It's Never Happened Before...

Only twice in modern times (1933,1959) have we had 2 storms in the Gulf at the same time.  As most of you know, NHC is forecasting 2 Hurricanes in the NORTHERN Gulf on Monday & Tuesday of next week.  What does that mean for us?  Should we be concerned?   Could the storms stay far enough away that NOLA is split between impacts and see very little?  So many questions.  So few answers right now.

So let's deal with each system and what we DO know.  Neither TD 13 or 14 has been upgraded yet.  Satellite views still have two struggling disturbances.

TD 13 has seen a new burst of storms, but it's difficult to know if they're around a center.  A Recon plane will let us know.  NHC's center line track has shifted farther to the left (west, closer to us) and we are now in the cone of error.   However, IF it goes near the center line, we would remain on the weak side of this storm with very few impacts.  I will be watching that westward trend to see if it continues.

Regarding TD 14, the satellite loops show a well defined circulation, but there are no storms clustered around the center.

NHC keeps this system heading to the upper Texas coast, but we would be on the wet side of this system.  Regardless, it appears the biggest impacts will be to the marine community as we'll see higher seas & tides with tropical strom force winds along the coast.

The wild card in all of this is the current deep upper low centered over us.  It's bringing down dry air over the western Gulf and strong SW wind shear over the eastern Gulf.  IF that lingers, it could turn TD 14 more to the north and forcing the track closer to us.  Finally, I mentioned the "Fugiwhara effect" and what happens when 2 storms get within 900 miles of each other.  Will one influence the other?  Don;t know since it's never happened before in the NORTHERN Gulf.

Just in.  NHC has upgraded TD 13 to Tropical Storm Laura and relocated the center farther to the south.  This will bring impact to the Islands today and Puerto Rico tomorrow.  I'll update again later this afternoon.  You today to get all your supplies ready.  Stay tuned!