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Louisiana gets a break in Marco forecast

Mon, 08/24/2020 - 12:33pm

The latest forecast for Hurricane Marco -- now Tropical Storm Marco -- represents a big break for Louisiana, Gov. John Bel Edwards said in a midday press conference Monday.

But that doesn't mean the state's coast will be as lucky with Tropical Storm Laura -- soon to be Hurricane Laura -- when it strikes late Wednesday.

The 10 a.m. guidance on Marco from the National Hurricane Center goes like this:

"Based on the updated intensity forecast, tropical storm conditions are no longer expected to be produced by Marco over the central portions of the Louisiana coast, and the Tropical Storm Warnings for those locations have been discontinued."

That means winds are expected to be less than 39 mph as Marco scrapes westward along the Louisiana coast. It is predicted to weaken into a tropical depression about the time it crosses through eastern St. Mary Parish early Tuesday morning.

Shear continues to prevent Marco from becoming stronger and better organized.

"There's no doubt that if that holds up, we'll get a big break ...," Edwards said. "We're not going to have two hurricanes, and we're not going to have a short window of 12 to 18 hours to do search and rescue and so forth."

But people shouldn't assume Laura will be so accommodating.

Laura is expected to become a hurricane sometime Tuesday and make landfall south of Lake Charles late Wednesday or early Thursday. By then it will be a strong Category 2 hurricane, with winds up to 110 mph, or even a Category 3.

Laura is a much larger storm, and tropical winds may be felt from Baton Rouge to Houston, Edwards said.

Laura is also expected to bring up to 10 inches of rain across a wide area and a storm surge of 10 feet on the southwest Louisiana coast.

UPDATED 11:30 P.M. Marco weakens; Laura expected to become hurricane Tuesday

Mon, 08/24/2020 - 11:30am

NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER

TROPICAL STORM LAURA
Advisory Number 21
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL132020
1100 PM EDT Mon Aug 24 2020

...LAURA FORECAST TO BECOME A HURRICANE ON TUESDAY...
...HEAVY RAINS AND FLASH FLOODING CONTINUES OVER WESTERN CUBA...

SUMMARY OF 1100 PM EDT...0300 UTC...INFORMATION
-----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...22.7N 84.0W
ABOUT 80 MI...130 KM NE OF THE WESTERN TIP OF CUBA
ABOUT 765 MI...1230 KM SE OF LAKE CHARLES LOUISIANA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...65 MPH...100 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 290 DEGREES AT 20 MPH...31 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...996 MB...29.42 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

The Tropical Storm Warning for the Middle Florida Keys has been
discontinued.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...
* San Luis Pass Texas to Ocean Springs Mississippi
* Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, and Lake Borgne

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* Port Bolivar Texas to west of Morgan City Louisiana

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Cuban provinces of Villa Clara, Cienfuegos, Matanzas, Mayabeque,
La Habana, Artemisa, Pinar del Rio, and the Isle of Youth
* Florida Keys from the Seven Mile Bridge to Key West
* Dry Tortugas

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* South of Port Bolivar to San Luis Pass Texas
* Morgan City Louisiana to the Mouth of the Mississippi River

A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life-
threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the
coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours.
For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather
Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at
hurricanes.gov.

A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible
within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours
before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force
winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or
dangerous.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are
expected somewhere within the warning area.

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are
possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.

For storm information specific to your area in the United
States, including possible inland watches and warnings, please
monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service
forecast office. For storm information specific to your area
outside of the United States, please monitor products issued by
your national meteorological service.

DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
----------------------
At 1100 PM EDT (0300 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Laura was
located near latitude 22.7 North, longitude 84.0 West. Laura is
moving toward the west-northwest near 20 mph (31 km/h) and this
general motion with some decrease in forward speed is expected over
the next day or so. A turn toward the northwest is forecast by
Wednesday, and a northwestward to north-northwestward motion should
continue through Wednesday night. On the forecast track, the center
of Laura will move away from Cuba and over the southeastern Gulf of
Mexico overnight. Laura is then forecast to move over the central
and northwestern Gulf of Mexico Tuesday night and Wednesday, and
approach the northwestern coast of the Gulf of Mexico Wednesday
night.

Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph (105 km/h) with higher
gusts. Strengthening is expected, and Laura is foreast to become a
hurricane on Tuesday. Additional strengthening is forecast on
Wednesday, and Laura could be near major hurricane strength when it
approaches the coast.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles (280 km)
from the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure based on data from the NOAA
and Air Force Hurricane Hunters is 996 mb (29.42 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
Key messages for Laura can be found in the Tropical Cyclone
Discussion under AWIPS header MIATCDAT3 and WMO header WTNT43 KNHC.

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 water could
reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated
areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...

High Island TX to Morgan City LA including Sabine Lake, Calcasieu
Lake, and Vermilion Bay...7-11 ft
Port Bolivar TX to High Island TX...4-6 ft
Morgan City LA to Mouth of the Mississippi River...4-6 ft
Mouth of the Mississippi River to Ocean Springs MS including Lake
Borgne...3-5 ft
San Luis Pass TX to Port Bolivar TX...2-4 ft
Galveston Bay...2-4 ft
Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas...2-4 ft

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to
the right of the landfall location, 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. For information
specific to your area, please see products issued by your local
National Weather Service forecast office.

RAINFALL: Laura is expected to produce the following storm total
rainfall accumulations into tonight:

Western Cuba: 4 to 6 inches, with maximum amounts of 10 inches.
This heavy rainfall could lead to life-threatening flash and urban
flooding, and the potential for mudslides.

From Wednesday afternoon into Saturday, Laura is expected to produce
rainfall of 4 to 8 inches, with isolated maximum amounts of 12
inches across portions of the west-central U.S. Gulf Coast near the
Texas and Louisiana border north into portions of the lower
Mississippi Valley. This rainfall could cause widespread flash and
urban flooding, small streams to overflow their banks, and minor to
isolated moderate river flooding.

WIND: Tropical storm conditions are expected to spread westward
within the warning area in western Cuba during the next few hours.
Tropical storm conditions are also expected within the warning area
in the middle and lower Florida Keys and the Dry Tortugas tonight.

Hurricane conditions are possible in the hurricane watch area along
the Gulf Coast by late Wednesday, with tropical storm conditions
possible by Wednesday afternoon.

SURF: Swells generated by Laura are affecting portions of Cuba, the
central Bahamas, and the Florida Keys. Swells are expected to
spread northward along portions of the west coast of Florida
peninsula and the coast of the Florida panhandle on Tuesday
and Tuesday night, and reach the northern and northwest Gulf coast
by Wednesday. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf
and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your
local weather office.

NEXT ADVISORY
-------------
Next intermediate advisory at 200 AM EDT.
Next complete advisory at 500 AM EDT.

TROPICAL STORM MARCO

Tropical Depression Marco Advisory Number 20
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL142020
1000 PM CDT Mon Aug 24 2020

...MARCO WEAKENS TO A TROPICAL DEPRESSION...
...HEAVY RAIN STILL POSSIBLE TONIGHT ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE CENTRAL
GULF COAST...

SUMMARY OF 1000 PM CDT...0300 UTC...INFORMATION
-----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...29.0N 89.8W
ABOUT 45 MI...70 KM W OF THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...35 MPH...55 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...W OR 270 DEGREES AT 9 MPH...15 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1007 MB...29.74 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

None.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.

DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
----------------------
At 1000 PM CDT (0300 UTC), the center of Tropical Depression Marco
was located near latitude 29.0 North, longitude 89.8 West. The
depression is moving toward the west near 9 mph (15 km/h). Marco is
forecast to continue moving westward near the coast of Louisiana
for the next day or so.

Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 35 mph (55 km/h) with
higher gusts. Additional weakening is expected, and Marco is
forecast to become a remnant low on Tuesday. The system is then
forecast to dissipate by early Wednesday.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 1007 mb (29.74 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
RAINFALL: Marco is expected to produce additional rainfall
accumulations of 1 to 3 inches with additional isolated totals of 5
inches across portions of the north-central Gulf coast and
Southeastern United States through Wednesday. Rain totals related
to Marco near Apalachicola, Florida reached as high as 11.81 inches
on Sunday per a CoCoRaHS report. The additional rainfall may result
in areas of flash, urban and small stream flooding along the same
area.

SURF: Swells generated by Marco are likely to affect portions of
the northern Gulf Coast overnight. These swells are likely to cause
life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult
products from your local weather office.

TORNADOES: A brief tornado or two remains possible overnight across
the Florida Panhandle, southwest Georgia, far southern Alabama, and
far southern Mississippi.

