Gulf Spill: Will Oil Reach Miami, Florida Keys?

After weeks of oil washing up on Florida’s Gulf Coast, the state’s Atlantic coast could be next. Based on 15 years of data, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports a 61 to 80 percent chance of the spill reaching within 20 miles of Miami and Fort Lauderdale in the coming months. But areas further north could now be in the clear. The chances of oil floating to east-central Florida and the Eastern Seaboard, the NOAA’s report said, are anywhere from less than 1 percent to 20 percent. In the Gulf, hundreds of skimming boats returned to work on Friday after Hurricane Alex halted operations for three days. "It's going to be a long weekend from an oil spill response perspective," said Coast Guard Adm. Paul Zukunft. A plan to drill a relief well, which would solve the leak for good, is also reportedly seven to eight days ahead of its mid-August target date.