A Hurricane Threatens My Vacation in Marco Island

[Talent312]

We were planning on driving to Marco Island on Saturday... and may still go.

From USA Today
"We could actually have Laura AND Marco sharing the Gulf of Mexico on Monday, and both making U.S. landfalls on Monday," University of Miami meteorologist Brian McNoldy said.

One system, now dubbed Tropical Depression 13, was forecast to menace Florida as a hurricane by Monday. The current path for the system includes South Florida; the center of the cone of uncertainty cuts through the Keys on Monday into Tuesday before making its way into the warm Gulf of Mexico. The other system, Tropical Depression 14, now in the Caribbean, was forecast to approach the Texas Gulf Coast on Monday or Tuesday as a strong tropical storm, though the track and force that far out remained highly uncertain.

Tropical Depression 13 formed overnight with the National Hurricane Center forecasting a ramp-up to a hurricane with 75 mph winds by early next week.

 

[Glenn2]

I don't know how far a drive Marco Island is for you, but I would be cautious about making any long car trips when a storm is approaching. You know how it gets, everybody starts topping off their tanks for fear of a power loss and in the space of one day, there is no gas anywhere. I have seen it many times.

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

Be sure your gas tank is topped off with gasoline BEFORE you check in should you need to evacuate quickly. Fuel "could be" in short supply if everyone is ordered out of the area.

I hope the weather passes by while you are there and you won't have any issues!




.

 

[Talent312]

Thanks for the reminder to top off my gas tank.
I had to evac from the Keys once a few years back, so I know the drill.

I was lucky to find this week. It could be another year before we get back.
So, I'll suffer thru the weather, if the powers-that-be allow me to.
.

 

[Brett]

Hurricane Marco hitting Marco Island ......

 

[Sandy VDH]

big surprise, it is hurricane season. (scarcasm is a form of humor)

 

[Aurelius]

This is a tame hurricane by Florida standards. I will say that Marco Island has a tendency to lose power for prolonged periods of time due to a lot of their power infrastructure being above ground. If you're okay with potentially having no electricity for a week, then go. I had to stay on Marco Island after a hurricane came through years ago for work. I spent most of the week in a hotel that had no power and only cold water. No stores are open, which means no food, no cooking. Might as well go camping somewhere. When I was there power was restored for an entire day. Supermarkets restocked their cold items. Then the power blew again and was down for days again due to the salt damaging power equipment. What a mess that was. More mainland FL resorts would likely be a better choice.

 

[Talent312]

... I had to stay on Marco Island after a hurricane came through years ago for work. I spent most of the week in a hotel that had no power and only cold water. No stores are open, which means no food, no cooking. Might as well go camping somewhere....

Yuck... If that happens, it's only a one-day drive home for us.
The current cone places the storm closer to Cuba than the Keys.
I just called the resort and they're planning to remain open.
.

 

[dioxide45]

Hurricane Marco hitting Marco Island ......

It looks like it will be Laura that is headed that direction. Two storms L and M, but this one was named first.

 

[Sea Six]

Laura's path continues to push farther into the central Gulf, away from Florida. May just be a breezy, rainy day. Florida is not even in the "cone" anymore.

 

[silentg]

Go and have fun, Laura and Marco should go out to sea together, bye,

 

[Sandy VDH]

If you look at the lastest update, both storm models are pointing to NOLA. First Marco on Monday PM and then Laura on Wednesday PM.

Yet another first for 2020.

 

[Sea Six]

Laura is a huge tropical storm, but not a threat to Florida. We're not just focused on the path of the center, but the huge diameter of the storm. Storm damage can impact huge areas.

 

[klpca]

Btw I moved our Tahoe trip from Oct to next weekend. Of course a good portion of NorCal is on fire, air quality is awful. Man, 2020 just keeps on giving.

 

[Sandy VDH]

If you look at the lastest update, both storm models are pointing to NOLA. First Marco on Monday PM and then Laura on Wednesday PM.

Yet another first for 2020.

Marco and Laura have shifted forecasts. Marco is now expected to landfall farther east, and then head back toward Houston. Laura is now expected some where between NOLA and Houston, models are all over the place. These flops the earlier predicted landfalls, as the storms approach.

 

[Sea Six]

It's certainly not a Florida event.

 

[Sea Six]

I can't believe that is now a CAT 4, winds at 140 MPH, gusts to 155. That is bad. It was only 65 when I posted that path yesterday.

 

[amycurl]

It was predicted to strengthen quickly, as it was over open, very warm Gulf water, with nothing to keep it from intensifying. I would be very nervous if was in Lake Charles or Houston right now.

The best predictor? Where ever Jim Cantore is reporting from....

 

[Talent312]

Glad we went to Marco Island. We've had great weather here.this week.
Laura altered course to give us nice time on the beach, in the pool, and a tour boat.

But we feel for those poor souls suffering thru it tonight & over the next few days.
.

 

[TheHolleys87]

Houston dodged the bullet, but SW Louisiana didn’t. Prayers for the folks affected - as a veteran of many severe hurricanes beginning with Betsy, I empathize with them.

 

[rapmarks]

My Facebook feed comes up with photos from three years ago when Marco got hit directly and then it went right over estero, pretty close to flooding our subdivision. Really feel for those in the path

 

[Sea Six]

That was hurricane Irma. We just got the roof replaced about 6 months ago. We're on our 3rd roof in 15 years.

 

[Talent312]

My Facebook feed comes up with photos from three years ago when Marco got hit directly and then it went right over estero, pretty close to flooding our subdivision.

While in Marco, we did a boat tour in which they took us thru some channels created by Irma.
There was some concrete repair going on at our resort, but not obtrusive.

 

[Sea Six]

While in Marco, we did a boat tour in which they took us thru some channels created by Irma.
There was some concrete repair going on at our resort, but not obtrusive.

The best way to enjoy Marco is by boat. Try the Dolphin Explorer out of Rose Marina. Also book a guided wave runner tour of the 10,000 Islands and see the world famous dome home of Cape Romano.

 

[LMD]

While in Marco, we did a boat tour in which they took us thru some channels created by Irma.
There was some concrete repair going on at our resort, but not obtrusive.

Did you stay at the Charter Club? If so how was the construction ? Thanks