Tropical depression weakens slightly in Gulf of Mexico, heads for oil spill site

Tropical depression weakens in Gulf, may dissipate

MIAMI — A tropical depression in the Gulf of Mexico is losing steam as it moves toward the site of the oil spill off Louisiana’s coast.

The depression’s maximum sustained winds were near 30 mph (45 kph) Wednesday. The National Hurricane Center in Miami says it could dissipate instead of becoming Tropical Storm Danielle as it nears land around the mouth of the Mississippi River later Wednesday or Thursday morning.

A tropical storm warning remained in effect for much of the Gulf Coast from Destin, Fla., to Intracoastal City, La., including New Orleans.

The depression is located about 150 miles (240 kilometers) east-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi and is moving northwest.

Officials have halted drilling on a relief well intended to permanently plug the blown-out well in the Gulf.