Weather

Tropical Depression 14 and Tropical Storm Laura Update

By Montgomery County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management | August 21, 2020

UPDATE August 21, 2020 – 5PM: Tropical Depression 14 and Tropical Storm Laura

Tropical Depression 14 is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane as it tracks Northwest over the warm Gulf waters later this weekend. This storm is expected to make landfall, most likely as a tropical storm, along the Texas or Louisiana coast around Tuesday and would be named Marco. Impacts will depend on track and intensity which remain uncertain. However, damaging winds and flooding from heavy rains are possible especially if TD 14 becomes a hurricane and makes a center or left side of the cone track. Track uncertainty has increased today as models struggle with the relatively weak system and complicated steering currents; along with a possible interaction with Tropical Storm Laura next week.

Tropical Storm Laura’s track has shifted farther South and West and is expected to become a category one hurricane before landfall. Tropical Storm Laura is forecast to cross the Caribbean Islands then turn Northwest into the Northeast Gulf of Mexico as a hurricane. Some of the tracking models are now tracking Laura to go farther west toward the Upper Texas Coast, so we will need to monitor Tropical Storm Laura for possible impacts late next week. Montgomery County agencies and resources are on alert and ready to activate as needed next week for our area. Our next update is expected to be today at 10PM.

ORIGINAL: MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TX – August 21, 2020 – Tropical Depression 14 is located near the coast of Honduras with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph. TD14 is moving Northwest at 14 mph with a turn towards the Northwest expected later today. This storm is now expected to become a strong tropical storm or category one hurricane before making landfall most likely along the Texas or Louisiana coast around Tuesday. This storm is expected to be named Marco in the next 24 hours. Impacts will depend on track and intensity which remain uncertain. However, damaging winds and flooding from heavy rains are possible especially if TD 14 becomes a hurricane and makes a center or left side of the cone track.

Tropical Depression 13 was named Tropical Storm Laura this morning and is expected to become a category one hurricane before landfall. Tropical Storm Laura is more of a threat to Florida and the Northeast Gulf states. Montgomery County agencies and resources are on alert and ready to activate as needed next week for our area. Our next update is expected to be today at 5PM.