(Bloomberg) — Hurricane Delta is poised to menace Louisiana after barreling across Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, where it knocked out power and slammed the resort areas of Cancun and Cozumel with strong winds and a dangerous storm surge.
Delta threatens to become the latest in a string of deadly natural disasters in 2020, a year that has been marked by a hyperactive hurricane season, devastating wildfires and a derecho that wreaked havoc across the U.S. Midwest. They’re further evidence that the Earth’s climate is changing, bringing hotter temperatures, stronger storms and more widespread destruction.
Delta will churn through the energy-producing region of the Gulf before likely pummeling Louisiana, which has been struck twice already this year, on Friday. Though Delta has weakened to a Category 2 hurricane, it’s expected to become a major Category 3 or 4 storm on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale before coming ashore again. That would make it powerful enough to wreck well-built homes, uproot trees and trigger blackouts lasting weeks or months.
It will be the record 10th tropical storm or hurricane to hit the U.S. in a year. The Atlantic has spawned 25 storms this year, the second most after 2005, when deadly Hurricane Katrina inundated New Orleans. So many have formed that the hurricane center has used up all the names on its official list and has resorted to the Greek alphabet to designate systems.
Delta’s loss in power has cut damage estimates for the resort areas of Cancun and Cozumel, said Chuck Watson, a disaster modeler with Enki Research. The storm will likely cause about $4 billion in losses and destruction to the region and $3 billion in Louisiana, he said.
All time stamps are Eastern Standard.
Key Developments:
Mexico Oil Terminals Shut By Weather May Reopen From ThursdayExxon Evacuating Hoover Oil Platform in U.S. Gulf Before StormCancun Spared Worst by Hurricane Delta But Costly Recovery AheadLouisiana’s Entire Sugar-Cane Crop Faces Hurricane Risk: AnalystDelta Affected 33% of Power Customers in Yucatan Peninsula: CFELOOP Suspends Marine Terminal Operations Due to Storm
Delta Enters the Southern Gulf of Mexico (2 p.m.)
Delta’s winds were about 100 miles (160 kilometers) per hour as it entered the southern Gulf of Mexico after hitting the Yucatan Peninsula, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said in an advisory.
Hurricane watches extend from High Island, Texas, just east of Houston, to Grand Isle, Louisiana, south of New Orleans. Some areas along the Louisiana coast could receive storm surge up to 11 feet, the center said.
Mexico Oil Terminals May Reopen From Thursday (1:30 p.m.)
Mexico’s oil terminal of Dos Bocas — shut for nine days because of bad weather — is expected to reopen between Thursday night and Friday morning as Delta passes, according to shipping reports seen by Bloomberg.
Cayo Arcas and floating production storage and offloading unit Yúum K’ak’ Náab were seen reopening Friday at 9 a.m. local time.
Exxon Evacuating Hoover Oil Platform in Gulf (12:23 p.m.)
Exxon has begun evacuating some personnel from its Hoover oil and natural gas platform in the Gulf of Mexico in advance of Delta, company spokeswoman Julie King said in email. The company is ready to remove remaining staff and will continue to adjust operations as needed.
Cancun Spared Worst, But Faces Costly Recovery (12:20 p.m.)
Cancun woke up to half of the city without power, fallen trees and shattered windows as Delta made landfall Wednesday morning.
The tourist hotspot was seemingly spared the worst of predictions that saw as much as $16 billion in damages. Yet the storm’s impact threatens to further slow down the Yucatan Peninsula’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic
The region had already lost more than 100,000 jobs in the service sector as the virus halted travel and forced hotels and restaurants to shut down.
Louisiana’s Entire Sugar-Cane Crop at Risk (12:19 p.m.)
The “entire cane crop is at risk,” with the western half of the state facing “impact head on” from Delta, Drew Lerner, president of World Weather Inc. in Overland Park, Kansas, said in a telephone interview. Florida is the biggest U.S. cane grower, followed by Louisiana.
Cotton across the entire Delta region is also at risk with the most damage expected in Louisiana, western Mississippi and parts of Arkansas, Lerner said.
Delta Affected 33% of Power Customers in Yucatan (12:09 p.m.)
Mexican utility Comision Federal de Electricidad said in statement that 33% of power customers in the Yucatan peninsula were affected by Delta. It wasn’t clear if power was still down for all those customers or if service was intermittent. CFE is working to repair the grid after the hurricane.
LOOP Suspends Marine Terminal Operations (11:31 a.m.)
Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, among the major facilities that load U.S. crude for export, has suspended operations at its marine terminal ahead of Delta, the company said on its website. Clovelly Hub deliveries in Louisiana remain normal.
Delta May Strengthen to Category 4 in Gulf (10:33 a.m.)
Delta could strengthen into a devastating Category 4 hurricane, with winds of at least 130 mph, as it churns across the Gulf, said Elizabeth Palumbi, a meteorologist with commercial forecaster Maxar.
“Delta should re-intensify later today through tomorrow afternoon as it tracks over warmer Gulf waters, increased moisture, and light wind shear,” Palumbi said.
Hurricane center estimates currently show Delta reaching 120 mph over the Gulf, which would make it a Category 3.
For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com
Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.
©2020 Bloomberg L.P.
