Tropical Storm Ophelia may enter Gulf of Mexico

NEW YORK (Reuters) – The U.S. National Hurricane Center
expects Tropical Storm Ophelia will remain in the Atlantic
Ocean through early next week, while a couple of weather models
show the storm crossing Florida and entering the Gulf of
Mexico.

Of the seven major weather models, two — the Beta and
Advection Model – Medium (BAMM) and the Beta and Advection
Model – Deep (BAMD) — projected the storm would cross central
Florida and threaten the natural gas and oil rigs in the Gulf
of Mexico over the next several days.

Five other models, including the NHC model, however, show
the storm staying in the Atlantic.

Ophelia was barely moving off the east coast of Florida,
the NHC said in its latest advisory at 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT).

The center of the storm, with maximum sustained winds near
60 mph, was located about 70 miles east-northeast of Cape
Canaveral.

The NHC forecast the storm would strengthen some and drift
northward over the next 24 hours.

NHC will issue another advisory at 11 a.m.