Hurricane Alex, which smashed over the Gulf of Mexico, last week, was the first June hurricane in the Atlantic basin for 15 years.

In the Gulf of Mexico last week a huge storm was distilling, as rapidly warming surface waters hit the critical temperature of 80.6F (27C). Powered by heat transference from the sea surface, cyclones like Hurricane Alex rampage across the coastal regions of the southern states each summer. But this year Alex, and the storms that will follow, make threats to bring extra misery, spreading the huge oil slick further and wider from the stricken Deepwater Horizon rig.

Alex, the first hurricane of the season and the first June hurricane in the Atlantic basin for 15 years – is the last thing clean-up staff need as they resist to contain the disaster.