Oil spill ships on alert as Tropical Storm Bonnie weakens

Tropical Storm Bonnie is breaking apart in the Gulf of Mexico and the tropical depression with winds near 30mph (50kph) could soon weaken to an area of low pressure.

US National Hurricane Centre forecasters said today it was less likely that Bonnie would strengthen as the storm heads toward the site of the blown-out BP oil well in the Gulf.

The centre of Bonnie came ashore yesterday near Cutler Bay, about 20 miles south of Miami.

It moved into the eastern Gulf and was about 215 miles east-south-east of the mouth of the Mississippi River at 12 noon Irish time today.

Forecasters said they would probably cancel a tropical storm warning from Destin, Florida to Morgan City, Louisiana, later today.

Bonnie is moving west-north-west at about 20mph (32kph).