Due to the effects of Hurricane Milton to impact Florida October 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 Milton to Impact Florida: October 2024 Travel Alert
Maximum sustained winds of Hurricane Milton — which is currently approximately 780 miles west southwest of Tampa in Florida and moving east at a speed of seven miles per hour — are at 85 miles per hour, which means that it is currently a Category 1 hurricane.
Forecasts call for the landfall of Hurricane Milton to occur as a Category 3 hurricane at the greater metropolitan area of Tampa Bay in Florida as early as the afternoon of Wednesday, October 9, 2024. The main reason why Hurricane Milton 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.
Hurricane Helene also rapidly developed in a similar manner; but it took a complete different track than Hurricane Milton is currently taking — so much of the time that Hurricane Milton tracks northeast across the Gulf of Mexico will be mostly over abnormally warm waters that will help fuel it to become a major hurricane by as soon as tomorrow afternoon, Monday, October 7, 2024.
A state of emergency has been declared in 51 counties of the state of Florida by Ron DeSantis, who is the current governor of the state.
Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in Tampa and other areas of Florida — as part of what could be the largest evacuation order since Hurricane Irma in 2017 — which expect to be impacted by Hurricane Milton. If you are in the path of this hurricane, take action immediately to evacuate to a safer location and follow the advice that is outlined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency of the Department of Homeland Security of the United States. Tolls will likely be suspended on toll roads throughout the state to help ease evacuation efforts; and supplies are expected to be exhausted at supermarkets and home improvement stores. Long queues have been forming at fuel stations across the state.
Tampa International Airport and Saint Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport are expected to temporarily close once again prior to the landfall of Hurricane Milton. Flights have already been canceled at these airports.
The outer bands of this hurricane are already currently affecting the northern Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.
The good news is that the forward motion of Hurricane Helene will be increasing prior to landfall, 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 south and 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 Watch is in effect in Mexico from:
- Celestun to Cabo Catoche
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect in Mexico from:
- Celestun to Cancún
Warnings and watches are not officially issued until three days prior to the event occurring, which is why none have been issued yet for Florida.
Significant precipitation of up to 12 inches is possible in across portions of much of the state of Florida, which is expected to result in substantial urban flooding and flash flooding.
Rough surf and strong rip currents will gradually affect much of the southeastern United States as Hurricane Milton approaches. 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 state of Florida. 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 also possible.
Flight Waivers, Delays, and Cancellations
If you are traveling to or from many areas of Florida, 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 14 airlines which have issued travel alerts as a result of this tropical weather system:
- American Airlines has issued travel alerts for twelve airports in Florida for Tuesday, October 8, 2024 through Thursday, October 10, 2024; and Thursday, October 17, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Delta Air Lines has issued travel alerts for eight airports in Florida for Monday, October 7, 2024 through Wednesday, October 9, 2024; and Saturday, October 12, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- United Airlines has issued travel alerts for five airports in Florida for Monday, October 7, 2024 through Thursday, October 10, 2024; and Thursday, October 17, 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, and Fort Myers for Monday, October 7, 2024 through Thursday, October 10, 2024; and Thursday, October 17, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Southwest Airlines has issued travel alerts for four airports in Florida for Tuesday, October 8, 2024 through Thursday, October 10, 2024; and Thursday, October 24, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- JetBlue Airways has issued travel alerts for four airports in Florida for Tuesday, October 8, 2024 through Thursday, October 10, 2024; and Sunday, October 13, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Frontier Airlines has issued travel alerts for Cancún and five airports in Florida for Monday, October 7, 2024 through Thursday, October 10, 2024.
- Spirit Airlines has issued travel alerts for Fort Myers, Orlando, and Tampa for Monday, October 7, 2024 through Thursday, October 10, 2024; and Thursday, October 17, 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 starting on Tuesday, October 8, 2024.
- Sun Country Airlines has issued travel alerts for six airports in Florida for Monday, October 7, 2024 through Thursday, October 10, 2024; and Thursday, October 17, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Breeze Airways has issued travel alerts for seven airports in Florida for Monday, October 7, 2024 through Thursday, October 10, 2024; and Thursday, October 24, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Silver Airways has issued travel alerts for Key West, Tampa, and Orlando for Tuesday, October 8, 2024 through Thursday, October 10, 2024; and Thursday, October 17, 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 Monday, October 7, 2024 through Tuesday, October 8, 2024.
- Five airports in Florida for Wednesday, October 9, 2024 through Thursday, October 10, 2024.
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has issued travel alerts for eight airports in Florida for Monday, October 7, 2024 through Wednesday, October 9, 2024; and Saturday, October 12, 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.
