The latest pictures today courtesy of NASA’s MODIS website clearly show the oil spill and some of the containment that is occuring at this time. Unfortunately winds and seas will stay elevated through the entire weekend making operations offshore that much more difficult. In addition based on NOAA’s latest assessment the slick and crude will encroach upon coastal Plaquemines Parish tonight. Based on a continuation of surface winds and coastal tides I have put together a threat zone through Monday based on the ongoing forecast.
I am not however an expert oceanographer nor are these official NOAA projections (as the forecasts officially are only for 24 hours out), but based on current surface winds and currents in the Gulf of Mexico it appears that some oil may travel as far west as Grand Isle by Monday.
I would not be surprised to see this slick affect the entire Louisiana coastline through the next week to 10 days unless the slick is miraculously contained much sooner than the 2-3 week minimum projection at this point.
To make matters worse with the gusty south-southeast winds tides will increase to 1-2ft above projected normal lunar tides raising water levels as high as 3ft above normal mean low water. This would allow the contaminated water to drive deeper into Louisiana’s coastal marshes. In addition, scattered shower and thunderstorm activity will become more likely at the accident site Friday through Monday…hopefully the fresh water run-off from the storms will help the marsh but it will likely hamper containment activities. Stay with KATC for additional updates. Rob 
This is just not right for our habitat, and I can’t believe that it’s happening.
Brennen
1 May 10 at 8:39 pm