Latest NOAA Spill Extent Forecasts

Near Shore



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Emergency Fishery Closure

NOAA: The offshore forecast has been temporarily stopped due to small amounts of oil, the absence of recent observations confirming significant amounts of oil, and the large separation between the loop current complex and the oil slick. Forecasts will resume if the threat returns. Read more!

Hurricane Alex

000
WTNT41 KNHC 300233
TCDAT1
HURRICANE ALEX DISCUSSION NUMBER 18
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL012010
1000 PM CDT TUE JUN 29 2010

ALEX HAS GRADUALLY BECOME BETTER ORGANIZED ON SATELLITE IMAGES AND
DVORAK CLASSIFICATIONS FROM BOTH TAFB AND SAB CONTINUE TO SUPPORT A
CURRENT INTENSITY OF 65 KT. AN AIR FORCE RESERVE UNIT HURRICANE
HUNTER AIRCRAFT PASSED THROUGH THE CENTER ON A NORTHWEST TO
SOUTHEAST LEG AND MEASURED A CENTRAL PRESSURE OF 973 MB BY
DROPSONDE. THE SFMR ABOARD THE PLANE MEASURED A SURFACE WIND OF 62
KT JUST TO THE SOUTHEAST OF THE CENTER. SOON THEREAFTER...THE
AIRCRAFT HAD TO DEPART THE AREA DUE TO RADAR FAILURE. BASED ON THE
SUBSTANTIAL DROP IN CENTRAL PRESSURE SINCE EARLIER TODAY AND THE
FACT THAT HIGHER SURFACE WINDS ARE LIKELY OCCURRING IN THE
NORTHEAST QUADRANT...ALEX IS BEING UPGRADED TO A 65-KT HURRICANE
FOR THIS ADVISORY. VERTICAL SHEAR IS FORECAST TO REMAIN BELOW 10
KT FOR THE NEXT 24-48 HOURS SO THE HURRICANE SHOULD REMAIN IN AN
ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE FOR INTENSIFICATION UP TO LANDFALL. THE
SHIPS RAPID INTENSIFICATION INDEX SHOWS A 33 PERCENT PROBABILITY OF
RAPID INTENSIFICATION...I.E. A 30-KT INCREASE OVER 24 HOURS.
HOWEVER...NONE OF THE OTHER NUMERICAL INTENSITY GUIDANCE SHOWS ALEX
STRENGTHENING BEYOND CATEGORY ONE STATUS PRIOR TO LANDFALL. THE
OFFICIAL INTENSITY IS VERY CLOSE TO THE LGEM GUIDANCE AND ABOUT THE
SAME AS THAT FROM THE PREVIOUS PACKAGE.

ALEX WOBBLED WESTWARD OVER THE PAST SEVERAL HOURS. AFTER SOME
SMOOTHING...THE INITIAL MOTION ESTIMATE IS 280/8. SHORT-TERM
FORECASTS FROM DYNAMICAL MODELS SUCH AS THE GFDL AND GFS SUGGEST
THAT THE WESTWARD MOTION IS TEMPORARY AND THAT A WEST-NORTHWESTWARD
TRACK SHOULD RESUME SOON. THE FLOW TO THE SOUTH OF A MID-
TROPOSPHERIC RIDGE SHOULD STEER THE HURRICANE ON A GENERALLY
WEST-NORTHWESTWARD COURSE ACROSS THE WESTERN GULF OF MEXICO...WITH
ALEX REACHING THE COAST IN ABOUT 24 HOURS. BECAUSE OF THE JOG TO
THE LEFT...THE NEW NHC FORECAST TRACK HAS BEEN SHIFTED SLIGHTLY TO
THE SOUTH OF THE PREVIOUS ONE. IT SHOULD BE REPEATED THAT ONE
SHOULD NOT FOCUS ON THE EXACT PREDICTED LANDFALL POINT BECAUSE OF
TRACK FORECAST UNCERTAINTIES...AND ALSO BECAUSE THIS IS A LARGE
TROPICAL CYCLONE.

FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INITIAL 30/0300Z 23.1N 94.8W 65 KT
12HR VT 30/1200Z 23.7N 96.0W 75 KT
24HR VT 01/0000Z 24.2N 97.6W 80 KT
36HR VT 01/1200Z 24.6N 99.2W 55 KT...INLAND
48HR VT 02/0000Z 24.5N 101.0W 30 KT...INLAND
72HR VT 03/0000Z...DISSIPATED INLAND

$$
FORECASTER PASCH

GFDL:

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Latest NOAA Spill Extent Forecasts

Near Shore



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Emergency Fishery Closure

NOAA: The offshore forecast has been temporarily stopped due to small amounts of oil, the absence of recent observations confirming significant amounts of oil, and the large separation between the loop current complex and the oil slick. Forecasts will resume if the threat returns. Read more!

Latest NOAA Spill Extent Forecasts

Near Shore



Click on thumbnail for full-sized image

Emergency Fishery Closure

NOAA: The offshore forecast has been temporarily stopped due to small amounts of oil, the absence of recent observations confirming significant amounts of oil, and the large separation between the loop current complex and the oil slick. Forecasts will resume if the threat returns.
Read more!

Alex in the Gulf

000
WTNT41 KNHC 270857
TCDAT1
TROPICAL STORM ALEX DISCUSSION NUMBER 7
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL012010
400 AM CDT SUN JUN 27 2010

RATHER THAN BECOMING DISORGANIZED AFTER MOVING INLAND...RADAR AND
SATELLITE DATA INDICATE THAT ALEX HAS ACTUALLY BECOME MUCH BETTER
DEFINED. AN EYE FEATURE HAS BEEN NOTED IN BELIZE RADAR DATA AND
SATELLITE IMAGERY INDICATES THAT CLOUD TOPS HAVE COOLED
SIGNIFICANTLY WITH A NEARLY CLOSED RING OF -80C AND COLDER TOPS
ENCIRCLING THE RADAR CENTER. THE UPPER-LEVEL OUTFLOW PATTERN
REMAINS IMPRESSIVE AND ADDITIONAL CONVECTIVE BANDING FEATURES HAVE
DEVELOPED IN ALL QUADRANTS. THE RADAR AND SATELLITE DEPICTIONS OF
ALEX LOOKS MORE LIKE A HURRICANE THAN A LOW-END TROPICAL STORM.

THE MOTION ESTIMATE IS 300/10. THE SHORT TERM MOTION IS THE ONLY
THING STRAIGHT-FORWARD ABOUT THE FORECAST TRACK. ALL OF THE MODELS
AGREE ON AN UPPER-LEVEL LOW CURRENTLY JUST EAST OF HUDSON BAY
CANADA TO DIG SOUTHWARD AND CARVE OUT A DEEP TROUGH OVER MUCH OF
THE EASTERN U.S. DURING THE NEXT 5 DAYS. AS THE TROUGH AMPLIFIES
...THE SUBTROPICAL RIDGE CURRENTLY SITUATED ACROSS FLORIDA AND THE
NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO ERODES IN THE 36-72 HOUR TIME FRAME LEAVING
A LARGE WEAKNESS IN THE RIDGE OVER THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN GULF.
THIS WEAK FLOW PATTERN IS EXPECTED TO CAUSE ALEX TO SLOW DOWN AND
ALLOW THE CYCLONE TO GAIN SOME LATITUDE. AFTER THAT...HOWEVER...THE
MODELS DIVERGE SIGNIFICANTLY WITH THE GFS AND CANADIAN MODELS
TAKING ALEX NORTHWARD THROUGH THE WEAKNESS IN THE RIDGE TO THE
TEXAS-LOUISIANA BORDER AREA...WHEREAS THE ECMWF...NOGAPS...GFDL...
HWRF...UKMET...AND GFS-PARALLEL MODELS MOVE ALEX WESTWARD INTO
NORTHEASTERN MEXICO. THE MAIN DIFFERENCE IN THE MODELS IS HOW THEY
HANDLE THE MID-LATITUDE TROUGH-RIDGE PATTERN. THE GFS AND CANADIAN
MODELS ARE MORE PROGRESSIVE AND LESS AMPLIFIED WITH THE FLOW
PATTERN ACROSS THE NORTHERN U.S. DURING THE FORECAST PERIOD...
WHEREAS THE OTHER MODELS PRODUCE A STRONGER...MORE HIGHLY AMPLIFIED
...AND SLOWER PATTERN. THE CURRENT PROGRESSIVE 5-WAVE NORTHERN
HEMISPHERIC FLOW PATTERN WOULD TEND TO FAVOR THE THE GFS-CANADIAN
SOLUTION...BUT AT LEAST ONE MORE MODEL CYCLE WILL BE REQUIRED TO
CONFIRM THAT TREND. THE OFFICIAL FORECAST TRACK IS TO THE RIGHT OF
AND SLOWER THAN THE PREVIOUS ADVISORY...AND IS SIMILAR TO THE
CONSENSUS MODEL...TVCN. NOTE...IF THE RECENT NORTHWARD SHIFT IN THE
MODELS CONTINUES...THEN ALEX COULD REMAIN OVER WATER FOR THE NEXT 5
DAYS RESULTING IN A VERY POWERFUL HURRICANE.

