Two tropical storms could form today, both expected to impact US

By WRAL Severe Weather Center

Two tropical storms could form Friday, and both are expected to impact the United States by early next week.

WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said both depressions are developing at about the same pace and following similar tracks — which is very unusual.

The depression that becomes a tropical storm first will be named Laura. The next will be named Marco.

The westernmost depression — Tropical Depression 14 — is expected to be named first, possibly Friday morning. Recent models show it could impact the Yucatán Peninsula then approach the Texas coast by Tuesday with 60 mph winds.

The easternmost depression — Tropical Depression 13 — could eventually impact Florida’s panhandle as a hurricane by Monday or Tuesday. The system could be named sometime Friday evening.

Gardner said it’s possible Tropical Depression 13 and Tropical Depression 14 could make landfall within hours of each other — something that doesn’t happen very often.

“There’s certainly the possibility we could have one storm making landfall on Tuesday morning and another making landfall around Wednesday morning along the Gulf Coast in very close proximity,” said Gardner. “That’s something I can never remember happening.”

A third system near Africa will continue to move over the eastern Atlantic this week. There is a 40% chance of development within the next five days as it continues to move westward,

“I feel sure that it’s probably going to develop and this time of year you never know how many more are following right behind it,” said Gardner.

Peak hurricane season runs from mid-August to late October, and hurricane season officially ends on Nov. 30. WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said very warm ocean temperatures are contributing to the active hurricane season.

If all the names on the list of 2020 storm names are used before hurricane season ends, meteorologists will use Greek letters to refer to the storms.