Alex, now a tropical storm, with sustained winds of 40 mph, moved inland on the eastern coast of Mexico, and is expected to emerge into the Gulf where warm waters could strengthen the storm.

The Coast Guard said that if the storm creates gale force winds in the area around the Deepwater Horizon clean-up that operations could be shut down for as much as ten days. It would take that long to move ships and equipment out of harm’s way before the storm and them move all of the equipment and ships back into place later. The National Hurricane Center reported that:

SOME WEAKENING IS EXPECTED WHILE OVER LAND...AND ALEX COULD
BECOME A TROPICAL DEPRESSION LATER THIS MORNING. HOWEVER...
RE-STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST SUNDAY NIGHT...AND ESPECIALLY ON
MONDAY...WHEN ALEX WILL BE BACK OVER WARM WATER.