BASED ON THE MUCH IMPROVED STRUCTURE OF ALEX WHILE IT IS HAS BEEN
OVER LAND...THE INTENSITY FORECAST HAS BEEN ADJUSTED UPWARD FROM
THE PREVIOUS ADVISORY. WITH VERTICAL SHEAR FORECAST TO BE 5 KT OR
LESS DURING MOST OF THE FORECAST PERIOD AND SSTS OF 28C AND WARMER
EXPECTED ALONG THE TRACK...THERE IS AT LEAST A MODERATE LIKELIHOOD
THAT ALEX COULD BECOME A MAJOR HURRICANE. THE OFFICIAL INTENSITY
FORECAST IS NEARLY IDENTICAL TO THE SHIPS AND DECAY-SHIPS INTENSITY
MODELS...AND HIGHER THAN BOTH THE GFDL AND HWRF MODELS.


FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INITIAL 27/0900Z 18.3N 89.4W 35 KT
12HR VT 27/1800Z 19.1N 90.6W 30 KT...INLAND
24HR VT 28/0600Z 20.2N 91.9W 40 KT...OVER WATER
36HR VT 28/1800Z 20.9N 92.8W 55 KT
48HR VT 29/0600Z 21.5N 93.6W 65 KT
72HR VT 30/0600Z 22.6N 95.5W 75 KT
96HR VT 01/0600Z 23.2N 97.4W 85 KT
120HR VT 02/0600Z 23.5N 99.7W 30 KT...INLAND

$$
FORECASTER STEWART


Read more!

Latest NOAA Spill Extent Forecasts

Near Shore



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Emergency Fishery Closure

NOAA: The offshore forecast has been temporarily stopped due to small amounts of oil, the absence of recent observations confirming significant amounts of oil, and the large separation between the loop current complex and the oil slick. Forecasts will resume if the threat returns.
Read more!

Latest NOAA Spill Extent Forecasts

Near Shore



Click on thumbnail for full-sized image

Emergency Fishery Closure

NOAA: The offshore forecast has been temporarily stopped due to small amounts of oil, the absence of recent observations confirming significant amounts of oil, and the large separation between the loop current complex and the oil slick. Forecasts will resume if the threat returns.
Read more!

Gulf Tropical Weather Outlook

With the looming prospect of the first tropical cyclone of the season barreling into the Gulf at full career, BP today announced a contingency plan that entails halting everything -- everything that is, but the flow of oil into the Gulf.

000
WTNT31 KNHC 260233
TCPAT1
BULLETIN
TROPICAL DEPRESSION ONE ADVISORY NUMBER 2
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL012010
1100 PM EDT FRI JUN 25 2010

...TROPICAL DEPRESSION CONTINUES WEST-NORTHWESTWARD TOWARD BELIZE
AND THE YUCATAN PENINSULA OF MEXICO...


