MARCO STRENGTHENS AND IS NOW A HURRICANE… Marco is now a hurricane in the south-central Gulf of Mexico. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 75 mph, according to the latest data from the NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft crew investigating the storm. Marco continues to move north-northwest at 14 mph. The latest 10AM advisory for Marco continues to suggest a landfall likely in southeast Louisiana some time during the daytime hours of Monday, most likely as a category 1 hurricane. This means local impacts will be possible in south Alabama and northwest Florida, mainly near in coastal counties. These local impacts may include heavy rain that could lead to flash flooding, gusty winds (25-35 mph) at the immediate beaches, isolated tornadoes, and high waves & rip currents at local beaches.

MARCO – POTENTIAL LOCAL IMPACTS… Isolated tornadoes will be a possibility, mainly in coastal counties (Baldwin, Mobile, Escambia (FL), Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa) on Monday into Monday night and early Tuesday due to Hurricane Marco. High surf, dangerous rip currents, coastal flooding, and perhaps minor storm surge may become an issue at the Alabama and northwest Florida beaches. High winds are unlikely across inland areas, but winds may gust up to 50 mph at the coast Monday night into Tuesday morning. Our local area may be dealing with some impacts because of Tropical Storm Laura by Wednesday. More details about Laura are below.

TIMING – MARCO IMPACTS LOCALLY… The center of Marco will likely make landfall in southeast Louisiana on Monday. That means that impacts will be possible across coastal areas of south Alabama and northwest Florida from Monday into Monday night and perhaps even the very early part of Tuesday morning. We encourage everyone to have a way to receive urgent tornado warnings, just in case warnings are needed locally. You know the drill: You need something like a NOAA Weather Radio or a smartphone (with loud alerts) to wake you up if you will be sleeping. Just like in tornado season in the spring months, multiple ways to receive urgent weather warnings are always best.

LAURA – POTENTIAL LOCAL IMPACTS… Depending on the exact future track of Tropical Storm Laura, which will likely become a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, potential local impacts may change. The latest forecast from NHC calls for the center of Laura to remain to our south and west, but impacts will be possible locally, especially at the Alabama and northwest Florida beaches on Wednesday into early Thursday. Gusty winds (25-35 mph), high waves, rip currents, isolated tornadoes, and heavy rain that could lead to flash flooding will all be possible locally in coastal counties due to Laura. Inland areas may contend with heavy rain, breezy conditions (15-25 mph winds), and the potential for isolated tornadoes. Further forecast refinements may eliminate or enhance these impacts. IF (and that remains a big IF this morning) local impacts happen in south Alabama and northwest Florida because of Laura, those impacts are most likely to happen on Wednesday into Thursday.

LAURA LIKELY TO MOVE INTO GULF… Just as Marco is making landfall on Monday, Laura will be entering the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. Laura is expected to be a tropical storm when the system enters the Gulf on Monday evening. Strengthening is called for in the National Hurricane Center forecast as Laura is moving northwest across the Gulf of Mexico toward Louisiana. For now, NHC ramps the system up to a category 1 hurricane. Further intensity guidance changes will be possible once we see how fractured (or strong) Laura is when the system moves into the Gulf.

SCATTERED SHOWERS & STORMS NEAR THE COAST NOW… Scattered areas of rain are happening near the Alabama and northwest Florida beaches. We probably will have more in the way of showers and storms pop up across inland areas this afternoon into this evening.

DOWNLOAD OUR FREE APP… If you haven’t already, be sure to download the free RedZone Weather app to keep up with all the latest information on the world of weather in south Alabama and northwest Florida. redzoneweather.com/app is the link for the free download. Once you have the app downloaded to your iOS or Android device, be sure to visit the Alerts tab (lower right corner) and tap the large, yellow Alert Settings button to customize the alerts you would like to receive straight from me.

I will have more updates over the next several hours. Have a nice Sunday evening!

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