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Tracking The Tropics: Marco Prompts Storm Surge, Hurricane Watches For Gulf Coast

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Tropical Storm Marco prompted storm surge and hurricane watches for the northern Gulf Coast.

With the 5 p.M. Saturday advisory, Marco was about 50 miles west of the western tip of Cuba or about 540 miles south southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi. It had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph and headed north northwest at 13 mph.

A slower northwestward motion is expected over the next couple of days, followed by an increase in speed by Sunday and Monday.

The center will then cross the northeastern part of the Yucatan Peninsula Saturday night and move over the central Gulf of Mexico toward the northwestern Gulf on Sunday and Monday.

The system is forecast to be near or at hurricane strength when it reaches the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico late Saturday. Some weakening is expected as it moves over the Yucatan Peninsula Saturday night. Afterward, restrengthening is forecast on Sunday as it moves offshore and enters the southern Gulf of Mexico.

A Storm Surge Watch has been issued from Sabine Pass eastward to the Alabama/Florida border, including Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, Lake Borgne, and Mobile Bay.

A Hurricane Watch has been issued from Intracoastal City Louisiana eastward to the Mississippi/Alabama border, including Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, and Metropolitan New Orleans.

A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued from the Mississippi/Alabama border eastward to the Alabama/Florida border.

The government of Mexico has discontinued the Tropical Storm Warning for the northeastern Yucatan coast.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...
* Sabine Pass to the Alabama/Florida border
* Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, Lake Borgne, and Mobile Bay

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* Intracoastal City Louisiana to the Mississippi/Alabama border
* Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, and Metropolitan New Orleans

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Province of Pinar del Rio Cuba

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

RELATED: HURRICANE 2020: PREPARING IN A PANDEMIC

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