Tropical Storms Laura, Marco will likely hit Louisiana within days of each other

ORLANDO, Fla. – Tropical Storm Marco has gained strength quickly and could become a hurricane on Sunday, according to an update from the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Meanwhile, in the 11 pm Saturday update of the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Storm Laura also gained strength.

The two tropical storms have their eyes on the Gulf of Mexico as the systems continue to move closer to the US

Most of Florida is now outside the cones of Laura and Marco, but the National Hurricane Center says the long range is uncertain because Laura still has to move Monday or closer than across parts of the Greater Antilles.

Both Tropical Storm Laura and Tropical Storm Marco are predicted to become hurricanes as they move through the Gulf of Mexico.

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There is a chance that the storms over the Gulf could merge, with the stronger of the two picking up the weaker storm, however meteorologists say that this would not make an even stronger storm.

If that happened, it would be the first time two hurricanes have been in the Gulf at the same time, forecasters say, and will go back to the start of record keeping in 1851.

RELATED: Fujiwhara Effect: Here’s What Can Happen When Laura and Marco Collide in the Gulf of Mexico

Tropical Storm Laura is amplified and packs maximum sustained winds of 50 mph.

Starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, Laura produces heavy rain over the Dominican Republic.

Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:

• Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra
• US Virgin Islands
• 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

Tropical Storm Watch is up and running for:

• The central Bahamas
• Cuban provinces of Las Tunas, Holguin, Guantanamo, Santiago de Cuba, and Granma

As for Tropical Storm Marco, the National Hurricane Center says the system remains strong.

Marco packs maximum sustained winds of 65 mph, moving north-northwest across the southern Gulf of Mexico.

Storm surges and hurricane watches are in effect for parts of the northern Gulf Coast.

Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:

• Province of Pinar del Rio Cuba
• Cancun to Dzilam Mexico

Forecasters have predicted that this season will have more activity than normal.

For example, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted an above-average season, with 13 to 19 named storms. Six to 10 of them would be hurricanes and three to six of these would be predicted to be major hurricanes (category 3 or higher).

By comparison, the 2019 Atlantic Hurricane season had 18 named storms, corresponding to 1969 for the fourth liveliest season in the past 150 years.

The Atlantic Hurricane Season in 2020 lasts until Nov. 30.

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