Hurricane Ike roared into Cuba as a category 3 storm and then lost strength as it went over land. It is now a category 2 storm, but it is expected to strengthen once again as it picks up steam over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Oil prices rose $1.50 to a little above $107 per barrel on fears that Ike would affect energy output in the Gulf. The Gulf produces 25% of US oil and 15% of its natural gas. Much of the production was shut down by Gustav as it went into Louisiana last week.
Ike is expected to pass by the Florida Keys and hit near eastern Texas. However, a small deviation from this path could threaten New Orleans. Ike went into Turks and Caicos Islands as a devastating category 4 hurricane on the 5 category Saffir-Simpson scale. It caused more flooding in already devastated Haiti, causing 61 more deaths. More than 500 deaths had already been attributed to the flooding caused by hurricane Hanna.
Stay tuned to the TicosLand.com Costa Rica blog and we will keep you apprised of the new threat to the Gulf region.
Tags: Costa Rica, cuba, florida keys, gulf of mexico, Gustav, Haiti, Hanna, hurricane ike, ike, ticosland.com
