Marco (2008)

A small area of low pressure over the northwestern Caribbean and the Yucatán gradually organized as it moved westward. A tropical depression formed about 0000 UTC on 6 October 2008 over the Terminos Lagoon in Campeche, Mexico. The system moved into the Bay of Campeche, became Tropical Storm Marco by 1200 UTC 6 October, and tracked west‑northwest across the southern Gulf of Mexico. Marco reached peak strength just before landfall and dissipated over Mexico by about 0000 UTC 8 October.

Marco made landfall on the Gulf coast of Mexico on 7 October 2008 between Tuxpan and Veracruz (east of Misantla) at about 1200 UTC. At landfall it was a compact tropical storm with sustained winds near its peak value; the circulation collapsed quickly after moving inland and the system dissipated later that day.

The storm’s maximum sustained winds were 55 knots (63 mph), with a minimum central pressure of 998 mb, making it a moderate tropical storm at peak. Reconnaissance flights measured a peak flight‑level wind of 61 kt and surface estimates from instruments supported the 55‑kt peak.

Marco produced a very small area of tropical‑storm‑force winds—tropical storm gusts extended no more than about 10–15 nautical miles from the center. Reported impacts included coastal flooding from overflowing rivers in some coastal areas near Tuxpan and Veracruz. The report does not list specific storm surge heights; rainfall imagery showed the heaviest precipitation concentrated very near the tiny center, and local flood reports were primarily along the coastal zones of Veracruz state.

There were no confirmed casualties reported in association with Marco, and overall effects were described as relatively minor. Marco was notable for its extremely small size—the smallest tropical storm in the NHC’s available record by the metric of maximum extent of 34‑kt winds—and for its rapid organization shortly before landfall. The storm’s genesis was not well forecast, and intensity forecasts showed larger errors than typical while track forecasts were better than the recent average.