Saturday, August 5, 2006

by Jim Loney

USA (Reuters), MIAMI: Tropical Storm Chris was downgraded to a depression on Friday as it moved through the Turks and Caicos islands and forecasters were uncertain whether the ragged weather system would regain strength.

The storm that rattled energy markets earlier this week because it was aimed at U.S. oil and gas facilities in the Gulf of Mexico disintegrated into a mass of thunderstorms as sustained winds fell to 35 mph (56 kph), below the 39-mph (63-kph) threshold for a tropical storm.

The storm system's long-range track took it into the Gulf of Mexico by Monday and to the Texas-Mexico border by Wednesday. The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Chris could regain strength, but was not showing any signs of doing so yet.

"It's barely holding on as a tropical cyclone. We don't know whether it will survive 24 hours, let alone into the Gulf of Mexico," forecaster Eric Blake said.

"If the system were to make it into the Gulf intact, the conditions are somewhat conducive for development. But there are a lot of question marks."

Energy prices eased as Chris weakened after rising earlier on its possible threat to drilling platforms and exploration rigs in the Gulf, where Hurricanes Katrina and Rita grew over unusually warm waters before sweeping into Louisiana and Texas last year.

The 2005 hurricanes shut a quarter of U.S. crude output and sent oil prices to record highs.

At 5 p.m. EDT (2100 GMT), Chris' center was about 35 miles (56 km) northeast of Great Inagua Island in the Bahamas, and was moving west at about 12 mph (19 kph), the hurricane center said.

Storm warnings for the Turks and Caicos and southeastern Bahamas were dropped. The central Bahamas were under a tropical storm watch, cautioning residents they could see heavy weather in 36 hours. People in Cuba and southern Florida were told to monitor the system closely.

Experts have predicted another active Atlantic hurricane season, although nothing like the record 28 storms seen in 2005.

Chris was the third tropical storm of the 2006 season. By this time last year, eight had formed.

Forecasters have lowered their predictions for 2006. The Colorado State University team formed by researcher William Gray predicted up to 15 tropical storms would form in the Atlantic-Caribbean basin, with seven growing into hurricanes.

Its earlier forecasts had anticipated up 17 tropical storms, with nine strengthening into hurricanes.

  Most popular articles: viewed, printed and e-mailed

  Printable version