Alex likely to become first Atlantic 2010 hurricane
(CNS): Forecasters are predicting that Alex will become the first hurricane of the 2010 Atlantic season. After losing strength as it hit land Alex reorganised and gained strength this morning as it headed into the warm Gulf of Mexico waters. It is still unclear where Alex will make landfall but forecasters do not believe it will affect the oil spill clean-up. The most likely location for landfall is predicted to be along the northern Mexico or South Texas coast on Thursday, but some uncertainty still exists, in terms of intensity as where it will land.
The National Hurricane Centre has warned that thereis a divergence among computer models about Alex’s track and while the are fairly sure the major effects of the storm will be away from the part of the gulf affected by the spill it could cause higher waves and swell in the oil spill area. This could interfere with some containment devices, such as booms, but not completely shut down containment operations.
Category: Science and Nature
Wind and ocean current forecast for the BP oil disaster
It currently appears that Alex will not directly affect the oil slick location, other than to bring 2 – 4 foot swells to the region on Wednesday. However, because Alex is such a deep low pressure region, strong southeast winds of 15 – 25 knots will blow over the oil slick region today through Wednesday, according to the latest marine forecast from NOAA. The resulting currents should act to push oil to the west and northwest onto portions of the Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama coasts, according to the latest trajectory forecasts from NOAA and the State of Louisiana. Oil will also move westward along the central Louisiana coast towards the Texas border.
Source (forget the rest): http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=1524
Wont effect gulf oil spill?? Get real…the winds will churn up the oil and bring it onshore….northeast quadrant winds..hello. I am no expert, but even I can see an oily washing machine in the gulf. Who are these forecasters? Do thet think the winds will just be where the clouds are? I surely hope they do not get paid a lot. Gulf States better get ready for some oily beaches in the next few days.
Good luck with the massive clean up you are about to face.