NEXT ADVISORY
-------------
Next complete advisory at 400 AM CDT.

$$
Forecaster Zelinsky

Family wishes to acknowledge friend’s support and devotion

Mon, 08/24/2020 - 11:00am
By Jeanne Phillips, United Features Syndicate

DEAR ABBY: My family has suffered a great loss. My older sister died by suicide. My younger sister’s best friend “Carrie” drove four hours from Michigan to be with our family. From the day after we found out and for almost a week, Carrie was by our side, comforting us, helping with arrangements and anything else that needed to be done. She even worked all night with our old family videos to digitize, edit and set them to music so it would be done in time for the wake.
Now, as we are beginning to write thank-you notes to all of those who were there for us, my family is wondering how we can express our gratitude to her for her support during this awful time. We would like to do or give her something special because we truly consider her to be a part of our family, but we don’t know what.
APPRECIATIVE IN THE EAST

DEAR APPRECIATIVE: The head of the family or your younger sister should write Carrie a letter telling her how much her kindness is appreciated and telling her she is now truly a member of the family. I’m sure it would mean the world to her. In addition, consider giving her something that belonged to your older sister, such as a piece of jewelry. Your younger sister should be the person to select it. A keepsake would, I am sure, be deeply appreciated and treasured.

DEAR ABBY: At age 17, my pregnant and unwed mother married a schoolmate of my biological father. I was given the schoolmate’s last name. Several years later, my mother divorced her first husband and married my biological father. They discussed changing my last name to that of my bio father, but never did. I recently had DNA testing that proved this information to be accurate.
My last name is still not the name of my biological father, and I recently learned that the man named on my birth certificate was a rapist, an alcoholic and a bully. This is very upsetting, and I would like to legally change my name to match my actual father’s. The problem is I’m now 70, married with wonderful kids and grandkids who are proud of our name. I don’t want the fake daddy’s name on my tombstone. Any advice for this distressed guy?
DISTRESSED SENIOR MAN

DEAR DISTRESSED: Talk to your family about why you want the name change. Perhaps when they hear that the person whose name was thrust upon you was a rapist and substance abusing bully who mistreated your mother, they will be more understanding and less willing to cling to the name they are so “proud” of. If not, then suit yourself. I wish you luck.

DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend and I have been living together for 10 years, although he is still legally married. When we met, he and his wife had been separated for five years. Neither one had the money to get divorced. My question is, if anything should happen to my boyfriend, would she have claim to any of his assets? (He doesn’t have much beyond his vehicle.)
JUST WONDERING IN PENNSYLVANIA

DEAR JUST WONDERING: Yes, as his surviving spouse, she will be entitled to whatever assets he leaves behind, which includes the vehicle.

***

To order “How to Write Letters for All Occasions,” send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 to: Dear Abby — Letter Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447.

Lorena Chapman Viguerie

Mon, 08/24/2020 - 8:12am

April 18, 1923 - August 23, 2020
Lorena Chapman Viguerie, a native of Lafourche Parish and longtime resident of Charenton, passed away in the early morning hours of Sunday, August 23, 2020, at the Franklin Health Care Center.
Lorena was the oldest of five daughters born to Bernard and Estelina Chapman. She was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and aunt who loved to cook. She worked for many years as a nurse’s aide at Franklin Foundation Hospital. Lorena was a sweet natured, soft spoken woman, who could always be found with a smile on her face. A devout Catholic, she loved her faith and her church, Immaculate Conception in Charenton, where she was a longtime parishioner. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.
Those she leaves to cherish her memory include her daughter, Suzanne Gaudet Cole; a grandson, Joshua Michael Cole; her nephew, Earl “Butch” Bailey and his wife Mary “Buggie”; as well as numerous other nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Curtis Waldo Viguerie; her parents, Bernard Chapman and Estelina Foret Chapman; and her four sisters, Nannie Lee Chapman Gaudet, Malina Chapman Schipplein, Gertrude Chapman, and Alta Mae Chapman.
Services are pending at this time and will be updated when available.
Family and friends may view the obituary online by visiting www.iberts.com and are encouraged to share their condolences, cherished memories, love, and support for the family.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Ibert's Mortuary, Inc., 1007 Main Street, Franklin, LA 70538, (337) 828-5426.

