TS Laura and Marco

NOAA/NHC ^ | 21 August 2020 | NOAA/NHC

[NautiNurse]

The 2020 Atlantic Hurricane season continues to heat up as we are two weeks shy of average season peak activity. Two tropical systems are taking aim at the Gulf of Mexico concurrently. Tropical Storm Laura has formed east of the Leeward Islands. Marco is approaching the Yucatan Peninsula.

There is a possibility we may see the amazing Fujiwhara Effect, where two storms within 870 miles of each other will dance around each other. If one storm is significantly stronger, the weaker storm will be absorbed into the stronger storm. If the two storms are similar in size, they can gravitate toward each other until they reach a common point where they either merge or they spin each other around for a while before they spin off in different directions. The likelihood of a Fujiwhara Effect is low, however, due to the relatively small area in the Gulf of Mexico.

Laura's fate is dependent upon the extent of interaction with the tall mountains of Hispanola and Cuba.

Mash the graphics below to enlarge. All links and images are self-updating.

Laura	Marco
Laura Public Advisory	Marco Public Advisory
Laura Forecast Discussion	Marco Forecast Discussion
Buoy/Observations near Laura	Buoy/Observations near Marco

Bouy Data Northern GOM
Florida Radar Loop with Storm Track
Florida Keys Radar Loop with Storm Track
NW Florida Radar Loop
Mobile AL Radar Loop
West LA Radar Loop
Galveston/Houston Radar Loop

[NautiNurse]

Only time will tell us what will occur with interaction of these two storms.

[NautiNurse]

Watch the FL Radar Loop with storm tracks all the way through the loop. Notice how the two storm tracks merge at the end.

[razzle9251]

Mobile, Alabama here. Friday morning, I tested the generator, stocked up on non-ethanol gas for the generator, filled up both cars, and went grocery shopping. By Friday evening the gas prices jumped 20 cents and the local Wal-Mart was packed. One advantage of being retired and experienced is that you can beat the rush.

[jpsb]

thx, for reminding me it’s time to fill up the truck!

[NautiNurse]

Great to hear you are storm-ready! Love that Wawa corn-free gasoline. I use it for the car. Car is very happy.

[OrangeHoof]

Laura and Marco might become our first hermaphrodite hurricane! Does that make it LGBT?

[Rio]

Laura and Marco are my cousins! They live in San Diego, though.

[NautiNurse]

No. Just no.

[Moonlighter]

Hurricane Gustav curtailed the 2008 RNC too.

[DrewsMum]

I’ve been in a lot of hurricane cones of uncertainty. But never in 2 cones at once.
Yay 2020.

[NautiNurse]

200 PM NHC Update

TS Laura	TS Marco
Laura Strengthens Near Puerto Rico...	Marco Moving Through The Yucatan Channel...
Location About 60 MI SW of Ponce PR... Max Sustained Winds...50 MPH Moving W at 18 MPH Pressure 1004 MB	Location About 50 MI SW of the Western Tip of Cuba Max Sustained Winds...65 MPH Moving NNW at 12 MPH Pressure 992 MB

[DrewsMum]

Rita.

If you went through that one, you know her name.
Ha!

[NautiNurse]

I’ve been in a lot of hurricane cones of uncertainty. But never in 2 cones at once. Yay 2020.

Does your 2020 Disaster Bingo card contain Dueling Hurricanes? Should be located near COVID-19, Murder Hornets and the DNC Convention.

[wastedyears]

I hope someone in the WH is at least aware of the potential situation of two storms hitting in the same time frame.

Trump is at the helm.

[dfwgator]

Maybe they'll knock each other out like in Battling Tops...

[SE Mom]

Thanks! Now I’ll be humming Dueling Banjos allll day;)

[NautiNurse]

I’m struggling to figure out whether being in the cone of doom for two hurricanes simultaneously is better or worse than the sum of all Florida hurricanes in 2004. Tough call.

[DrewsMum]

Rita was the first one where it was soooo bad. Then the storm turned and didn’t even hit houston

Ike was bad traffic but not nearly what Rita was. Most people who got burned from Rita didn’t evacuate for ike unless it was mandatory. Turns out, dealing with a hurricane is preferable to dealing with Houston Traffic.

[SE Mom]

Man, oh man. 2004 was a humdinger. I remember the whole summer was just endless loss of electric, no water, then recovering, cleaning up and re-prepping. And sweating! A LOT of sweating.

We’ll see- this has potential.

[NautiNurse]

Thanks for clarifying the Rita and Ike traffic jams. That was incredible seeing the crazy lines of stopped vehicles on the highway.