Hurricanes + oil spill = bad equation

A news release from Accuweather.com landed in our e-mails today stressing the havoc that could occur if a hurricane or tropical storm entered the oil spill-riddled Gulf of Mexico.

Add a tropical storm into the equation and oil "has the potential to be pushed farther into the Louisiana Delta and into the natural wildlife reserves along the Gulf Coast, the release said.

"There are many factors that need to be considered when predicting what areas could be contaminated by oil. The strength of the tropical storm or hurricane and the exact path of the storm will both determine the spread of the oil and even how much of the oil will be mixed with the water in the Gulf.

"The storm surge created by the hurricane or tropical event will also determine how far inland the oil contamination will occur. A hurricane like Katrina, a Category 4 storm, had a storm surge that reached 12 miles in parts of Mississippi."

Here's a look at the common track of Atlantic-basin storms from July 15-Sept. 15:

 

Here's a look at the common track of Atlantic-basin storms for the end of hurricane season: