KSLA News 12 Shreveport, Louisiana |Tropical Depression headed to Gulf of Mexico

Tropical Depression headed to Gulf of Mexico

UNDATED (KSLA) –A storm brewing hundreds of miles away is already throwing a wrench into efforts to permanently plug BP's blown out well.

Forecasters at the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said the storm system, which has already caused flooding in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Haiti, could become Tropical Storm Bonnie by later Thursday and reach the Gulf of Mexico by Saturday.     

The center also said the depression had maximum sustained winds near 35 mph by midday Thursday.

Crews in the Gulf of Mexico working had to suspend work on the first relief well just days before they hoped to finish it.

Forecasters say the system could gain strength and take aim at the Gulf. BP and the government will have to decide soon whether their ships need to evacuate.

There's also a chance engineers will have to open the cap that's been holding back the gushing oil for the last week. If scientists can't closely monitor the pressure, the government may let the crude vent out as a precaution.

If the storm becomes a hurricane and passes to the west of the slick it could drive oil already in the water straight to the shore.

A few weeks ago Hurricane Alex didn't even come close, but it churned up waves, tangled boom and sidelined skimmers.

 

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