Gulf system nearly a tropical storm

A weather system in the Gulf of Mexico has a 90 percent chance of becoming a tropical storm this weekend, the National Hurricane Center reported Saturday morning.

Tropical-storm force winds were already detected by one buoy, the center said in its advisory, and showers and thunderstorms have been increasing over the eastern Gulf.

"Tropical storm watches or warnings could be required for a portion of the northern Gulf Coast over the weekend," it added. "Heavy rains and localized flooding are possible across the Yucatan Peninsula (in Mexico), western Cuba and much of Florida over the next day or two."

Forecasting models diverged widely on its potential path. Some took it east over northern Florida while others swung it north toward the Alabama-Mississippi border or west over Texas or Mexico.

As a precaution, BP on Saturday evacuated all non-essential personnel from offshore installations in the area. The largest U.S. offshore oil port as well as Anadarko Petroleum and Murphy Oil Corp. on Friday did the same.

Other oil companies were monitoring the situation.

The next named Atlantic tropical storm will be Debby.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, but got off to an early start this year. Tropical Storm Alberto quickly fizzled off South Carolina and Tropical Storm Beryl soaked the Southeast in May.

Tropical Storm Chris briefly became a hurricane before fizzling out Friday. But Chris was notable as it formed unusually far north for an early season hurricane.

Government forecasters predicted nine to 15 tropical storms in the Atlantic basin this year, with four to eight strengthening into hurricanes.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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