Tropical Storm Marco formed Friday night in the northwestern Caribbean and its center will skim past the eastern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula today.
Its path has moved away from greater Merida, but is still expected to bring rain and gusts to the region.
Marco is due to make landfall Saturday night in Puerto Morelos, cross Cancun and leave the Peninsula through Holbox toward the Gulf of Mexico. By early next week, the storm could affect a portion of the Texas coast.
Anticipating Gulf waves as high as 5 meters / 16.4 feet, the Yucatan port authority ordered all ports closed from El Cuyo to Celestún. On land, the most concern was focused on the eastern part of the state. Shelters were prepared in Tizimín and Valladolid, which are much closer to the eye of the storm’s projected path.
Forecasters were still keeping a close watch on Marco’s path, which could shift once again.
“Cyclones do not have a code of honor, but the danger has decreased,” said meteorologist Juan Vázquez Montalvo.
Maximum sustained winds are near 75 kmh / 45 mph with higher gusts.
Marco, the 13th named storm of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, is expected to move into the Gulf of Mexico over the weekend when it could reach near-hurricane strength as it approaches Texas.
Sources: Sipse, De Peso, NHC