St. Mary Parish leaders watching Marco closely

Sun, 08/23/2020 - 7:01pm
Voluntary evactuation declared for Lower St. Martin Parish
GEOFF STOUTE
gstoute@daily-review.com

St. Mary Parish government has plans in place for tropical storms Marco and Laura, but it’s just a matter of getting a better picture from the National Weather Service of where it is going before deploying the plans, parish Office of Emergency Preparedness Director David Naquin said Sunday afternoon.
He said Marco has just been a difficult storm to track.
“Their confidence level is so low that it’s really making it difficult for us to make a hard game plan,” Naquin said of the weather service. “Now, we have a lot of plans in place, but we haven’t instituted any of them because we don’t really have a good idea where the thing’s going yet.”
In St. Martin Parish, Parish President Chester Cedars already has called a voluntary evacuation for the Stephensville and Belle River areas due to the potential flooding.
“Part of that is be-cause of the storm surges,” Cedars said in a St. Martin Parish Government Facebook video Sunday.
The voluntary evacuation is necessary to give residents ample opportunity to evacuate, the parish said in a press release.
Cedars said the parish will issue a curfew be-ginning Monday at 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Tuesday and Tuesday likely from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Wednesday.
Anyone needing further information or assistance should con-tact the St. Martin Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness at 337-394-2808.
St. Martin Parish declared a state of emergency Saturday, while St. Mary Parish did so around noon Sunday.
“We are now just kind of monitoring what’s going to go down,” Naquin said.
The 4 p.m. track re-leased predicted Marco would skirt the Louisiana coast from east to west, something that is bad for St. Mary Parish, Naquin said.
“It’s going to give us a lot of south wind,” Naquin said. “It’s going to push a lot of water in here.”
However, the Marco is expected to drop from a hurricane to a tropical storm right before it passes below St. Mary Parish, too, so that will help with less intense winds hitting the area, Naquin said.
He said no evacuations have been announced, but they could be coming shortly for the flood-prone areas south of the Intracoastal Waterway.
No curfews also have been planned yet, Naquin said.
While Laura is fore-cast to hit along the Texas/Louisiana line or possibly the Holly Beach area, Naquin said it will cause problems for St. Mary, too.
“We’re going to basically have a south wind for about three days from Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and that can push a lot of water,” he said, noting the wind could be 35-40 mph or maybe a bit higher.
While he said the parish can handle the 5 to 10 inches of rain projected, “I don’t know if we can handle it when we get a bunch of storm surge pushed at us,” Naquin said.
In anticipation for the storms, parish and municipal leaders encouraged citizens to monitor them.
“If you have flooded for Lilly, Rita or Ike or even Barry, then you’re probably going to flood for this one. … So you need to make preparations,” Naquin said.
One positive is the Atchafalaya River is at its lowest level in a year or more, which would make it easier to handle a potential spike in the river, and Naquin said the St. Mary Parish Levee District feels the area is in good shape.
According to the National Weather Service’s Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service, the Atchafalaya River was at 2.41 feet as of 5 p.m. Sunday. It is forecast to jump to as high as 5 feet later in the week before dropping to about 3 feet by Thursday evening.
While Morgan City Mayor Frank “Boo” Grizzaffi said a decision would be made in the noon hour Monday about closing any floodgates, he doesn’t anticipate having to do so. Berwick Mayor Duval Arthur didn’t think the town of Berwick would have to close any gates, either.
As for power outages, parish and municipal leaders said crews will work to restore utilities between the storms as long as they can.
“I talked to the people at Cleco and they’re ready for this,” Arthur said of the town’s utility provider, who also services other portions of the parish. “I think they’re very prepared, and they’re ready to go in case a storm does come and cause us some damage. They’re going to be ready to help us.”
Grizzaffi said city utility crews will work in a bucket truck to restore power as long as the winds are less than 35 mph.
“If the wind is above 35, we’ll diagnose the problem on the ground, but we’re not getting in a bucket,” he said.
In the Tri-City area, debris and cleaning ditches and drains were among the preps municipalities conducted in their storm preps.
As for the citizens, “My only advice to our citizens as for right now is to basically stay put,” Patterson Mayor Rodney Grogan said.
However, for those living in mobile homes or in low-lying areas, Grogan recommended they find a family member they can stay with until the wind and rain stop.
“By doing so … it kind of helps us out with the COVID situation,” he said.
Grogan also asked that his residents do not cut any additional trees or leave them on the side of the road.
“I think everybody has basically tied down a lot of their things that can be taken away in the wind,” he said. “They’ve really been complying and making preparations, so along with the city and the citizens doing their part, I think we’re going to do fine.”

