Warmest Waters on Earth are on Hurricane Marco, Laura's Path, What are the Dangers?
Hurricane Marco and soon-to-be Hurricane Laura are approaching the Gulf of Mexico. Hurricanes get their energy from ocean heat, and being in the warmest waters on Earth right now will likely spell danger.
Hurricane Marco earned its current status on Sunday morning. It is still getting fueled by the warmest waters of the Gulf Coast, and so is Laura.
Hurricanes form at waters that are at least 79 degrees Fahrenheit, but that is on the low end of the scale. Warmer temperatures can make to build up some more, as with Hurricane Marco and Laura.
The warmest waters on earth right now can be found in the Gulf as it flows at 86 degrees, reported Forbes.
Marco and Laura to Strike Back-to-Back
Hurricane Marco is expected to bring a storm surge of four to six feet in parts of the Louisiana coast. It is highly likely that coastal water levels will be much higher in the area once Laura passes by.
It usually takes several days for a storm surge to subside, maybe a bit longer if there are heavy rains over a large area.
Yale Climate Connection said, though, that Marco will likely leave coastal water levels a feet or two higher as it is a relatively smaller storm.
Marco's center was shown in models to parallel to the coast. Models also show that it will move westward without coming inland.
It is believed that the intensity of wind and surge in some areas could expand, but go down with time.
As for them arriving two days apart, it is unlikely that they will merge into one storm. It is a rare case where the resulting storm isn't going to be stronger than the two original ones.
The two of them being in the Gulf Cost two days apart isn't a common scene, though. In fact, there are only two other times that the Gulf of Mexico had two storms in it at the same times.
One instance was in 1933 and the storms were much further apart. One struck near Brownsville,Texas and the other hit Florida's east coast.
Hurricanes haven't made landfall within 60 hours of each other, said Phil Klotzbach of Colorado State University.
Laura Poses Worrisome Threat
Once Marco hits inland, Laura is expected to follow by late Wednesday or early Thursday, reported Washington Post.
"Although not explicitly shown, Laura could threaten the northwestern Gulf coast near major hurricane strength," the National Hurricane Center said on Sunday afternoon.
Dr. Michael Ventrice, IBM of The Weather Company said simulations of laura is "bone chilling" prior to landfall. He said it poses a "very dangerous scenario" in the Texas-Louisiana area.
Marco has a possibility of disintegrating once it makes landfall, maybe even earlier. But this is not the case for Laura.
Laura briskly went across the Dominican Republic and Haiti on Sunday. The storm looked well-structured on satellite.
It also appeared to have not been affected by nearby terrain. That meant the storm isn't growing weaker over land.
As it survived landfall, it could grow into a more intense storm once it reaches the Gulf.
The unique meteorological situation is not lost in experts. They realize the dangers of it and warn many to stay safe amid the two storms hitting while there is a pandemic.
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