SUMMARY OF 1100 PM EDT...0300 UTC...INFORMATION
-----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...16.7N 84.4W
ABOUT 255 MI...415 KM ESE OF BELIZE CITY
ABOUT 285 MI...460 KM ESE OF CHETUMAL MEXICO
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...35 MPH...55 KM/HR
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 295 DEGREES AT 9 MPH...15 KM/HR
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1004 MB...29.65 INCHES


WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY...

NONE.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT...

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* THE COAST OF BELIZE AND THE EAST COAST OF THE YUCATAN PENINSULA OF
MEXICO FROM CHETUMAL TO CANCUN

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN 36 HOURS.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...PLEASE MONITOR
PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR NATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE.


DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
------------------------------
AT 1100 PM EDT...0300 UTC...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL DEPRESSION ONE
WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 16.7 NORTH...LONGITUDE 84.4 WEST. THE
DEPRESSION IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 9 MPH...15
KM/HR...AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT
COUPLE OF DAYS. ON THE FORECAST TRACK...THE CENTER OF THE
DEPRESSION WILL APPROACH THE COAST WITHIN THE WARNING AREA LATE
SATURDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 35 MPH...55 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. SOME STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST...AND THE DEPRESSION IS
EXPECTED TO BECOME A TROPICAL STORM ON SATURDAY.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1004 MB...29.65 INCHES.


HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
RAINFALL...THE DEPRESSION IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAIN
ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES OVER THE YUCATAN PENINSULA...EASTERN
GUATEMALA...MUCH OF HONDURAS AND BELIZE THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING.
ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 15 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE OVER MOUNTAINOUS
AREAS. THESE RAINS COULD CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND
MUDSLIDES.

WIND...TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO REACH THE COAST
WITHIN THE WARNING AREA BY SATURDAY AFTERNOON.


NEXT ADVISORY
-------------
NEXT INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY...200 AM EDT.
NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY...500 AM EDT.

$$
FORECASTER BRENNAN

GFDL:

Read more!

Gulf Tropical Weather Outlook

000
ABNT20 KNHC 250528
TWOAT
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
200 AM EDT FRI JUN 25 2010

FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC...CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO...

A BROAD AREA OF LOW PRESSURE IS CENTERED ABOUT 150 MILES
EAST-NORTHEAST OF CABO GRACIAS A DIOS ON THE HONDURAS-NICARAGUA
BORDER. THIS SYSTEM HAS CHANGED LITTLE IN ORGANIZATION DURING THE
PAST SEVERAL HOURS. HOWEVER...UPPER-LEVEL WINDS ARE GRADUALLY
BECOMING MORE CONDUCIVE FOR DEVELOPMENT AS THE LOW DRIFTS SLOWLY
NORTHWESTWARD...AND THE SYSTEM COULD BECOME A TROPICAL DEPRESSION
BEFORE IT REACHES THE YUCATAN PENINSULA IN A COUPLE OF DAYS. THERE
IS A HIGH CHANCE...60 PERCENT...OF THIS SYSTEM BECOMING A TROPICAL
CYCLONE DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS.

ELSEWHERE...TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED DURING THE
NEXT 48 HOURS.

$$
FORECASTER BEVEN

GFDL:

Read more!

Latest NOAA Spill Extent Forecasts

Near Shore



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Emergency Fishery Closure

NOAA: The offshore forecast has been temporarily stopped due to small amounts of oil, the absence of recent observations confirming significant amounts of oil, and the large separation between the loop current complex and the oil slick. Forecasts will resume if the threat returns.
Read more!

Latest NOAA Spill Extent Forecasts

Near Shore



Click on thumbnail for full-sized image

Emergency Fishery Closure

NOAA: The offshore forecast has been temporarily stopped due to small amounts of oil, the absence of recent observations confirming significant amounts of oil, and the large separation between the loop current complex and the oil slick. Forecasts will resume if the threat returns.
Read more!

Gulf Tropical Weather Outlook

000
ABNT20 KNHC 232335
TWOAT
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
800 PM EDT WED JUN 23 2010

FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC...CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO...

