Miami - Tropical Storm Bonnie, which is disrupting efforts to clean up the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill, made landfall in Florida on Friday, US weather officials said.
At 1500 GMT the National Hurricane Center reported that Bonnie's center was over Biscayne Bay, on the tip of south-eastern Florida just south of Miami.
The storm was moving west-northwest at nearly 30 kilometers per hour, packing sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour, with higher gusts.
On this track Bonnie's center will move over the eastern Gulf of Mexico late Friday and Saturday, and hit Louisiana in the northern Gulf coast late Saturday, the NHC said.
"Some slight strengthening is possible when the cyclone moves over the Gulf of Mexico late (Friday) and Saturday," the NHC warned.
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal earlier issued an emergency declaration which will help speed state assistance to areas in need.
Tropical storm warnings were posted for much of the Florida coast and storm watches were posted for areas as far west as Morgan City, Louisiana.
BP and US officials decided to begin evacuation procedures Thursday as Bonnie headed towards the Gulf.
US spill response chief Admiral Thad Allen said Friday that officials believe they will feel the effects of Bonnie early Saturday in the oil spill area. - Sapa-AFP