One of two tropical storms headed for the US Gulf Coast is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane as coastal governors urge residents to prepare for the historic event amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tropical Storm Marco, about 80km west of Cuba with winds of 105km/h, was expected to intensify as it moved through the Yucatan Channel into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico, according to the National Hurricane Center's latest bulletin.
To the east, Tropical Storm Laura was packing 80km/h winds as it moved west about 160km west of Ponce, Puerto Rico, the centre said on Saturday. It is forecast to hit the US Gulf Coast on Wednesday.
The two storms simultaneously working their way into the Gulf is a rare weather event that could wreak havoc on the region with damaging winds, rains and storm surges.
There have never been two hurricanes in the US Gulf of Mexico at the same time, according to the National Hurricane Center. The last time two cyclones were in the gulf was in 2002.
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves declared a state of emergency, urging residents to make preparations given the unpredictability of the storms and the limited amount of available shelter space due to social distancing requirements caused by the pandemic.
Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vazquez also issued a state of emergency and warned residents to remain indoors as Laura lashed the island with rain and high winds on Saturday.
Tropical storm conditions from Laura were expected to also strike the Virgin Islands on Saturday and the Dominican Republic and Haiti on Sunday while Marco is forecast to thrash northwestern Yucatan Peninsula and western Cuba on Saturday.
Australian Associated Press
