Tropical depression could form in Caribbean

15 August 2008 00:19  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--A weather disturbance that formed in the northeastern Caribbean on Thursday has the potential to turn into a tropical depression, government hurricane forecasters said.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said at 1600 Houston Time (2200 GMT) that the low pressure system located over the Virgin Islands had not yet developed into a tropical depression, but that upper level winds were becoming more favourable for such an event to occur.

“A tropical depression could form at any time during the next day or two as the system moves west-northwestward,” the NHC said.

Oil majors were alert to the possibility of the storm turning destructive overnight.

Shell’s Hurricane Incident Command Team was monitoring the disturbance, the company said..

“It is too early to know if the system may impact the Gulf of Mexico. We have not initiated any evacuations and there is no impact to Shell-operated production at this time.  We are reviewing activity levels and lead times and are prepared to begin evacuations to reduce offshore staffing levels, if necessary,” Shell said.

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By: John Waggoner
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