Two hurricanes could simultaneously develop in the Gulf of Mexico, and one could hit Texas

The Gulf Coast could be in for a one-two punch next week.

Two tropical systems are brewing and are expected to move into the Gulf of Mexico by early next week, according to the National Hurricane Center.

“There have never been simultaneous hurricanes in the Gulf, but that will likely change,” KXAS-TV (NBC5) meteorologist Grant Johnston said.

One of those systems is Tropical Storm Laura, which is expected to hit the Dominican Republic by Saturday before moving west-northwest toward Cuba. Laura could strengthen into a hurricane by Tuesday and make landfall between the Louisiana coast and Florida Panhandle, according to forecast models by the hurricane center.

The other system is Tropical Storm Marco, the 13th named storm of the year. Marco is expected to move northwest across the Yucatán Peninsula and into the Gulf of Mexico, according to the hurricane center.

In a Saturday morning update, the hurricane center said Marco was intensifying quickly and could be come a hurricane as soon as Saturday afternoon. Marco could reach the Texas coastline by Tuesday.

“That track could shift over to Louisiana, but right now it’s looking like heavy rain, possible flooding for the Southeast Texas area,” Johnston said. “This will be a Category 1, possibly a Category 2, hurricane if it can strengthen in those warm ocean waters.”

Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday asked the Texas Division of Emergency Management to be ready to respond with rescue teams, boats, saw crews, search-and-rescue aircraft and high-profile vehicles.

“Texans should remain vigilant and take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and others from heavy rainfall and potential flooding,” Abbott said in a written statement. “The state of Texas is closely monitoring weather conditions and is prepared to respond to any further developments.”

Hurricanes and tropical storms tend to weaken and dissipate as they make landfall, but that system could even bring some showers and storms to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, according to Johnston.

“Some of that rain could spread up in our direction Tuesday and Wednesday,” he said.

This has been an incredibly active hurricane season so far. Usually the Atlantic doesn’t see the 12th named storm of the season until late November, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

This busier-than-normal hurricane season is expected to stay active. NOAA in early August updated its hurricane season outlook, calling for 19 to 25 named storms, of which seven to 11 could become hurricanes, and three to six could become major hurricanes — with winds of 111 mph or greater.

The previous outlook by NOAA forecast 13 to 19 named storms. Of those storms, six to 10 could become hurricanes, and three to six of those could be major hurricanes, which are defined as Category 3 or greater, according to the new forecast.

Texas has already seen one hurricane this year — Hurricane Hanna, which made landfall in South Texas in late July. At its peak, Hanna was a Category 1 hurricane with winds up to 90 mph.