Marco’s Center is Moving Through the Yucatan Channel
NHC UPDATE SUMMARY OF 1:00 PM CDT INFORMATION
LOCATION…21.4N 85.5W
ABOUT 50 MI…85 KM SW OF THE WESTERN TIP OF CUBA
ABOUT 90 MI…150 ENE OF CANCUN MEXICO
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…65 MPH…100 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…NNW OR 340 DEGREES AT 12 MPH…19 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…992 MB…29.30 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for…
* Province of Pinar del Rio Cuba
* Cancun to Dzilam Mexico
DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
At 100 PM CDT (1800 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Marco was located near latitude 21.4 North, longitude 85.5 West. Marco is moving toward the north-northwest near 12 mph (19 km/h), and this general motion is expected to continue through Sunday morning. A gradual turn toward the northwest and west-northwest is expected to begin Sunday afternoon and continue through Tuesday morning. On the forecast track, Marco’s center will move into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico by this evening. Marco will then move across the central Gulf of Mexico on Sunday and approach the central and northwestern Gulf coast on Monday and Tuesday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph (100 km/h) with higher gusts. Strengthening is forecast during the next day or two, and Marco is expected to become a hurricane later today or tonight. Weakening is forecast to occur on Monday and Tuesday.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from the center.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 992 MB (29.30 inches).
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
WIND: Tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area in Cuba through this afternoon. Tropical storm conditions are also still possible today within the warning area along the northeastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.
RAINFALL: Marco is expected to produce 1 to 4 inches of rain, with isolated maximum amounts of 6 inches possible, across the eastern portions of the Mexican states of Quintana Roo and Yucatan, and across far western Cuba. This rainfall may result in areas of flash flooding.
Category: ALL POSTS, Severe Weather, Tropical