Barely a depression, Bonnie not expected to restrengthen

By The Associated Press
Published: July 23, 2010
Updated: July 24, 2010 - 11:29 AM

Bonnie is barely a tropical depression in the Gulf of Mexico and the storm with winds near 30 mph is not expected strengthen as it heads toward the site of the blown-out oil well.

Forecasters with the U.S. National Hurricane Center said Saturday that Bonnie was hanging on as a depression, but the storm was not expected to change strength before the center reaches the coast.

The center of Bonnie came ashore Friday near Cutler Bay, about 20 miles south of Miami. It moved into the eastern Gulf and was about 165 miles east-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River at 11 a.m. today.

Forecasters say they have canceled a tropical storm warning from Destin, Fla. to Morgan City, La.

Bonnie is moving west-northwest near 17 mph.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report. Reporter Rob Shaw can be reached at (813) 259-7999.