Tropical Storm Debby forms in the Gulf

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

MIAMI (AP) - Tropical Storm Debby formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday, interfering with oil and gas production and putting officials on alert for flooding and strong winds from Texas to Florida.

At least one tornado linked to the storm touched down in southwest Florida, but no injuries were reported. Heavy squalls pounded parts of the state.

Debby was about 215 mile (346 kilometer) south of the mouth of the Mississippi River, with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (80 kph).

The center of Debby was expected to linger in the Gulf during the next few days with no landfall in the immediate forecast.

FULL story at link.



Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20120624/D9VJ858G0.html

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This NOAA satellite image taken Saturday, June 23, 2012, shows shower and thunderstorm activity developing around an area of low pressure spinning in the Gulf of Mexico. Tropical Storm Debby has formed in the Gulf of Mexico and forecasters say it will bring rain to the Gulf coast from southern Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle. (AP Photo/NOAA)

[Newsjock]

1. ExxonMobil, Chevron, et al. will be overjoyed

Here comes that $4 gas again, justified or not.

It was the first time four tropical storms have been recorded before July 1 during the Atlantic hurricane season since record keeping began in 1851.

Debby forced the suspension of 8 percent of the region's oil and gas production.

The government reported that nine production platforms and one drilling rig were evacuated. The suspended crude production amounts to about 2 percent of U.S production and about 0.1 percent of global production. The reduced production is not expected to impact oil prices unless the storm strengthens and forces more production platforms to close.

[phantom power]

2. So, is Debby going to... errr... do Dallas?

[truthisfreedom]

3. Pretty innocuous name if it does end up being memorable.

[slackmaster]

4. IT'S COMING RIGHT AT ME!

I'm in San Diego.

[Scurrilous]

5. Debby Lashing Gulf Coast With Winds, Rain

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal Declares State Of Emergency

<snip>

"Louisiana's governor declared a state of emergency Sunday as Tropical Storm Debby approached, citing "the imminent threat" of heavy rainfall and flooding.

Debby was unleashing high winds and torrential rain Sunday along portions of the northeast Gulf Coast as it meandered offshore, forecasters said.

But those in Louisiana stepped up preparedness efforts amid concern over a forecast track showing Debby could make landfall along its coast, although meteorologists noted the storm's path is still uncertain.

Gov. Bobby Jindal's declaration authorizes the governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness to undertake any activity its director deems necessary or appropriate."

http://www.ktxs.com/weather/31221373/detail.html