Due to the effects of Hurricane Helene to impact the panhandle of Florida September 2024, you may want to consider delaying your travel — or, at least, keep yourself updated as to the latest information pertaining to the weather — if this region is in your travel plans over the next few days.
Hurricane Helene to Impact Panhandle of Florida: September 2024 Travel Alert
Maximum sustained winds of Hurricane Helene — which is currently approximately 475 miles south southwest of Apalachicola in Florida and moving north at a speed of twelve miles per hour — are at 85 miles per hour, which means that it is currently a Category 1 hurricane.
Substantial flooding and damage have been reported in the eastern Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, where the eye of the hurricane passed just to its east. Thankfully, no loss of life was reported at the time this article was written. Affected areas of Mexico include Cancún, Cozumel, and Tulum.
Forecasts call for the landfall of Hurricane Helene to occur as a Category 4 hurricane at or near Appalachicola in Florida as early as late in the evening tomorrow, Thursday, September 26, 2024. The main reason why Hurricane Helene is expected to rapidly intensify is because the waters of the Gulf of Mexico are warmer than normal due to the lack of cyclonic activity this year.
Worse is that the path of the hurricane will be sandwiched between two high pressure systems: one off the east coast of the United States; and one over the western United States. Combined with little to nothing to impede the strengthening of this dangerous storm, Hurricane Helene will continue to head north after landfall and potentially give inland cities such as Atlanta and Nashville their first tropical storm in years.
States of emergency have been declared in:
- 61 counties of the state of Florida by Ron DeSantis, who is the current governor of the state of Florida
- All 159 counties of the state of Georgia by Brian Kemp, who is the current governor of the state of Georgia
Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in Tampa and other areas of Florida which expect to be impacted by Hurricane Helene. If you are in the path of this hurricane, take action immediately to evacuate to a safer location.
Airports which serve Tallahassee, Tampa, and Saint Petersburg-Clearwater will close during the early morning hours of Thursday, September 26, 2024 after the last scheduled flights arrive tonight. Flights have already been canceled at these airports.
The outer bands of this hurricane are already currently affecting the entire state of Florida, southern Georgia, and portions of southern South Carolina and southern Alabama.
The good news is that the forward motion of Hurricane Helene is increasing, which means less time for this tropical system hover over one area to wreak havoc and cause further damage…
…but because of the aforementioned warmer than normal temperatures of the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, the hurricane is expected to strengthen rapidly and become a major hurricane that could still cause catastrophic damage.
Other than strong winds of as much as 130 miles per hour for areas that will be close to the eye of the hurricane, the main factor will be the inundating torrential rains and flooding — especially for areas that are on the east side of the hurricane because of the counterclockwise motion of the storm, which will “shovel” the rain and gulf water onto western Florida.
A Hurricane Warning is in effect from:
- Anclote River to Mexico Beach
- Cabo Catoche to Tulum, Mexico including Cozumel
A Hurricane Watch is in effect from:
- Cuban province of Pinar del Rio
- Englewood to Anclote River — including Tampa Bay
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect from:
- Florida Keys, including the Dry Tortugas
- Flamingo to Anclote River, including Tampa Bay
- West of Mexico Beach to the border which Okaloosa County and Walton County share
- Flamingo northward to Little River Inlet
- Lake Okeechobee
- Rio Lagartos to Cabo Catoche in Mexico
- Cuban provinces of Artemisa, Pinar del Rio, and the Isle of Youth
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect from:
- Mexico Beach eastward and southward to Flamingo
- Tampa Bay
- Charlotte Harbor
Significant precipitation of up to 12 inches is possible in across portions the southeastern United States, which is expected to result in substantial urban flooding and flash flooding — as well as possible landslides in steep terrain along the southern Appalachian Mountains.
Rough surf and strong rip currents are currently affecting much of the southeastern United States. A storm surge of as high as 20 feet above normal is expected to contribute to the aforementioned significant flooding of portions of Florida.
Expect windy conditions to occur over much of the states of Florida and Georgia. Electric power lines are expected to be affected and cause tens of thousands of people to temporarily be without electrical power. Trees will also fall because of both soil that is too wet to support them and strong gusty winds. An isolated tornado is possible — especially in portions of Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina.
Flight Waivers, Delays, and Cancellations
If you are traveling to or from many areas of Florida and portions of the southeastern United States, expect delays and cancellations of flights. Keep up to date on the latest information pertaining to this tropical weather system which may adversely affect your travel plans. Better yet, postponing or canceling your trip might be a better option — no matter which mode of travel you plan on taking.
