Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura are expected to cause dangerous swimming and surfing conditions in the Pensacola area and dump several inches of rain on the area later in the week.
Tropical Storm Marco officially strengthened to a hurricane at about 11:30 a.m. Sunday and is expected to make landfall in Louisiana on Monday night, according to the latest National Hurricane Center update.
Marco is the earliest named “M” storm to form in recorded history and comes as Tropical Storm Laura is also expected to enter the Gulf early this week and could approach Louisiana on Wednesday as a hurricane.
If the forecast is accurate, it would be the first time in recorded history that two hurricanes were in the Gulf at the same time.
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While the Pensacola area is outside the forecast cones for both storms, that doesn’t mean the Panhandle won’t feel any affects from the tropical systems. Here’s what you need to know about the weather on Sunday:
High rip current, huge waves expected
Coastal part of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties are under a high rip current risk through Wednesday night and a high surf advisory from midnight Sunday through midnight Monday.
Surf heights are expected to ramp up Sunday night with large breaking waves of 5 to 7 feet expected in the surf zone Monday.
The National Weather Service in Mobile, Alabama, warns there will be a brief lull in surf heights after Marco passes, with a drastic increase to 8 to 10 feet Tuesday night into Wednesday.
There remains a risk for high rip current, which can sweep even advanced swimmers away from shore into deeper water.
Minor coastal flooding is also possible along the barrier islands of Northwest Florida, according to the morning update from the NWS.
Tropical storm conditions developing
Tropical storm conditions will be possible along coastal Alabama and parts of southeast Mississippi. A tropical storm watch remains in effect from the Mississippi/Alabama border to the Alabama/Florida border. Both Escambia and Santa Rosa counties remain just outside the watch area.
Forecasters said Sunday afternoon that the likelihood of tropical storm force winds striking the Pensacola area is about 12%.
Overall, there is a 3 in 10 to 4 in 10 chance of seeing tropical storm force winds across southeast Mississippi and coastal Alabama.
Tropical storm force winds could arrive along the Gulf Coast as early as overnight Sunday into pre-dawn Monday but the most likely time for their arrival is Monday morning along the coast and inland in the afternoon.
Pensacola area to see rain, flooding from Marco-Laura combo
The combination of Marco and Laura is expected to bring periods of heavy rain to the region, as well as minor flooding in flood-prone areas, particularly along the coast.
As of Sunday afternoon, the NWS is forecasting that most of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties will see between 2 and 4 inches of rain, with 4 to 6 inches of rain possible for coastal Escambia County.
Both counties are under a coastal flood advisory through 7 p.m. Wednesday. Water levels along the western Panhandle coasts are expected to range from 1 to 3 feet above normally dry ground, especially around the time Marco makes landfall to the west of the area Monday and then again around the times of astronomical high on Tuesday and Wednesday as Laura moves northwest across the Gulf.
Minor coastal flooding is possible across coastal parts of Northwest Florida with inundation of 1 to 2 feet possible.
The NWS also cautioned there is a potential for isolated tornadoes in southeast Mississippi and southwest Alabama late Sunday into Monday.
Tropical Storm Marco forecast to make landfall Monday
At 10 a.m., Marco was about 475 miles southeast of Lafayette, Louisiana, moving north-northwest at 14 mph with sustained winds of 70 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Marco strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane at about 11:30 a.m.
On the forecast track, Marco will cross the central Gulf of Mexico on Sunday and will approach southeastern Louisiana on Monday, where it is expected to make landfall as a hurricane
Tropical Storm Laura to approach Louisiana Wednesday
Tropical Storm Laura was about 70 northwest of Port Au Prince, Haiti, with 50 sustained winds and moving west-northwest at 21 mph as of 10 a.m., according to the NHC.
The storm is forecast to move toward Cuba Sunday night and Monday and then head to the southeastern Gulf of Mexico Monday night and Tuesday.
Laura is expected to move over the central and northwestern Gulf of Mexico Tuesday night and Wednesday.
Strengthening is forecast after the storm moves over the Gulf of Mexico, and Laura is expected to become a hurricane late Tuesday or Tuesday night.
The storm is expected to strengthen once is the Gulf and could approach Louisiana late Wednesday as a hurricane.
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