All eyes were on the tropical wave moving towards Florida north of Haiti as becoming the next named storm. However, NHC redirected focus this afternoon to the southern Gulf where it appears an area of low pressure might be forming. The system east of Florida is under lots of wind shear and dry air while the one over the southern Gulf is not. NHC gives the eastern system a 40% chance for development with the one in the Gulf a 30% chance. My feelings are the Gulf system might win out and become TS Bonnie before making landfall in Mexico as it’s in a friendlier environment. Satellite loops tonight show neither looking better organized. IF the system east of Florida came straight to us, our times of bad weather would be late Saturday night into Monday. Most computer models keep it a weak system as the upper low continues the strong wind shear. Let’s hope so. Another update late Thursday.
timesofearth.com US President Barack Obama and his daughter have taken a dip in the Gulf of Mexico in an attempt to reassure Americans that, despite a massive oil spill, its waters remain safe for tourists. The president, First Lady Michelle Obama, and their younger daughter, Sasha, traveled to this Florida panhandle city to talk to local officials and business leaders, and highlight the region’s tourist attractions. “Oil is no longer flowing into the Gulf,” said Obama, speaking at a regional US Coast Guard headquarters. “But I’m here to tell you that our job is not finished, and we are not going anywhere until it is.” Obama said that he wanted to deliver the message directly to residents of the Gulf Coast, which he has visited four times since an April explosion on a BP-leased oil rig triggered the disaster. “I made a commitment in my visits here that I was going to stand with you… until you have fully recovered from the damage that has been done. And that is a commitment my administration is going to keep,” he said. And Obama also demanded that BP speed up processing of compensation claims, saying that “any delays — by BP or by those managing the new fund — are unacceptable.” Earlier this week BP made its first deposit into the 20-billion-dollar Gulf of Mexico oil disaster fund intended to compensate thousands of residents and businesses hit by the largest maritime oil spill of all time. During the height of the spill Obama urged his fellow Americans to continue …