Isaac turned into a full-blown category 1 hurricane today as it rolled over the Gulf of Mexico toward Louisiana, where residents in four states left boarded-up homes and New Orleans waited nervously behind flood-defence levees strengthened after the devastating Katrina struck exactly seven years ago.

Tropical storm Isaac was on the verge of becoming a full-blown hurricane as it rolled over the Gulf of Mexico toward Louisiana.

The centre of Tropical Storm Isaac’s projected path is heading directly for New Orleans and could make landfall as early as tonight, nearly seven years to the day after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city.

Tropical Storm Isaac churned across the Gulf of Mexico yesterday, disrupting US offshore energy production and threatening to hit Louisiana on the anniversary of the devastating Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

A tropical storm threatening to grow into a hurricane is heading towards America’s Gulf Coast.

Tropical Storm Isaac swept across Haiti’s southern peninsula today, bringing flooding and at least three deaths while adding to the misery of a poor nation still trying to recover from the 2010 earthquake.

Tar balls found on a Texas beach were confirmed as the first evidence that gushing crude oil from the Deepwater Horizon well had reached all the Gulf states.

US VICE-PRESIDENT, Joe Biden was visiting the Gulf of Mexico yesterday, as a tropical storm, forecast to reach hurricane strength, was likely to hamper oil spill cleanup efforts.

Tests show that BP is on target for completion of a relief well in the Gulf of Mexico by mid-August, the best hope of stopping the oil that has been gushing since April, the company said today.

STAFF at a BP oil spill response centre in Louisiana are preparing for a long battle as they try to contain the “blob” of oil from a ruptured Gulf of Mexico well that is fouling coastal waters and beaches.

AN apologetic advertising campaign by BP for causing the biggest oil spill in US history has earned the company more criticism than sympathy as the pollution spreads across the US Gulf Coast from Louisiana into Alabama and Florida.

An apologetic advertising campaign by BP for causing the biggest oil spill in US history has earned the company more criticism than sympathy as the pollution spreads across the US Gulf Coast from Louisiana into Alabama and Florida.

The BP oil slick drifted closer to the coast of the Florida Panhandle today as a risky gambit to contain the leak by shearing off the well pipe ran into trouble a mile under the sea.

THE giant Gulf of Mexico oil slick was last night closing in on the pristine Florida coast, as deep sea robotic submarines hit a new snag in BP’s latest bid to contain the spill.

Barack Obama warned of a “massive and potentially unprecedented environmental disaster” as a wrecked BP oil well in the Gulf of Mexico spewed a widening and deadly slick towards delicate wetlands and wildlife.

Hurricane Ike roared across Cuba today, tearing off roofs and sending waves crashing into buildings, as 900,000 Cubans fled to shelters or higher ground and Havana residents in decaying historic buildings prepared for a direct hit.

The US National Hurricane Centre says Hurricane Ike has weakened to a Category 2 storm as it moves over Cuba. More than 770,000 Cubans have evacuated to shelters or higher ground.

Gustav swelled into a fearsome Category four hurricane with winds of 145 mph today as Cuba raced to evacuate more than 240,000 people and Americans to the north clogged motorways fleeing New Orleans.

On the same day that New Orleans residents marked the three-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina’s wrath, another storm strengthened into a hurricane miles away and threatened to hit the US Gulf Coast once again.

Rescue workers were today considering evacuating New Orleans as it faced a hurricane threat three years to the day that Katrina devastated the city.

TROPICAL storm Gustav surged toward hurricane force last night as it drove toward Jamaica and aimed for the Cayman islands, prompting evacuations of tourists and offshore oil workers.

Tourists and oil workers fled today as Hurricane Gustav swamped eastern Jamaica on a path to hit the Cayman Islands with winds near hurricane force.

Tropical storm Gustav continued its destructive sweep across the Caribbean today, this time heading for Jamaica and the wealthy banking enclave of the Cayman Isles.

On the eve of Hurricane Katrina’s third anniversary, a nervous New Orleans watched as another storm threatened to test everything the city has rebuilt, and officials made preliminary plans to evacuate people, pets and hospitals in an attempt to avoid Katrina-style chaos.

A couple in Florida enjoying a plate of steamed clams made an unusual discovery - a rare purple pearl.

Building materials group CRH has announced that it is to acquired the Cemex readymixed concrete and concrete block operations in Florida, US in a deal worth €170m.

Hours after undocking from the international space station, Atlantis’ seven astronauts finished a final inspection of the space shuttle to make sure its heat shield was ready to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere.

Tourists are evacuating the Florida Keys today as Tropical Storm Ernesto heads towards the state as a revived hurricane.

FLORIDA and the Caribbean islands were last night braced for the first hurricane of the season, although scientists believe that there will be no repeat of last year’s record-breaking devastation.

Officials today ordered residents to evacuate from the lower Florida Keys as a strengthening Tropical Storm Rita headed toward the island chain, threatening to grow into a hurricane with a potential eight-foot storm surge.

As dawn broke over the ravaged Gulf of Mexico coastline today, rescuers in boats and helicopters furiously searched for survivors of Hurricane Katrina, with fears the death toll could reach 80.

FIVE people were killed, a family of five was missing at sea and more than a million homes and businesses lost power after Hurricane Katrina crashed ashore in southern Florida early yesterday.

A hurricane warning prompted a rush on petrol stations early today in south-east Florida, where people were advised to stock up on necessities and take safety precautions ahead of Tropical Storm Katrina.

A 16-YEAR-OLD boy who lost a leg following the second shark attack in three days along the Florida Panhandle was in critical condition yesterday and doctors were hoping he hadn’t suffered any brain damage from the blood loss.

TIM DICUS was surfing when he heard the scream. He turned and saw a girl swimming as fast as she could - and another one face down in a bloody circle of water.

Heavy rain drenched parts of Florida early today and heavy surf pounded beaches as Tropical Storm Arlene plodded toward the south-eastern US, chasing a few weather-weary residents into shelters.

A revitalised Hurricane Jeanne was tonight on a path for the Bahamas and then on to the Atlantic coast of Florida, a state still reeling from three earlier storms.

RELIEF workers fanned out across Florida and Alabama yesterday to hand out ice, water and meals to frustrated victims of Hurricane Ivan who faced another day digging through debris and waiting in lines as tempers began to flare.

Hurricane Ivan slammed ashore in the US early today with winds of 130 mph, packing deadly tornadoes and a powerful punch of waves and rain that threatened to swamp communities from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle.

Hurricane Ivan struck the Alabama coast today with 130 mph winds spawning tornadoes and torrential rain, sending floodwaters surging over roads and swirling around homes. Power was knocked out to 200,000 people.

APPREHENSIVE coastal residents from Florida’s Panhandle to Louisiana started boarding up windows, packing and hitting the road as powerful Hurricane Ivan headed for the Gulf Coast after ploughing across Cuba.

Apprehensive coastal residents from Florida’s Panhandle to Louisiana started boarding up windows, packing and hitting the road today as powerful Hurricane Ivan headed for the Gulf Coast after ploughing across Cuba.

A strengthened Hurricane Ivan headed towards Cuba’s tobacco growing north west corner, with winds reaching 195 mph tonight, after ravaging the Cayman Islands.

Hurricane Frances weakened to a tropical storm today and crawled inland with heavy rain after leaving two people dead and more than five million without power.