4 P.M. UPDATE: Marco, Laura tracks bend farther west

Sun, 08/23/2020 - 4:19pm

NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER
HURRICANE MARCO

BULLETIN
Hurricane Marco Advisory Number 14
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL142020
400 PM CDT Sun Aug 23 2020

...MARCO EXPECTED TO BRING LIFE-THREATENING STORM SURGE AND
HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS ALONG PORTIONS OF THE U.S. GULF COAST
MONDAY...

SUMMARY OF 400 PM CDT...2100 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...25.8N 87.8W
ABOUT 240 MI...390 KM SSE OF THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
ABOUT 395 MI...640 KM SE OF LAFAYETTE LOUISIANA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...75 MPH...120 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNW OR 340 DEGREES AT 13 MPH...20 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...991 MB...29.27 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued from Cameron to
west of Morgan City, Louisiana.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for....
* Morgan City Louisiana to Ocean Springs Mississippi
* Lake Borgne

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
* Morgan City Louisiana to the Mouth of the Pearl River

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...
* Sabine Pass to Morgan City Louisiana
* Ocean Springs Mississippi to the Mississippi/Alabama border
* Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* Intracoastal City to west of Morgan City
* Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, and Metropolitan New Orleans

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Mouth of the Pearl River to the Mississippi/Alabama border
* Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, and Metropolitan New Orleans
* Cameron to west of Morgan City

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* Mississippi/Alabama border to the Alabama/Florida border

A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening
inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline,
during the next 36 hours in the indicated locations. For a
depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather
Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at
hurricanes.gov. This is a life-threatening situation. Persons
located within these areas should take all necessary actions to
protect life and property from rising water and the potential for
other dangerous conditions. Promptly follow evacuation and other
instructions from local officials.

A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected
somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued
36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of
tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside
preparations difficult or dangerous. Preparations to protect life
and property should be rushed to completion.

A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life-
threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the
coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours.
For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather
Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at
hurricanes.gov.

A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible
within the watch area.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are
expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are
possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.

For storm information specific to your area in the United
States, including possible inland watches and warnings, please
monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service
forecast office. For storm information specific to your area
outside of the United States, please monitor products issued by
your national meteorological service.

DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
----------------------
At 400 PM CDT (2100 UTC), the center of Hurricane Marco was located
near latitude 25.8 North, longitude 87.8 West. Marco is moving
toward the north-northwest near 13 mph (20 km/h), a turn to the
northwest is expected later tonight followed by a turn to the
west-northwest by Monday night. On the forecast track, Marco will
be near the Louisiana coast Monday afternoon, and move near or
over the coast through Tuesday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 75 mph (120 km/h) with higher
gusts. Little change is strength is expected over the next 24 h.
Gradual weakening is expected thereafter, and Marco could become a
remnant low by Tuesday night.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles (30 km) from the
center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles
(165 km).

The estimated minimum central pressure is 991 mb (29.27 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
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 water could
reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated
areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...

Morgan City LA to Mouth of the Mississippi River...4-6 ft
Mouth of the Mississippi River to Ocean Springs MS including Lake
Borgne...3-5 ft
Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas...2-4 ft
Intracoastal City LA to Morgan City LA...2-4 ft
Sabine Pass to Intracoastal City...1-3 ft
Ocean Springs MS to the AL/FL Border including Mobile Bay...1-3 ft

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas of
onshore winds, where the surge will be accompanied by large and
dangerous waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative
timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over
short distances. For information specific to your area, please see
products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast
office.

WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected within the hurricane
warning 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
Monday.

RAINFALL: Marco is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations
of 3 to 5 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 7 inches across
the Central U.S. Gulf coast through Tuesday.

This rainfall may result in scattered 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 for the next couple of days. These swells
are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current
conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.

TORNADOES: An isolated tornado is possible early Monday morning
near the southeast Louisiana coast. Isolated tornadoes are possible
across southeast Louisiana, southern Mississippi, southern Alabama,
and the Florida Panhandle Monday and Monday night.

