Beleaguered Floridians are preparing for Hurricane Milton, even as many are still cleaning up from Helene, the deadliest hurricane to hit the mainland U.S. since Katrina in 2005.
On its current path, Milton is expected to make landfall tomorrow in the Tampa Bay area, home to more than 3 million people. The state's emergency management department has ordered evacuations across the west coast.
Airports, airlines and cruise lines are among those making frantic preparations ahead of the storm, which intensified rapidly in the warm Gulf of Mexico waters. Heavy rain, high winds and a potentially catastrophic storm surge are expected, with much depending on exactly where Milton makes landfall.
5-day forecast cone for Hurricane Milton. (Photo Credit: National Hurricane Center)
Here’s what travellers should know:
· Tampa International Airport is suspending operations early today, while Orlando International Airport will cease commercial operations tomorrow.
· Sarasota Bradenton International Airport will close at 4 pm today and will reopen “once safe to do so.”
· St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport will close after its last flight tonight and will remain closed through Thursday. “The airport is in a mandatory evacuation zone and is not a public shelter. Prepare and stay safe,” airport officials said.
· Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers is expecting to operate through the day today, but no flights will operate on Wednesday or Thursday.
· Air Canada and WestJet have adjusted ticketing policies to make it easier for customers travelling on an affected flight to make changes to their booking without penalty.
Meanwhile, closures of all five Florida cruise ship homeports are expected. Carnival, Celebrity, RCI and Margaritaville at Sea have already shifted itineraries for ships from a range of ports, with more likely to come. Disney Cruise Line has advised passengers to stand by for updates.
Forecasters say the hurricane is on track to come ashore anywhere from Cedar Key in the north to Naples at the south – including possibly in the Tampa or Fort Myers areas.
The storm was upgraded to Category 5 early yesterday afternoon after increasing in strength at what CNN called "a mind-boggling rate."
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