Laura Stronger, So Is Marco

The center of Tropical Storm Laura is passing about 30 miles south of the southeastern corner of Puerto Rico this morning.

This storm looks better organized on satellite and radar.

The NOAA Hurricane Hunters are scheduled to investigate Laura late this afternoon.

In the northwestern Caribbean, Tropical Storm Marci is strengthening and appears to be threading the needle between the Yucatan and Cuba. It will emerge into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico tonight.

The current thinking is that it will approach the Louisiana Coast on Monday and turn west beneath a strengthening high-pressure ridge over the Southeast. Increasing wind shear should take its toll and it should weaken before making landfall Tuesday near or south of Houston.

But lots of uncertainty in all of the track and intensity forecasts, so everyone with interests along the Gulf Coast should keep a close eye on the latest forecasts and information on Marco and Laura. we will have frequent updates and analysis here on AlabamaWX through the weekend and until both systems make landfall.

Tropical Storm Laura Tropical Cyclone Update
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL132020
1200 PM AST Sat Aug 22 2020

…LAURA STRENGTHENS SOME…

Recent satellite-derived wind data indicate that the maximum
sustained winds in Tropical Storm Laura have increased to near 45
mph (75 km/h) with higher gusts. These winds are occurring mainly
in a band to the south of Vieques and eastern Puerto Rico.

SUMMARY OF 1200 PM AST…1600 UTC…INFORMATION
—————————————————
LOCATION…17.8N 67.2W
ABOUT 40 MI…65 KM WSW OF PONCE PUERTO RICO
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…45 MPH…75 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…W OR 280 DEGREES AT 18 MPH…30 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…1006 MB…29.71 INCHES

$$
Forecaster Pasch

Category: Alabama's Weather, ALL POSTS, Tropical