Marco weakens back to tropical storm as Tropical Storm Laura grows stronger in the Atlantic Ocean

RALEIGH (WTVD) — Hurricane Marco has weakened back to a tropical storm Sunday night but continues to approach the Louisiana coast, according to the National Hurricane Center. Meanwhile, out in the Atlantic Ocean Tropical Storm Laura continues to strengthen before also hitting the same area.

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Tropical Storm Marco currently has maximum sustained winds of 70 miles per hour, with gusts reaching up to 85 miles per hour. The storm is moving north-northwest through the Gulf of Mexico at 12 miles per hour.

Marco is expected to make landfall on the Louisiana coast late Monday into early Tuesday.

Tropical Storm Laura is currently hovering over Cuba. Some land interaction could limit strengthening but Laura is now expected to make landfall as a Category 2, potentially as a Category 3 hurricane close to the same area as Marco.

Laura now has maximum sustained winds at 65 miles per hour with gusts up to 70 mph and is moving west-northwest at 21 mph.

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KEY POINTS:

• Marco will make landfall Tuesday and Laura will make landfall Wednesday.
• This could be the first time we have two hurricanes in the Gulf.
• There will be no direct impacts to North Carolina.

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