Reports: Oil Spill East Coast Threat Less Likely

News reports out of Florida have downgraded the possibility of oil from the Gulf of Mexico disaster reaching the East Coast anytime soon due to change of wind patterns and ocean current. Earlier this month, the National Center for Atmospheric Research provided a computer model showing the possibility of the oil passing by Bermuda. Bermuda’s Director of Environmental Protection Dr. Fred Ming has spoken on the measures Bermuda has in place to deal with any potential disaster from this scenario, as has the Minister of the Environment Glenn Blakeney.

Miami Herald saying today:

The risk of oil from the Deepwater Horizon blowout reaching the Florida Keys and South Florida anytime soon is now so remote that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has suspended its trajectory maps for the area, effectively downgrading the region to low risk.

Tampa Bay Online saying today:

Thanks to areas of high pressure in the atmosphere, the prevailing wind pattern over the state is beginning to be from the east. That should help keep the oil, which has affected some of the Panhandle beaches, from drifting any farther to the east.

Officials are hopeful that, with the wind change, the farthest east any tar balls will make it will be Panama City.

Below is the forecast for today [June 22] from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, click ‘full screen’ for greater clarity. [This is a large file and may take a moment to load]

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Category: All, Environment, News