Even after a weekend featuring a northerly wind component across the northern Gulf of Mexico, the footprint of the Gulf oil slick remains well north of the Gulf loop current, the ribbon of warm, fast-moving water that has the potential to bring at least a portion of the slick south toward the Florida Straits. The wind direction is now expected to remain favorable for the next several days (easterly to perhaps southeasterly) to keep the oil from entering the loop current. A prolonged period of easterly flow does, though, bring concerns for the oil to begin really washing up through coastal Louisiana and perhaps starting to push somewhat toward the west toward Texas.
One thing I am watching though is the presence of a few fast-moving, warm Gulf of Mexico eddies (that move at a pace of about 2-3 mph.. less than the loop current). These are nearby to the oil slick and potentially could guide some of the oil toward the East or Southeast despite the east-to-west blowing wind.
Brian
