Tropical storm forms in the Atlantic

The 12th depression of the Atlantic hurricane season recently gained strength en route from Nassau, Bahamas to southeastern Florida reaching 39 mph upgrading it to Tropical Storm Katrina.According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center forecast, the storm is expected to cut across the Florida peninsula and into the northern Gulf of Mexico within about five days time. “We’re expecting it to be a strong tropical storm at landfall,” National Hurricane Center spokesman Eric Blake says. “The big thing will be heavy rain, 5 to 10 inches over south Florida. The big threat of wind damage will be along the coast.” A tropical storm watch is in effect for southeastern Florida and the Florida Keys from the Seven Mile Bridge area to Vero Beach and the National Hurricane Center says it may issue a hurricane watch for parts of the eastern shore. Damages incurred in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico as a result of recent storms, including hurricanes Dennis and Emily, have trimmed oil production. Concern for the safety of oil rigs in the Gulf being damaged by potential hurricane activity has caused crude oil and natural gas prices to skyrocket to $10.Crude oil and natural gas prices may continue to rise if the forecasters from the National Hurricane Center’s predictions come to fruition and the storm season (June 1 to Nov. 30) does produce up to 21 tropical storms, with 11 of those developing into hurricanes.