NEXT ADVISORY
-------------
Next intermediate advisory at 700 PM CDT.
Next complete advisory at 1000 PM CDT.

$$
Forecaster Latto

TROPICAL STORM LAURA

BULLETIN
Tropical Storm Laura Advisory Number 16...Corrected
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL132020
500 PM EDT Sun Aug 23 2020

Corrected rainfall statement

...AIR FORCE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT FINDS A SLIGHTLY STRONGER
LAURA JUST SOUTH OF EASTERN CUBA...
...HEAVY RAINFALL AND LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODING LIKELY OVER
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC...HAITI...CUBA...AND JAMAICA...

SUMMARY OF 500 PM EDT...2100 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...19.5N 75.2W
ABOUT 50 MI...80 KM S OF GUANTANAMO CUBA
ABOUT 220 MI...350 KM SE OF CAMAGUEY CUBA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...60 MPH...95 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 285 DEGREES AT 21 MPH...33 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1000 MB...29.53 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

The government of the Cayman Islands has issued a Tropical Storm
Warning for Little Cayman and Cayman Brac.

The Tropical Storm Watch for the the Florida Keys north of Craig
Key and for Florida Bay has been discontinued.

The government of the Dominican Republic has discontinued all
Tropical Storm Warnings for the Dominican Republic.

The government of the Bahamas has discontinued the Tropical Storm
Warning for the Turks and Caicos Islands, and for the southeastern
Bahamas except for Inagua and the Ragged Islands. The Tropical
Storm Watch for the central Bahamas and Andros Island has been
discontinued.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Entire coast of the Haiti
* Inagua and the Ragged Islands in southeastern Bahamas
* Little Cayman and Cayman Brac
* Cuban provinces of Camaguey, Las Tunas, Holguin, Guantanamo,
Santiago de Cuba, Granma, Ciego De Avila, Sancti Spiritus, Villa
Clara, Cienfuegos, Matanzas, Mayabeque, La Habana, Artemisa, Pinar
del Rio, and the Isle of Youth

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* Florida Keys from Craig Key to Key West and the Dry Tortugas

The Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are
expected somewhere within the warning area, in this case within the
next 12 to 24 hours.

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are
possible within the watch area, in this case within the next 24
hours.

For storm information specific to your area in the United
States, including possible inland watches and warnings, please
monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service
forecast office. For storm information specific to your area
outside of the United States, please monitor products issued by
your national meteorological service.

DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
----------------------
At 500 PM EDT (2100 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Laura was
located near latitude 19.5 North, longitude 75.2 West. Laura is
moving toward the west-northwest near 21 mph (33 km/h), and this
general motion with some decrease in forward speed is expected over
the next couple of days. A turn toward the northwest is foreast by
Wednesday. On the forecast track, the center of Laura will move
near or over southern coast Cuba tonight and Monday, and move over
the southeastern Gulf of Mexico Monday night and Tuesday. Laura is
expected to move over the central and northwestern Gulf of Mexico
Tuesday night and Wednesday.

Data from an Air Force Reserve reconnaissance aircraft indicate that
the maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph (95 km/h) with higher
gusts. Little change in strength is forecast while Laura moves near
the southern coast of Cuba tonight. However, strengthening is
forecast after the storm moves over the Gulf of Mexico, and Laura is
forecast to become a hurricane late Tuesday or Tuesday night.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km)
from the center.

The minimum central pressure estimated from reconnaissance aircraft
data is 1000 mb (29.53 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
RAINFALL: Laura is expected to produce the following storm total
rainfall accumulations through Tuesday:

Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, and Cuba: 4 to 8 inches, with
maximum amounts of 12 inches.

Cayman Islands: 2 to 4 inches, maximum amounts of 6 inches.

Florida Keys, Turks and Caicos and southeast Bahamas: 1 to 2 inches.

Across the Greater Antilles this heavy rainfall could lead to
life-threatening flash and urban flooding, and the potential for
mudslides.

By later Wednesday into Friday Laura is expected to produce rainfall
of 5 to 10 inches, with isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches across
portions of the west-central U.S. Gulf Coast near the Texas and
Louisiana border north into portions of the lower Mississippi
Valley. This rainfall could lead to flash, urban, and small stream
flooding.

WIND: Tropical storm conditions are expected within portions of the
warning area in Haiti through this evening. Tropical storm
conditions are expected within portions of the warning area in Cuba
later tonight through Monday. Tropical storm conditions are expected
in Little Cayman and Cayman Brac on Monday. Tropical storm
conditions are possible within portions of the watch area in the
Florida Keys Monday.

