As Alex Gains Strength, Gale Force Winds May Hit The BP Clean Up

Tropical storm Alex may become a hurricane in the next 24 to 48 hours. Its most likely path is to hit land near the Texas-Mexico border. Alex  may send gale force winds and waves at least ten foot high to the site where BP is attempting to cap the Deepwater Horizon rig leak.

The storm may be strong enough to force ships near the spot of the leak to move away, which could add a week or more to the time by which the worst oil spill in US history can be fully capped, if indeed that is possible. “Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen, who is overseeing the leak response, says officials have plans to evacuate ships from the area in case of a serious storm”, according to the Voice of America.The bigger problem with the storm is that it may drive some of the oil spill inland along the Louisiana coast. Those working to contain the spill have labored to keep the slick off shore. Nothing can stop crude driven by 10 foot waves. High seas could drive some oil several hundred yards inland.

BP may be able to cap the oil leak, but there is enough crude on the surface of the Gulf that the weather is the biggest challenge facing the clean-up.

Douglas A. McIntyre