Ragoo said:
Would a second storm moving in behind the first tens to move west or east of the first storm path? I would think a recent heavy rain and wind event would churn and cool the surface of the water enough to "move" the next storm into a different path.
No... The mid-level atmospheric conditions are doing most of the steering. Levi commented last night, weaker (not as tall) storms are steered greater by low level winds and stronger storms are more susceptible to mid-level winds.
Marco strengthened a bit sooner and therefore got caught up in a trough that's riding through the gulf. They though he would develop slower, hit the Yucatan, then get into the gulf. Instead he got stronger and is being pulled by that trough.
Laura on the other hand, is remaining disorganized and slower. This will allow a high pressure ridge to build in behind that trough and Laura will now likely have to move west of that ridge. The longer she takes, the more it builds, the farther west she goes. Her center staying south of Cuba puts Texas, potentially down to Corpus back in play.