Destin Pass may be closed by the end of the week (with OIL SPILL FORECAST)

If wind conditions remain as they are, Okaloosa County officials may close the Destin Pass before the end of this week.

County Emergency Management Director Randy McDaniel said officials worked through the weekend coordinating with U.S. Coast Guard officials to make sure booms can be deployed “in a timely fashion” when the decision to close the pass is made.

“We’re making some headway,” he said. "We're trying to work it out so when the trigger needs to be pulled it can be pulled quickly."

For the latest photos from ground zero, click here.

Winds blowing from the southwest are bringing residue from the monstrous Deepwater Horizon oil spill closer to Florida’s coastline, McDaniel said.

A trajectory map put out by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration now indicates Okaloosa County is in the immediate path of the oil slick.

Okaloosa County commissioners will hold a joint session with the Destin City Council on Monday at 5 p.m. to talk about ways of closing off the pass. The meeting happens at the Destin City Hall annex.

LATEST TRAJECTORY FORECAST

According to the latest oil spill forecast from the NOAA and Jeff Masters of Weather Underground, the next two weeks will see plenty of close encounters with oil.

Days earlier, forecasters were suggesting that the winds might shift and push the slick westward.

"Light winds of 5 - 10 knots mostly out of the south or southeast will blow in the northern Gulf of Mexico all week, according to the latest marine forecast from NOAA. These winds will keep oil near the coast of Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and the extreme western Florida Panhandle, according to the latest trajectory forecasts from NOAA and the State of Louisiana," he writes. "The long range 8 - 16 day forecast from the GFS model indicates a typical summertime light wind regime, with winds mostly blowing out of the south or southeast. This wind regime will likely keep oil close to the coastal areas that have already seen oil impacts over the past two weeks."

To read his entire forecast, click here.

For a map projecting impacts to area coastlines over the next 72 hours, click here.

Images

• See Sunday's photos  of the spill site and beyond
  
• See photos taken from clear white area beaches on Saturday
• See photos taken by BP. »
• See Friday's photos from AP's coverage of the spill. »
• A former Destin resident took these photos from Venice, La.
  
• See the latest pictures of crews working in East Pass, click here.
  
• See more photos of the booms and new pilings being set at the East Pass »
• For a map projecting impacts to area coastlines over the next 72 hours, click here.

COLLECTION OF COVERAGE

Obama to visit Pensacola; U.S. 98 in Gulf Breeze to close

AERIAL VIEW: 'Gulf looks like it has chicken pox' (PHOTOS, VIDEOS)

Forecasts project oil sticking close to the coast (with TRAJECTORY MAP)

Area leaders prepare for the ‘next level' of oil (SUNDAY UPDATE with PHOTO GALLERIES)

TENSION BUILDING: Oil dread 'invading the life, the soul, of everybody in Pensacola' (PHOTOS, LIVE FEED)

LINKS BEYOND

The recent trajectory of the oil slick has put Destin and the region in the national media spotlight. Here are some of the recent stories from media outlets near and far.

•The Columbus Dispatch reports that residents are rethinking their trips to Destin area beaches.

•The Memphis Commercial Appeals writes about how Destin is gearing up “for an oily onslaught”

•The report irks an Appeals reader with ties to Destin. He calls “for facts, not conjecture.”

•A TV news anchor vacations in Destin. In his blog, he reports that there is no oil, but there is plenty of media stalking beachgoers, June grass and other “strange looking people.” 

•When it comes to a Sandestin vacation, one tourist is committed. WaPo interviews a man who says “I don't care if there are tar balls, tornadoes, hurricanes or hellfire. I'm going to be there."

•A longtime Destinite moonlights as a CNN iReporter and chronicles the spill’s impact on the area.

•“You find someone competent who can kick their butt”: The New York Times reports on a lawyer’s presentation to Destinites at the Emerald Grande.

•One Destin marina owner tells the Palm Beach Post that his business is down 50 percent.

•The oil spill will even impact local jewelers, the National Jeweler reports.

•There’s deals to be had in Destin, the Nashville Tennessean reports.

For more links to media reports including a CNN Q&A interview with a "terrified" Sam Seevers, click here.

For even more links to media reports from Destin and a CNN interview with City Manager Greg Kisela, click here.