The system would be the first hurricane to form in the Atlantic basin this year, ending an unusually quiet season attributed to a strong El Niño pattern. The projected trajectory threatens approximately 2 million barrels per day of U.S. oil refining capacity, placing key facilities including ExxonMobil's Baton Rouge and Marathon's Garyville refineries in Louisiana at risk of operational downtime.
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
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Shell and Chevron Evacuate Gulf Staff Facing First Atlantic Hurricane
Commodities14 days ago
Non-essential personnel are being relocated from offshore installations in the Gulf of Mexico as Shell and Chevron brace for the impact of Tropical Depression Nine. The storm is forecast to strengthen into Hurricane Isaias by Thursday, with the National Hurricane Center projecting it could reach Category 2 status with peak winds of approximately 100 mph. Projections indicate the system may make landfall this Friday across the northern Gulf Coast, primarily affecting southeast Louisiana, southern Mississippi, coastal Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle.
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