Saturday, June 26th 2010, 9:22 AM
A ship sails through oil on the surface of the Gulf of Mexico near the site of the Deepwater Horizon disaster.
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A ship sails through oil on the surface of the Gulf of Mexico near the site of the Deepwater Horizon disaster.
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Let the anxiety begin.
The oil-drenched Gulf Coast must face a new foe: the weather.
Tropical Storm Alex formed in the western Caribbean Saturday, raising fears that it could become a hurricane as the region continues to fight the massive BP oil spill in the Gulf.
Forecasters believe Alex is aimed at Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, but remain wary the storm could change direction at any time.
With anywhere between 69 million and 132 million gallons of oil floating in the Gulf, and dozens of ships at sea fighting the spill, a major storm could be devastating.
The Deepwater Horizon rig explosion April 20 killed 11 workers and triggered the worst oil spill disaster in U.S. history.
As scientists told NYDailyNews.com earlier this month when the Atlantic hurricane season started, this is an unprecedented situation. "This is going to be the prototype case," Dr. Joseph Suhayda of Louisiana State University, said.
This year's forecast calls for seven major storms, a number similar to 2005 when Hurricane Katrina destroyed New Orleans.
Should Alex, or another big storm threaten the Gulf Coast, BP's cleanup effort could be halted for at least two weeks as it removes ships and equipment to safety, Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen told the Associated Press.
BP said Friday it has spent $2.35 billion in its effort to clean and contain the spill.
As residents and oil spill workers brace for the storm season, BP had some encouraging news.
The oil giant said its effort to drill a relief well is on track.
"We are where we thought we were," a BP spokesman said.
The relief well is believed to be the only way to completely stop the underwater leak.
With News Wire Services
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/06
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