Possible?
The oil isn’t that concentrated. And I don’t know how easily crude ignites.
Clearly, what we really have to worry about is a hurricane causing the obligatory alligator-filled wall of flame.
Yes, but only in a worst-case scenario
(there really is an XKCD for every occasion, isn’t there?)
Since the oil spill originates in the Gulf, technically it would be a water spout and not a tornado.
However, as others have said, the real concern is a hurricane. And no, not burning crude but the hurricane storm surge that would contaminate vast areas inland with toxic oil. Think environmental damage on a grand scale, along with untold human illnesses, birth defects, etc. At that point lazybratsche’s alligator-filled wall of flame would be a blessing.
There’s actually a ton of oil covering the countries roadways that falls off vehicles constantly. Typically why roads are extremely slippery when it just starts raining.
But I’ve yet to see a road catch fire.
I love the irony that **Chronos **was the person scooped by a single minute. Must. Type. Faster.
Joking aside, it’s really hard to say what might happen. A hurricane definitely would deposit some oil further inland along with the storm surge, though it’s hard to say how much. And oil does burn rather nicely, particularly tarballs. But that doesn’t mean there’s going to be a huge firestorm. There are lots of places on land that are oil-soaked, like old junkyards, but those don’t spontaneously explode.
My WAG is that a thin layer or a few scattered droplets of oil might accelerate and contribute to the normal sorts of house fires. Nothing apocalyptic.
This analogy is way out in left field, but what the hell.
Many years ago, in a gee whiz science demonstration, I saw a dollar bill soaked in an alcohol and water mix, then ignited. The alcohol produced a visible flame, but the phase change of the water to vapor absorbed enough heat to stop the paper from igniting.
I suppose something similar might happen to a water and oil slurry, but I have no real idea what I’m talking about.
My best friend and I used to soak our arms in rubbing alcohol and then light them on fire. There is nothing like seeing a major body part go up in flames to trigger a panic response. The first one to dowse it with water lost the bet and I always won. The burns were pretty minor. I am from Louisiana which I am sure is relevant in there somewhere. The coast is mostly buffered wetlands which aren’t that easy to ignite.
If the coast looked more like this, it would be a much bigger worry.
Jeff Masters of Weather Underground has a good article concerning the effect of a hurricane on the oil spill.
I’m going out on a limb here, but I’m willing to bet that the question in the OP is a result of him/her having read that comic before asking.