Tropical depression that delayed work on killing oil well dissipates in the Gulf

Tropical depression dissipates in the Gulf

MIAMI — A tropical depression that was heading for oil spill off Louisiana’s coast has dissipated in the Gulf of Mexico.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami says it weakened Wednesday afternoon instead of becoming Tropical Storm Danielle as it neared land around the mouth of the Mississippi River.

A tropical storm warning that covered much of the Gulf Coast from Destin, Fla., to Intracoastal City, La., has been discontinued.

The bad weather forced officials to halt drilling on a relief well intended to permanently plug the blown-out well in the Gulf.

Forecasters say there could still be heavy rain along the coast.