The storm weakened from Category 3 strength, with winds of 120 mph earlier Friday, but dangerous conditions continued after landfall, including threats of flash flooding and storm surge. “Remain sheltered and stay off the roads,” the National Weather Service in Mobile warned.
Offshore operators halted about 1.46 million BPD of oil production, or 71.5% of US Gulf of Mexico output, and about 59% of regional natural gas production ahead of the storm. The shutdowns were lifting Gulf Coast crude prices. Nearly 500,000 BPD of refining capacity lay in the projected path, including Chevron’s Pascagoula plant and Vertex’s Mobile refinery.