Storm to lash US on Katrina anniversary

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.

The storm swiped south Florida before moving into warm Gulf waters, where it is expected to strengthen into a hurricane today.

On its current track, Isaac was due to slam into the Gulf Coast anywhere between Florida and Louisiana by tonight or early tomorrow, the seventh anniversary of Katrina hitting New Orleans, the US National Hurricane Centre said.