The Southeast Louisiana coast is now under a Hurricane Warning, with a Tropical Storm Warning for the New Orleans metro area ahead of Tropical Storm Marco.
The current forecast calls for Marco to bring 2 to 4 inches of rain to New Orleans with isolated higher amounts. The metro area is also forecast to see winds that stay mostly below hurricane force on Monday. The track now calls for Marco to turn before the eye gets to New Orleans. The coast will bear the brunt of the impacts.
As of 4:00am, the storm was just shy of hurricane strength with 70 mph maximum sustained winds.
- A Hurricane Warning has been issued for the coast of Louisiana from Morgan City to the Mouth of the Pearl River.
- A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for Louisiana for Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, and Metropolitan New Orleans
The National Hurricane Center is calling for a landfalling Hurricane Marco tomorrow afternoon.
STORM SURGE:
The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline.
The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas of onshore winds, where the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances.
WIND:
Hurricane conditions are expected within the hurricane warning watch area by midday Monday, with tropical storm conditions possible by early Monday. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the tropical storm watch area on Monday, and hurricane conditions are possible within the hurricane watch areas late on Monday.
RAINFALL:
Marco is expected to produce rainfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 6 inches across the Central U.S. Gulf coast through Tuesday. This rainfall may result in isolated areas of flash and urban flooding along the Central U.S. Gulf Coast.
SURF:
Swells generated by Marco are likely to affect portions of the northern Gulf Coast later today. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
TORNADOES:
An isolated tornado will be possible early Monday morning near the southeast Louisiana coast.
Tropical Storm Laura is expected to hit Louisiana on Thursday.
The latest forecast from the Hurricane Center, however, moves the predicted landfall to the western portion of the state. The current track calls for the eye to come ashore close to Lake Charles, Louisiana.
