Storm warnings threaten Gulf of Mexico oil spill

MIAMI: US weather authorities extended storm warnings in the Caribbean on Thursday to Florida's coast on the Gulf of Mexico, threatening to force BP to suspend oil spill operations.

"A tropical storm warning has been issued for the Florida east coast... and along the west coast of Florida," the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said.

High winds and choppy seas could force the evacuation of hundreds of ships working to clean up oil spilling from a deep-sea gusher, and halt operations to drill relief wells to plug the disastrous leak.