Tropical Storm Bonnie Moves Toward Spill

But cap will remain on well

By Newser Editors and Wire Services

Posted Jul 22, 2010 7:01 PM CDT

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Tropical Storm Bonnie Moves Toward Spill — Waves partially obscure the Development Driller II, left, Development Driller III, which are drilling the relief wells, at the Deepwater Horizon oil spill site. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

(Newser) – A rainstorm in the southern Bahamas accelerated into Tropical Storm Bonnie today while following a course that could take it over the site of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill by Saturday. Crews and rigs were ordered to clear out, but authorities said the temporary cap over the well was left in place.

The storm could delay plans to permanently plug the well by a week or so, even if it's not a direct hit. But with the cap in place, no oil will be gushing into the ocean. By last evening, Bonnie had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and was centered about 200 miles southeast of the Bahamian capital of Nassau. It already had caused flooding in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti. (Read more Gulf of Mexico stories.)