Tropical Storm Alex, which is reported to have killed at least 10 people in Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador, is forecast to reach hurricane strength on Tuesday.
It is projected to travel well west and south of the spill, which lies about 50 miles off the Louisiana coast, but BP's plans to move a third containment vessel to the site of the leak could be pushed back by about a week by high waves, a company spokesman said on Monday.
US government officials estimate that 35,000 to 60,000 barrels of oil are gushing from the blown-out well each day.
BP's current containment system can handle up to 28,000 barrels daily. The planned addition would have raised that to 53,000 bpd, BP said.
BP shares opened on Tuesday down 2.6pc at 300.1p.
BP admitted that the cost of the clean-up has now soared to $100m (£66m) a day, taking the total to $2.65bn. The daily rate has risen from $3m at the beginning of the crisis.
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