If you have a flight scheduled, your flight may be delayed or canceled — and you may be eligible for a waiver of a fee to change your itinerary. If you are driving in any of these areas, watch out for deteriorating weather conditions and traffic problems.
Here are 16 airlines which have issued travel alerts as a result of this tropical weather system:
- American Airlines has issued travel alerts for Cozumel, Cancún, Grand Cayman, Mobile, three airports in Cuba, and 16 airports in Florida for Tuesday, September 24, 2024 through Friday, September 27, 2024; and Friday, October 4, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Delta Air Lines has issued travel alerts for:
- Cancún, Tulum, Havana, and 22 airports in four states for Wednesday, September 25, 2024 through Friday, September 27, 2024; and Friday, October 4, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Atlanta for Friday, September 27, 2024; and Tuesday, October 1, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- United Airlines has issued travel alerts for Cozumel, Cancún, Tulum, Havana, and 15 airports in four states for Tuesday, September 24, 2024 through Friday, September 27, 2024; and Friday, October 4, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Alaska Airlines has issued travel alerts for Tampa, Orlando, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale for Wednesday, September 25, 2024 through Thursday, September 26, 2024; and Monday, September 30, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Southwest Airlines has issued travel alerts for:
- Cancún and Havana for Tuesday, September 24, 2024 through Wednesday, September 25, 2024; and Wednesday, October 9, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Eight airports in Florida for Tuesday, September 24, 2024 through Friday, September 27, 2024; and Friday, October 11, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Nine airports in four states for Thursday, September 26, 2024 through Friday, September 27, 2024; and Friday, October 11, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- JetBlue Airways has issued travel alerts for:
- Cancún for Tuesday, September 24, 2024 through Wednesday, September 25, 2024; and Wednesday, October 2, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Atlanta, Charleston, Savannah, and six airports in Florida for Thursday, September 26, 2024 through Friday, September 27, 2024; and Wednesday, October 2, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Frontier Airlines has issued travel alerts for:
- Cancún for Tuesday, September 24, 2024 through Wednesday, September 25, 2024.
- Nine airports in Florida for Thursday, September 26, 2024 through Friday, September 27, 2024.
- Spirit Airlines has issued travel alerts for:
- Cancún for Tuesday, September 24, 2024 through Wednesday, September 25, 2024; and Wednesday, October 2, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Fort Myers, Orlando, Pensacola, and Tampa for Wednesday, September 25, 2024 through Friday, September 27, 2024; and Wednesday, October 2, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Allegiant Air has issued travel alerts for Sarasota, Saint Petersburg-Clearwater, and Punta Gorda for Wednesday, September 25, 2024 through Friday, September 27, 2024.
- Sun Country Airlines has issued travel alerts for Orlando, Fort Myers, Tampa, and Destin-Fort Walton Beach for Tuesday, September 24, 2024 through Friday, September 27, 2024; and Friday, October 4, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Breeze Airways has issued travel alerts for six airports in Florida for September 25, 2024 through Friday, September 27, 2024; and Friday, October 11, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Silver Airways has issued travel alerts for five airports in Florida for Wednesday, September 25, 2024 through Thursday, September 26, 2024; and Thursday, October 3, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Air Canada has issued travel alerts for:
- Cancún for Wednesday, September 25, 2024.
- Fort Lauderdale and Miami for Thursday, September 26, 2024.
- Atlanta, Fort Myers, Orlando, and Tampa for Thursday, September 26, 2024 through Friday, September 27, 2024.
- Porter Airlines has issued travel alerts for Orlando and Fort Lauderdale for Wednesday, September 25, 2024 through Thursday, September 26, 2024.
- Aeromexico has issued travel alerts for:
- Cancún and Havana for Tuesday, September 24, 2024 through Wednesday, September 25, 2024; and Monday, September 30, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Tampa and Miami for Wednesday, September 25, 2024 through Thursday, September 26, 2024; and Tuesday, October 1, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has issued travel alerts for Cancún, Tulum, Havana, and 22 airports in four states for Wednesday, September 25, 2024 through Friday, September 27, 2024; and Friday, October 4, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
Final Boarding Call
Be sure to contact your airline or transportation provider for the latest information pertaining to your travels — if they are adversely affected — and please: travel safely.
Photograph ©2024 by Brian Cohen.
