Tropical Storm Delta is forecast to become a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico later in the week of Oct. 5, clipping western Cuba and becoming the record 10th storm to hit the U.S. when it makes landfall between Louisiana and Florida by Oct. 9.

Hurricane Sally, a plodding storm with winds of 85 mph, crept toward the northern Gulf Coast early Sept. 15 as forecasters warned of potentially deadly storm surges and flash floods with up to 2 feet of rain and the possibility of tornadoes.

Oil and natural gas producers in the Gulf of Mexico began evacuating workers and shutting in output as a storm gathers strength off the coast of Florida.