Live updates: Marco downgraded to tropical storm as Laura intensifies near Cuba
Local and national weather officials are urging the Mississippi Coast to prepare for two tropical systems expected to make landfall this week.
“This is your time today, to complete necessary actions for preparedness of life and property as these tropical systems approach,” the Harrison County Emergency Management Agency warned Sunday morning. “Look for conditions to start to go downhill starting tonight into the morning on Tuesday.”
Winds from Marco, which was downgraded to a tropical storm Sunday night could reach the Coast as soon as 8 a.m. Monday, with the center of the storm possibly making landfall in southeast Louisiana on Monday evening or early Tuesday.
Tropical Storm Laura is expected to be a hurricane at landfall in Louisiana on Wednesday night. Tropical storm-force winds from the storm are expected to arrive as early as Tuesday night.
Here are the current watches and warnings for the Mississippi Coast:
- Tropical Storm Warning and Storm Surge Warning and for Hancock and Harrison counties
- Tropical Storm Warning and Storm Surge Watch for Jackson County
- Tropical Storm Watch for Pearl River, Stone and George counties
- Flash Flood Watch for all of South Mississippi
- A hurricane warning was accidentally issued for Hancock County around 11 a.m., but has been canceled.
Other orders:
- Mandatory evacuation orders are in place Sunday at the Gulfport and Biloxi marinas and the harbor in Long Beach. All boats should be moved by sundown Sunday. In Gulfport, the fuel dock is closed.
Local impacts from Hurricane Marco
- Three to 5 inches inches of heavy rain forecast with up to 7 inches possible in some areas of South Mississippi and Louisiana through Tuesday.
- Storm surge of 4-6 feet above normal is possible in Hancock and Harrison counties, and 2-4 feet in Jackson County.
- Coastal flooding of 3-5 feet is expected from the mouth of the Mississippi River to Ocean Springs.
- Winds of 20-30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph are forecast so far, but any eastward movement could bring winds up to 60-70 mph. Gusts could blow around loose objects and could cause isolated power outages.
- “Situation is somewhat favorable for tornadoes,” the weather service says.
- Impacts from Marco could make preparations for Laura more difficult.
Forecast track
For latest Marco and Laura track updates, click here.
Forecast changes
10 p.m.
Where will Marco and Laura make landfall? Both tracks are still largely uncertain after Marco weakened to a tropical storm in the Gulf while Laura grew stronger as the storm dumped heavy rain on Cuba and Jamaica.
Marco’s projected track moved slightly north Sunday night due to center of circulation, but the hurricane center said where the storm will go is hard to predict because “Marco’s track is tried entirely to its intensity and structure.”
Laura is expected to make landfall in Louisiana as a “strong” hurricane Wednesday night. Light wind shear and warm Gulf waters will be favorable for the storm to strengthen upon entering the Gulf late Monday or early Tuesday.
7 p.m.
Marco’s maximum sustained winds are 75 mph, and the NHC said “small fluctuations in strength” could occur Sunday night.
“Gradual weakening is expected to begin on Monday, and Marco could become a remnant low by Tuesday night,” the NHC said.
Marco will approach the Louisiana coast by Monday afternoon and is expected to turn west and “move near or over the Coast” through Tuesday.
Laura’s forecast track is largely unchanged and still depending on how much the storm interacts with Cuba. The storm, located about 30 miles west of Guantanamo, is dumping rain on Eastern Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica.
Laura is still moving west-northwest near 21 mph, the NHC said, but some decrease in forward speed is expected over the next few days.
Laura is expected to strengthen as the storm moves into the Gulf and is expected to take a northwest turn on Wednesday.
4 p.m.
There has been “a major shift in the track guidance” for Hurricane Marco since this morning, NHC hurricane specialist Andrew Latto said in the forecast discussion.
“... The majority of the forecast models now keep Marco offshore of the northern Gulf coast for the next few days rather than moving it inland over Louisiana Monday afternoon.” The track has it skirting the edge of Louisiana and Texas as it moves west.
However, since the change was so abrupt, the NHC is splitting the difference until another round of model runs can confirm the new track.
“It should be noted that if the trend in the models are correct, some of the impacts over portions of the north-central Gulf coast (Mississippi Coast) could be lessened.”
Marco has been able to slowly strengthen today despite wind shear, but that wind shear is predicted to increase tonight and through Monday which should limit further strengthening.
For Laura, the forecast track is largely unchanged and is highly dependent on how much the storm interacts with Cuba.
The NHC notes the latest run of the European model, ECMWF, shows a significant eastward shift, but three other models remain close to current forecast.
