Marco Reminds Us It's Still Hurricane Season

Tiny Tropical Storm Marco yesterday evening. Marco's peak winds reach 65 mph.

A welcome calm settled over the tropical Atlantic, the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico after the parade of storms in late August through mid-September. But Tropical Storm Marco's emergence in the Bay of Campeche yesterday is a distant reminder that hurricane season continues through November.

"Mini" Marco is a compact storm, with tropical storm force winds extending only 10 miles from the center. According to the National Hurricane Center Marco "could be the smallest tropical cyclone on record." It may briefly reach hurricane intensity before coming ashore on the southeast coast of Mexico later today. The National Hurricane Center projects a general 2 to 4 inches of rain in the southern Mexican states of Veracruz, northern Oaxaca and Tabasco, with locally up to 6".

Once Marco goes away, there's not much potential for additional storm formation in the near-term. However, Colorado State forecasters Phil Klotzbach and William Gray expect "well above-average hurricane activity" this month with three named storms (two more counting Marco), two of which will become hurricanes, including one major hurricane (Category 3 or higher). To date, Klotzbach and Gray's seasonal forecast for above average activity has been right on track (hat tip to MarylandWeather.com).

For local weather through the weekend, see our full forecast.