AN ELONGATED AREA OF DISTURBED WEATHER EXTENDS FROM CENTRAL CUBA AND
JAMAICA EASTWARD ACROSS HISPANIOLA TO PUERTO RICO AND THE ADJACENT
WATERS OF THE NORTHERN CARIBBEAN SEA. ALTHOUGH THE SYSTEM IS
CURRENTLY NOT WELL ORGANIZED...UPPER-LEVEL WINDS APPEAR CONDUCIVE
FOR SOME SLOW DEVELOPMENT OF THIS DISTURBANCE AS IT MOVES WESTWARD
OR WEST-NORTHWESTWARD AROUND 10 MPH OVER THE NEXT DAY OR TWO. HEAVY
RAINFALL COULD AFFECT PORTIONS OF JAMAICA...CUBA...HAITI...THE
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC...AND PUERTO RICO OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.
AN AIR FORCE RESERVE UNIT RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT IS TENTATIVELY
SCHEDULED TO INVESTIGATE THE SYSTEM...IF NECESSARY...TOMORROW
AFTERNOON. THERE IS A MEDIUM CHANCE...30 PERCENT...OF THIS SYSTEM
BECOMING A TROPICAL CYCLONE DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS.

ELSEWHERE...TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED DURING THE
NEXT 48 HOURS.

$$
FORECASTER KIMBERLAIN/BEVEN

GFDL:

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Trouble Below

Reports are that one of the ROVs bumped the LMRP this morning, closing one of the pressure relief vents. This allowed pressure to build inside the device and forced oil up through the hose that was delivering the clathrate-formation-suppressing antifreeze to the cap. The cessation of the flow of antifreeze could result in methane ice crystals clogging the cap and presenting back-pressure to the well. BP immediately pulled the LMRP off of the wellhead until the situation can be assessed. This action allows the well to vent oil, unrestricted, into the Gulf.
BP's actions this morning appear to confirm the fears of the folks who think that the well casing is badly damaged. Their fear is that the integrity of the well casing is so badly compromised, that a collapse of the BOP is possible. The back-pressure from the clogged cap could trigger such a collapse.

Update: Adm Allen said at the afternoon press conference that the Q4000 rig continues to draw 10,000 bbls per day of oil and gas via the choke lines on the BOP, so the leaking well is technically not "unrestricted" while the cap is removed.
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Latest NOAA Spill Extent Forecasts

Near Shore



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Emergency Fishery Closure

NOAA: The offshore forecast has been temporarily stopped due to small amounts of oil, the absence of recent observations confirming significant amounts of oil, and the large separation between the loop current complex and the oil slick. Forecasts will resume if the threat returns.
Read more!

This is the last thing that the Gulf needs ...

The latest TWOAT from the National Hurricane Center (Emphasis mine):

ZCZC MIATWOAT ALL
TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
800 PM EDT TUE JUN 22 2010

FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC...CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO...

1. A TROPICAL WAVE OVER THE CENTRAL CARIBBEAN SEA IS MOVING WESTWARD
ABOUT 10 MPH AND IS SPREADING CLOUDINESS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER
PORTIONS OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC...HAITI... JAMAICA...AND EASTERN
CUBA. THIS SYSTEM HAS CHANGED LITTLE IN ORGANIZATION TODAY BUT
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST TO BECOME MORE FAVORABLE FOR
SLOW DEVELOPMENT AS THE WAVE REACHES THE WESTERN CARIBBEAN SEA IN A
DAY OR TWO. THERE IS A LOW CHANCE...20 PERCENT...OF THIS SYSTEM
BECOMING A TROPICAL CYCLONE DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS.

ELSEWHERE...TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED DURING THE
NEXT 48 HOURS.

$$
FORECASTER AVILA/ROBERTS
NNNN

Latest GFDL:

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Relief Wells?

Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, the National Incident Commander for the Deepwater Horizon BP Oil Spill response, held a press briefing this afternoon, Tuesday June 21.

