual,” she said.
Meanwhile, John Snow told Baton Rouge that the line at his local Costco ran around the building about 10 minutes after the opening.
“It finally took about 20 to 25 minutes to get into the store, which was not ideal with the Louisiana heat and masks on,” he said, “but it was not terrible.”
Snow said he picked up the essences and got gas. “As always, we hope for the best, but plan for the worst.”
CNN’s Holly Yan, Dave Hennen and Dakin Andone contributed to this report.
.