SURF: Swells generated by Laura are affecting portions of Puerto
Rico, Hispaniola, eastern Cuba, the southeastern Bahamas and the
Turks and Caicos Islands. These swells are expected to spread
across central and western Cuba, the central and northwestern
Bahamas, and the Florida Keys during the next couple of days.
Please consult products from your local weather office.

NEXT ADVISORY
-------------
Next intermediate advisory at 800 PM EDT.
Next complete advisory at 1100 PM EDT.

Sandbags available in Morgan City, parish locations

Sun, 08/23/2020 - 3:37pm

The city of Morgan City has set up a sandbag station under the U.S. 90 Bridge on David Drive.

It will be a self service location. Please bring a shovel. Bags will be provided.

St. Mary Parish sandbag sites have also been set up under the bridge in Amelia, the Bayou Vista barn, the Hanson barn in Franklin, and the Glencoe and Four Corners fire stations.

UPDATED 1:15 P.M.: Hurricane, storm surge warning for Morgan City; 4 inches of rain expected

Sun, 08/23/2020 - 1:16pm

NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER
HURRICANE MARCO

BULLETIN
Hurricane Marco Intermediate Advisory Number 13A
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL142020
100 PM CDT Sun Aug 23 2020

...HURRICANE MARCO CROSSING THE CENTRAL GULF...
...LIFE-THREATENING STORM SURGE AND HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS EXPECTED
ALONG PORTIONS OF THE U.S. GULF COAST MONDAY...

SUMMARY OF 100 PM CDT...1800 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...25.3N 87.4W
ABOUT 280 MI...450 KM SSE OF THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
ABOUT 440 MI...710 KM SE OF LAFAYETTE LOUISIANA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...75 MPH...120 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNW OR 340 DEGREES AT 14 MPH...22 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...992 MB...29.29 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

None.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for....
* Morgan City Louisiana to Ocean Springs Mississippi
* Lake Borgne

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
* Morgan City Louisiana to the Mouth of the Pearl River

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...
* Sabine Pass to Morgan City Louisiana
* Ocean Springs Mississippi to the Mississippi/Alabama border
* Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* Intracoastal City Louisiana to west of Morgan City
* Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, and Metropolitan New Orleans

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Mouth of the Pearl River to the Mississippi/Alabama border
* Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, and Metropolitan New Orleans

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* Mississippi/Alabama border to the Alabama/Florida border

A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening
inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline,
during the next 36 hours in the indicated locations. For a
depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather
Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at
hurricanes.gov. This is a life-threatening situation. Persons
located within these areas should take all necessary actions to
protect life and property from rising water and the potential for
other dangerous conditions. Promptly follow evacuation and other
instructions from local officials.

A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected
somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued
36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of
tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside
preparations difficult or dangerous. Preparations to protect life
and property should be rushed to completion.

A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life-
threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the
coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours.
For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather
Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at
hurricanes.gov.

A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible
within the watch area.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are
expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are
possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.

For storm information specific to your area in the United States,
including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor
products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast
office. For storm information specific to your area outside of the
United States, please monitor products issued by your national
meteorological service.

DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
----------------------
At 100 PM CDT (1800 UTC), the center of Hurricane Marco was located
near latitude 25.3 North, longitude 87.4 West. Marco is moving
toward the north-northwest near 14 mph (22 km/h), and this motion is
expected to continue through tonight, followed by a turn toward the
northwest by Monday. On the forecast track, Marco will cross the
central Gulf of Mexico today and will approach southeastern
Louisiana on Monday. A gradual turn toward the west-northwest with a
decrease in forward speed is expected after Marco moves inland.

Maximum sustained winds are near 75 mph (120 km/h) with higher
gusts. Marco is expected to be a hurricane when it approaches the
northern Gulf Coast on Monday. Rapid weakening is expected after
Marco moves inland.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 20 miles (30 km) from
the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 100
miles (160 km) from the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 992 mb (29.29 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
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 water could
reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated
areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...

Morgan City LA to Ocean Springs MS including Lake Borgne...4-6 ft
Sabine Pass to Morgan City LA...2-4 ft
Ocean Springs MS to the MS/AL Border...2-4 ft
Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas...2-4 ft
MS/AL Border to AL/FL Border including Mobile Bay...1-3 ft

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas of
onshore winds, where the surge will be accompanied by large and
dangerous waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative
timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over
short distances. For information specific to your area, please see
products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast
office.

WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected within the hurricane
warning 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
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. Please
consult products from your local weather office.

TORNADOES: An isolated tornado will be possible early Monday
morning near the southeast Louisiana coast.

NEXT ADVISORY
-------------
Next complete advisory at 400 PM CDT.

$$
Forecaster Latto

TROPICAL STORM LAURA

BULLETIN
Tropical Storm Laura Intermediate Advisory Number 15A
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL132020
200 PM EDT Sun Aug 23 2020

...LAURA HEADING TOWARD EASTERN CUBA...
...HEAVY RAINFALL AND LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODING CONTINUES
OVER PORTIONS OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND HAITI...

SUMMARY OF 200 PM EDT...1800 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...19.4N 74.3W
ABOUT 55 MI...90 KM S OF THE EASTERN TIP OF CUBA
ABOUT 80 MI...130 KM SE OF GUANTANAMO CUBA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...50 MPH...85 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 285 DEGREES AT 21 MPH...33 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1004 MB...29.65 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

The government of the Dominican Republic has discontinued the
Tropical Storm Warning along the south coast of the Dominican
Republic and has discontinued the warning along the north coast of
the Dominican Republic east of Samana.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* The northern coast of the Dominican Republic from Samana to
the border with Haiti
* Entire coast of the Haiti
* The southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands
* Cuban provinces of Camaguey, Las Tunas, Holguin, Guantanamo,
Santiago de Cuba, Granma, Ciego De Avila, Sancti Spiritus, Villa
Clara, Cienfuegos, Matanzas, Mayabeque, La Habana, Artemisa, Pinar
del Rio, and the Isle of Youth

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* The central Bahamas
* Andros Island
* Florida Keys from Ocean Reef to Key West and the Dry Tortugas
* Florida Bay

The Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are
expected somewhere within the warning area, in this case within the
next 12 to 24 hours.

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are
possible within the watch area, in this case within the next 24
hours.

For storm information specific to your area in the United
States, including possible inland watches and warnings, please
monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service
forecast office. For storm information specific to your area
outside of the United States, please monitor products issued by
your national meteorological service.

DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
----------------------
At 200 PM EDT (1800 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Laura was
located near latitude 19.4 North, longitude 74.3 West. Laura is
moving toward the west-northwest near 21 mph (33 km/h), and this
general motion with some decrease in forward speed is expected over
the next couple of days. A turn toward the northwest is foreast on
Wednesday. On the forecast track, the center of Laura will move
near or over Cuba tonight and Monday, and move over the southeastern
Gulf of Mexico Monday night and Tuesday. Laura is expected to move
over the central and northwestern Gulf of Mexico Tuesday night and
Wednesday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph (85 km/h) with higher
gusts. Little change in strength is forecast while Laura moves near
Cuba. However, strengthening is forecast after the storm moves over
the Gulf of Mexico, and Laura is forecast to become a hurricane late
Tuesday or Tuesday night.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km)
from the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 1004 mb (29.65 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
RAINFALL: Laura is expected to produce the following rainfall
accumulations through Tuesday:

Dominican Republic, Haiti and Cuba: 4 to 8 inches, with maximum
amounts of 12 inches.

Jamaica: 2 to 4 inches, with maximum amounts of 6 inches.

This heavy rainfall could lead to life-threatening flash and urban
flooding, and the potential for mudslides across the Greater
Antilles.

Florida Keys, Turks and Caicos and southeast Bahamas: 1 to 3 inches.

WIND: Tropical storm conditions are expected within portions of
the warning area in the Dominican Republic and Haiti through
this evening. Tropical storm conditions are expected within
portions of the warning area in Cuba later today through Monday.
Tropical storm conditions are possible within portions of the watch
area tonight through Monday evening.

SURF: Swells generated by Laura are affecting portions of Puerto
Rico, Hispaniola, eastern Cuba, the southeastern Bahamas and the
Turks and Caicos Islands. These swells are expected to spread
across central and western Cuba, the central and northwestern
Bahamas, and the Florida Keys during the next couple of days.
Please consult products from your local weather office.

NEXT ADVISORY
-------------
Next complete advisory at 500 PM EDT.

$$
Forecaster Brown

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