Florida, also known as the Sunshine State, is known for its great climate, beach resorts, and theme parks, drawing millions of tourists to the state each year.
But the state is well within the path of the six-month Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, when Category 5 Hurricane Milton could be devastating for destinations like the city of Tampa. This is just two weeks after the devastating Hurricane Helen. It is scheduled to land later today.
Evacuation orders have been issued across the state and the storm is classified as potentially “life-threatening,” so here’s everything you need to know if you’re booking a trip to Florida. It is located in
When is Hurricane Milton expected to hit Florida?
The storm, currently classified as Category 5 (highest), is expected to hit the Florida coast Wednesday night local time. It is likely to make landfall near Sarasota.
According to CBS News, the National Hurricane Center said, “Milton will likely fluctuate in strength as it moves through the eastern Gulf of Mexico, but it is expected to become a dangerous major hurricane once it reaches the coast of west-central Florida.” ” he said.
How to track Hurricane Milton
Early today, Milton was just north of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. The government has issued a hurricane warning, with storm surge expected for parts of the coast.
CNN has a live tracker with forecasts for rainfall and flood warnings as the storm approaches Florida.
Major areas of Florida expected to be affected
The eye of the hurricane is expected to pass through central and central Florida, potentially impacting cities such as Tampa and Orlando. A list and map of evacuation areas can be found here.
The following universities have also announced campus closures: University of Florida, University of South Florida, Florida International University, Florida Atlantic University, University of Miami, Florida A&M University, Palm Beach State University, Nova Southeastern University, University of Central Florida, and Broward. University, Miami Dade University.
Is it safe to travel to Florida?
In short, no. Hurricane Milton is currently ranked as a Category 5 storm, with winds expected to reach 160 miles per hour, thousands of people have been evacuated from Florida in recent days, and President Biden has warned that the hurricane will strike. He said evacuating before the disaster is a “life-or-death” issue.
Gov. Ron DeSantis urged people to leave their homes as soon as possible, and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor warned that the storm could be “catastrophic.” Additionally, the National Hurricane Center warned that Milton could become “one of the most destructive hurricanes on record in west-central Florida.”
FCDO Florida’s travel advice page states, “Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall on the west coast of Florida on the night of October 9th or morning of October 10th, with tropical gales expected to bring strong winds to the west coast from the morning of October 9th.” It is expected to have an impact.” The risk of life-threatening storm surge and high winds is increasing on the West Coast, and heavy rain and high winds are expected to impact large areas of Florida. ”
airline cancels flight
Virgin Atlantic canceled multiple flights from Tampa and Orlando to Heathrow and Manchester, while TUI, British Airways and several other airlines did the same. In fact, 700 flights were canceled yesterday (Tuesday) and 1,500 flights were canceled today (Wednesday), according to flight tracking data provider FlightAware.
American Airlines appears to have waived flight change fees for customers flying in and out of Florida from October 8th to October 10th, and United Airlines did the same from October 7th to 12th.
CBS News summarized what each airport in the state is planning to do when Milton makes landfall:
St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport will close after the last flight departs on Tuesday and will remain closed until further notice. Tampa International Airport is closed on Tuesday, and updates will be posted on social media. Orlando International Airport will cease operations at 8 a.m. Wednesday, but no reopening date has been announced. Southwest Florida International Airport will be closed Wednesday and Thursday. Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport was closed at 4 p.m. Tuesday until further notice. Palm Beach International Airport will cease operations at 9 p.m. Wednesday and will resume operations as soon as it is safe to do so. Miami International Airport was scheduled to remain open. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport was scheduled to remain open. Jacksonville International Airport was scheduled to remain open.
Learn more about the impact of Hurricane Milton on air travel.
If I cancel my trip due to a hurricane, will I receive a refund?
Due to evacuation measures, you may have the right to cancel or change your trip to Florida, but please contact your travel and accommodation provider directly as soon as possible to find out what can be done.
Are Florida theme parks still open?
According to Travel Gossip, this is what’s happening at Florida theme parks.
Closed parks:
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground Copper Creek Cabin at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
Parks that will be closed from 2pm local time today:
Universal Studios Florida Islands of Adventure and Universal CityWalk
Universal’s Volcano Bay will be closed today and tomorrow, and Universal Studios Florida’s Halloween Horror Nights will also be canceled for the next two days. Universal hotels remain open for guests.
Despite the controversy, Disney World has not yet announced a closure. If you’re booking your trip here, check the website for updates.
Other travel interruptions
cruise
As of Wednesday morning, Disney Cruise Line has canceled the Disney Wish’s three-night trip on October 11, and other cruise ships including Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, and Carnival have also canceled their itineraries to avoid the storm. is being changed.
Florida Today has a page dedicated to cruise and shipping port updates, so keep an eye out here.
road
Traffic on Tuesday morning was 280 percent higher than normal, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation. If you are coming by car, please check the route traffic and allow plenty of time.
train
South Florida operators including Tri-Rail, Brightline, Palm Tran and Amtrak have suspended service, and localized flooding is possible on lines such as Florida Midland and Florida Central. If you are booking train tickets for this week, we recommend checking directly with your travel agent.
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