Laura has continued to edge southward, and if the storm stays offshore of Cuba that would mean more strengthening. It should move out into the Gulf on Tuesday, and turn toward the northwest is expected that night.
“Laura could threaten the northwestern Gulf coast near major hurricane strength,” the NHC said. A major hurricane is Category 3 or higher.
2 p.m.
Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Director Greg Michel went live on YouTube to ask Coast residents to prepare now.
“Do not take this for granted,” he said. “Either one of these storms could make some changes.”
Hurricane Marco is so far forecast to make landfall in southeastern Louisiana and “that will put the state of Mississippi on the eastern side of that storm.”
He said there may be some mandatory evacuations in Waveland, and “they’re working on those locally right now.”
As for Laura, he said, “currently that storm does not pose a major threat to Mississippi, but it is important to understand — much like Marco did — when it entered the Gulf of Mexico we did see a change in track.”
“Tropical Storm Laura could very well do the same thing when it gets out into the warm waters of the Gulf.”
He said Mississippians should keep PPE on hand to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and avoid using public shelters if at all possible.
“Check your emergency kits, make sure that you do have an evacuation plan.”
11:30 a.m.
Marco has officially reached hurricane strength, the National Hurricane Center said.
Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft detected maximum winds of 75 mph.
10 a.m.
At 10 a.m., the National Hurricane Center said — based on data collected by the Hurricane Hunters based at Biloxi’s Keesler Air Force Base — “it appears that Marco is on the cusp of becoming a hurricane, but is not quite there yet.”
It has a 24-48 hour window to strengthen over the warm Gulf of Mexico waters before wind shear is expected to pick up and weaken it, possibly just before landfall. However, “there is little difference in the impacts between a (69-75 mph) system.”
For Laura, the NHC said the center has been difficult to locate Sunday, but the track has shifted significantly south and west.
“Little change in strength is expected during the next 36 hours while Laura moves near or over Cuba,” however, once over open water conditions are very favorable for significant strengthening.
“The system could be somewhat stronger than explicitly indicated” so far, the NHC warned.
“Users are reminded to not to focus on the exact details of the track forecast at the longer range as future adjustments will likely be required, and storm hazards will extend far from the center.”
School closures
Many districts in the coastal counties have canceled classes Monday, along with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and Pearl River Community College and William Carey University’s Tradition campus.
Find the latest updates on all Coast school closures here.
Business, military and other closures, cancellations
▪ Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport will have only essential staff working Monday. Pass Road and 28th St. gates will remain open until winds reach 50 knots. Broad Avenue gate will be closed Monday. Facility and gate openings will be re-evaluated each day this week.
▪ Coast Transit Authority will not operate fixed route services Monday.
▪ Harrison County Library System closed Monday.
▪ Local governments offices closed Monday:
- Jackson County
Sandbag locations on the MS Coast
The Hancock County Emergency Management Agency will have self-serve sand and sand bags available at 7 p.m. Saturday. Residents will need their own shovels. Those who need assistance can call the EMA at 228-255-0942 or Hancock County Central Dispatch at 228-255-9191.
Self-serve sand bags are at these locations:
- Hancock County Horse Arena, 4184 Kiln/Delisle Rd.
- Old Hancock County Complex, 3068 Longfellow Dr.
- Lakeshore Community Center, 6440 Lower Bay Rd.
- Bayside Fire Department, 6212 West Hinds St.
- West Hancock Fire Department, 16006 Washington St.
- Diamondhead City Hall, 5000 Diamondhead Circle
Harrison County’s Board of Supervisors, Emergency Management Agency and Road Department have self-serve sand and bags (bring a shovel) available at these locations:
- Road Department, 10076 Lorraine Rd.
- D’Iberville Work Center, 10085 1st Ave.
- Lyman Work Center, 15001 County Farm Rd.
- Long Beach Work Center: 605 North Seal Ave.
- Orange Grove Work Center, 8300 34th Ave.
- Woolmarket Work Center, 16395 Old Woolmarket Rd.
- Courthouse Road Pier in Gulfport
- Long Beach Harbor
The City of Gulfport has placed self-serve sand, bags and shovels at three locations. Staff will be on location from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to help those in need of assistance filling bags:
- Orange Grove Community Center on Dedeaux Road
- Gulfport Fire Station on 42nd Avenue
- The intersection of Hewes Avenue and Glover Street
Courthouse Road Pier in Gulfport
Long Beach Harbor
Harrison County Road Department
10076 Lorraine Road in Gulfport
This story was originally published August 23, 2020 at 9:39 AM.
