Latest Gulf oil spill forecast shows push west to fragile Louisiana wetlands

Latest Gulf oil spill forecast shows push west to fragile Louisiana wetlands
By Press-Register staff
May 10, 2010, 7:01AM

Winds from the east or southeast this morning, then continued east or southeast winds through Tuesday have the potential to move new oil onshore along the Louisiana coastline, according to the latest 72-hour project map produced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

As with other forecast maps in recent days, the forecast map that extends until Wednesday evening continues not to show landfall of oil along the Mississippi, Alabama or Florida within the forecast period.

NOAA's longest-term forecast is the 72-hour map because officials say there are too many variable factors -- namely wind -- to look with any certainty into the more distant future.

The most recent map said the Mississippi Delta, Breton Sound, the Chandeleur Islands and areas directly north have a potential for shoreline contacts throughout the forecast period. West of the Mississippi Delta, the shoreline west of Barataria Bay to Isles Dernieres is threatened today.

Should winds continue east or southeast, potential oil contacts could reach as far west as Oyster Bayou on Tuesday and Atchafalaya Bay on Wednesday, the federal experts said.

NOAA's forecasts are based on the latest National Weather Service forecasts, overflight and satellite observations, current models and tracking devices placed within the oil spill. Officials caution that tar balls associated with the leading edge of the spill are difficult to track and so are not taken into account.