Oil Spill Forecast for June 2, 2010 Map Credit: NOAA
June 1, 2010 - During a press briefing in New Orleans today, Adm. Thad Allen, National Incident Commander for Deepwater BP oil spill response, announced that he had received unverified reports of oil contact in the western portion of the Mississippi Sound, tarballs on Dauphin Island, AL, and oil sheening offshore. He said that crews have been sent out to verify these reports.
This is a breaking story. Updates will follow here as they become available.
Gulf oil spill update: Oil impacts Mississippi, Alabama, coming to Florida as early as Wednesday
June 1 Afternoon:
-- CNN's Patrick Oppmann (on site) confirms that oil has reached the beach on Dauphin Island, Alabama.
-- The Alabama Department of Public Health announced this afternoon that oil has been identified on some beaches on Dauphin Island and in waters near the shore. A swimming advisory, not closure, has been issued. In addition, the state health officer will be closing all Alabama oyster beds at 3 p.m. CDT today and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will be closing all Gulf waters, including Pelican Bay to fishing, from the east end of Dauphin Island to the Mississippi state line.
-- According to the Associated Press, "In neighboring Mississippi, Gov. Haley Barbour said a 2-miles-long narrow strand of oil was found Tuesday on Petit Bois Island, south of Jackson County. Petit Bois is the easternmost barrier island in the state and near the Alabama state line."
Story continues:
As a result of the NOAA oil spill forecast yesterday, earlier this morning, the Unified Incident Command increased air and sea surveillance of the Gulf coastal areas of Miss., Ala., and the Fla. Panhandle.
Officials said, "Spill monitoring has increased through the use of vessels of opportunity, other vessels have been deployed to verify aerial observations, and skimming vessels are responding to confirmed reports of oil. Additional beach support teams have been mobilized on shore to respond as well."
“We are working around the clock to keep the oil off the shoreline and have had the gift of time to plan for its arrival,” said Capt. Steven Poulin, incident commander for the Coast Guard. “The projections are of concern. This is a dynamic situation influenced by a wide variety of environmental factors, so while we’re not certain where or what the impact will be, but we’re prepared.”
As reported yesterday:
May 31, 2010 - The latest forecast map from NOAA shows the edge of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill near Mississippi and Alabama barrier islands, centered on Mobile Bay by Wednesday, June 2, 2010. In addition, this forecast has prompted federal fishing closures to be extended to about 26% of Gulf of Mexico federal waters, including those near Mississippi and Alabama state waters.
From the NOAA forecast: "Moderate southerly winds are forecast through Tuesday at 5-10 kts. These winds may begin moving oil that has been tending to the southwest from the source towards the Delta. In addition to continued threats to shorelines in Breton and Chandeleur Sounds, model results indicate that some oil may move north to threaten the barrier islands off Mississippi and Alabama later in the forecast period." See full size forecast map for Wednesday, June 2, 2010.
Latest oil spill news:
Gulf oil spill: Mississippi, Alabama barrier islands, mouth of Mobile Bay soon? New fishing closures
Gulf oil spill: No underwater oil plumes says BP's Tony Hayward, disagrees with scientists
Gulf oil spill: Going forward with LMRP Cap, first step is cutting existing riser pipe (graphics)
Gulf oil spill: NOAA ship to study underwater oil plume, Cousteau says it's a nightmare (video)
For a look at one coral reef area at risk in the Gulf of Mexico:
Gulf oil spill disaster: BP update, oil spill flow counter and a look beneath Gulf waters (video)
Get an underwater view of what's polluting the Gulf now:
Gulf oil spill: NOAA ship to study underwater oil plume, Cousteau says it's a nightmare (video)
More coverage:
More oil spill stories from the Environmental News Examiner
Gulf Oil Spill Examiner - Tony Pann
PBS NewsHour Oil Spill Counter
Background
The Deepwater Horizon disaster occurred on April 20, 2010 when the drilling rig platform exploded, burned and sank two days later. Oil continues to flow from the ruptured well one mile under the Gulf of Mexico. Of the 126 people on the drilling platform at the time of the explosion, eleven were killed.
In the aftermath, an environmental and economic catastrophe is being created, as oil continues to spew into the waters of the Gulf, unabated after the latest attempt, called top kill was unsuccessful in temporarily capping the broken well until two relief wells can be completed sometime in August.
Comments
Wake up people....this is not a movie !
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!