As part of his prepared address, Adm.Allen said

"Regarding the relief well operations, the Development Driller II is—remains at the 10,677 feet below the sea floor in preparation of closing in on the pipe and doing a ranging technique, which will allow them to hone in for the actual point where they'll penetrate the wellbore. Development Driller II is at 4,662 feet and moving forward."

If those numbers sound familiar, they should. During the press conferece on June 18, last Thursday, he said

"Regarding the relief wells, Development Driller III, which is drilling a first relief well, is now 10,677 feet below the sea floor starting to close in on the well bore. Development Driller II is 4,662 feet below the sea floor and (inaudible) on task."

Meanwhile, a press release issued yesterday by BP stated

"Work on the first relief well, which started May 2, continues and has currently reached a measured depth of 15,936 feet. The second relief well, which started May 16, is at a measured depth of 10,000 feet. Both wells are still estimated to take approximately three months to complete from commencement of drilling."

Which sounds a great deal better, until you look at the accompanying diagram and see that they inexplicably include the 5,249' water depth in their number. This places the BP depth at 10,687' for well #1 and 4,751' for well #2. While the claim that the directional drilling of deeper well is in need of careful tuning to successfully intersect with the 7"-9" casing (depending on where they meet) it is clear that the progress is painfully slow.

Download a hi-res pdf version of this image [HERE]
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Submerged Oil at Bon Secour Shoreline

This appears to be a jubilee caused by the oil spill along a section of the Alabama coastline

Submerged oil at Bon Secour shoreline

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Latest NOAA Spill Extent Forecasts

Near Shore



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Emergency Fishery Closure

NOAA: The offshore forecast has been temporarily stopped due to small amounts of oil, the absence of recent observations confirming significant amounts of oil, and the large separation between the loop current complex and the oil slick. Forecasts will resume if the threat returns.
Read more!

Conflicting Reports of Red Sea Oil Spill

Conflicting reports are coming out of the Middle East regarding an oil spill in the Red Sea.

Via AP:Environmentalists say Red Sea oil spill continuing

Environmental activists said Monday that an oil spill off the coast of Egypt's Red Sea is continuing even after the government said it had been contained, leaving turtles and sea birds covered in oil.

Government spokesman Magdy Rady told the state news agency Monday that the spill, which began last week, was "limited" and has now largely been contained. It was one of the first government acknowledgments that the spill was even taking place.

Via Al-Masry Al-Youm:Red Sea Gov: Oil spill successfully dealt with

Red Sea Governor Magdi Kobeisi announced on Sunday that an oil spill off the coast of Hurghada had been successfully cleaned up after only four days.

"The shoreline is clean now and local diving centers have reopened," he said.

From The Times South Africa: Red Sea oil 'cover-up'

The Egyptian government has been accused of trying to cover up a major oil spill in the Red Sea that has affected holiday beaches along the resort coast of Hurghada.

Environmentalists monitoring the area have taken pictures of oil-encrusted beaches and tracked the spill to an offshore rig operated by a subsidiary of the state petroleum company.

Read more!

Why didn't the BOP function properly?

Today's NY Times has an in-depth look at the failure of the Blow Out Preventer (BOP) used on the Macondo exploration well. That failure resulted in the loss of eleven lives, the destruction by fire of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig and the multi-million gallon spill that continues to flow in the Gulf of Mexico.

Lax Oversight Cited in Failure of Oil Rig’s Failsafe Device

It was the last line of defense, the final barrier between the rushing volcanic fury of oil and gas and one of the worst environmental disasters in United States history.

Read more!

Latest NOAA Spill Extent Forecasts

Near Shore



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Emergency Fishery Closure

NOAA: The offshore forecast has been temporarily stopped due to small amounts of oil, the absence of recent observations confirming significant amounts of oil, and the large separation between the loop current complex and the oil slick. Forecasts will resume if the threat returns.
Read more!

Latest NOAA Spill Extent Forecasts

Near Shore



Click on thumbnail for full-sized image

Emergency Fishery Closure

NOAA: The offshore forecast has been temporarily stopped due to small amounts of oil, the absence of recent observations confirming significant amounts of oil, and the large separation between the loop current complex and the oil slick. Forecasts will resume if the threat returns. Read more!