Once oil has entered the Gulf Stream, it may stay offshore in
the Gulf Stream. There is some chance that it could move toward
nearshore coastal waters and even reaching the coastlines of
South Atlantic states. The amount of oil — if any — that reaches
shore depends on several factors, including: - the amount of oil
in the Gulf Stream; - prevailing winds; - weather events such as
storms or hurricanes; - effects from additional eddies in the
Gulf Stream; and - influences from currents moving southward
from the Mid-Atlantic Bight. The risk of having oil come ashore
would be greatest along the southern portion of Florida's east
coast, due to the close proximity of the Florida coast to the
Gulf Stream. A second area in the South Atlantic that would be
at higher risk for oil coming ashore is Cape Hatteras, North
Carolina and the neighboring Outer Banks beaches, especially in
the September through April time frame. Cape Hatteras is
vulnerable because of both its proximity to the Gulf Stream and
by onshore eddies and