Hurricane Alex Approaches Mexico, Disrupts Oil Spill Cleanup (Video)

Cleanup of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has been severely curtailed today as Hurricane Alex, a Category 1 storm expected to reach Category 2, approaches Mexico near southern Texas, according to media reports late this afternoon. Despite being hundreds of miles from the hurricane’s eye, the Louisiana coast is also being affected by the foul weather the storm is bringing to the Gulf of Mexico. The far-reaching effects of the storm is creating wild seas, 25 mph winds, heavy rainfall, and waves at least six feet high along the coasts of Louisiana and Florida, ABC News reports.

With the rough seas, thousands of boats involved in the oil spill cleanup effort remained docked, with only the largest ships continuing work, according to media reports. The largest vessels reportedly remained in place at the spill site, continuing to catch oil and drill relief wells.

Photo image of Hurricane Alex provided by NASA.