Louisiana: Two Hurricanes, Laura And Marco Set To Make Landfall On US East Coast, Simultaneously

Marco became a hurricane over the Gulf of Mexico on August 23 on a path toward the Louisiana coast as Tropical Storm Laura killed at least seven people in the Dominican Republic & Haiti. Laura was headed over Cuba before its path likely took it to the same part of the US coast, also as a potential hurricane. It would be the first time two hurricanes form in the Gulf of Mexico simultaneously, according to records dating to at least 1900, said Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach. The National Hurricane Centre said Marco was about 300 miles (480 km) south of the mouth of the Mississippi River and heading north-northwest at 14 miles per hour (22kph), packing winds of 75 miles per hour (120kph). The centre warned of life-threatening storm surges and hurricane-force winds along the Gulf coast. Laura was centred about 55 miles (90 kilometres) off the eastern tip of Cuba on August 23, with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85kph). It was moving west-northwest at 21 mph (33 kph). Both storms were expected to bring 3 to 6 inches (8 to 15 centimetres) of rain to areas they were passing over or near, threatening flooding.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 24, 2020 03:08 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).