Hurricane Dean likely to threaten Gulf of Mexico

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Hurricane Dean, which could strengthen into a Category 4 hurricane over the next two days, pounded the eastern Caribbean islands of Martinique and Dominica as it churned into the Caribbean Sea.

And next week Dean will likely enter the Gulf of Mexico, threatening the region’s oil and natural gas facilities, which account for roughly a third of U.S. oil production, the National Hurricane Center predicted.


Overnight Dean strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane, with winds near 100 miles per hour.

The center of Dean was located about 50 miles west-southwest of Martinique, the NHC said in an advisory at 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT).

As it crosses the warm waters of the Caribbean, Dean was forecast to strengthen, turning into a Category 3 storm with winds of 111 to 130 mph in about 24 hours, and a Category 4 storm with winds of 131 to 155 mph) in about 48 hours.

Reuters