Satellite images of storms Marco and Laura. (Source: CNN)
On August 23, US President Donald Trump identified the threat of two storms, Marco and Laura, to sweep the Caribbean and the West Coast of the United States as an "unprecedented threat." The warning of President Trump comes in the context of super typhoon Marco is expected to make landfall on the Louisiana coast on August 24 local time. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Laura, which spills over the Dominican Republic and Haiti and towards Cuba is expected to be upgraded before making landfall in the US midweek. The Governor of Louisiana warned residents of the possibility of being affected by the effects of both Hurricanes Marco and Laura at the same time. It is expected that Tropical Storm Laura could be upgraded to a Category 2 or 3 hurricane and move westward, causing heavy rain on August 26 or 27 in the US.
The US National Hurricane Center said that consecutive storms hitting the United States within a few days could lead to a long period of bad weather. Currently, Louisiana State government has ordered compulsory evacuation of people living in the lowlands of coastal areas. The US Coast Guard also issued warnings, calling on boats to plan their neighbors. The risk of rain, flooding and evacuation has raised concerns about the risk of the COVID-19 epidemic spreading in the United States. In the Domincana Republic, Tropical Storm Laura caused heavy rain and strong winds on August 23, killing at least three people. The storm also left more than 1 million people in the country in blackouts, forcing more than 1,000 people to evacuate and destroying homes along the Isabela River. In Cuba, people living in the lowlands of the east coast have been ordered to evacuate, when Hurricane Laura is expected to make landfall on the evening of August 23 local time, causing massive floods before sweeping across the island of this country on August 24 /.