As Hurricane Milton approaches western Florida, several airports are preparing for closures to ensure the safety of travelers and staff. The hurricane has rapidly intensified to a Category 5 storm in the Gulf of Mexico, and it's forecasted to strike the Tampa Bay area by Wednesday. While meteorologists anticipate some weakening before landfall, there remains a possibility that the storm could retain hurricane status as it moves over Florida, heading toward the Atlantic Ocean.
In light of the impending storm, evacuation orders have been issued across the Sunshine State. This comes as communities are still recovering from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene, which struck Florida's Big Bend region as a Category 4 hurricane just weeks ago. Governor Ron DeSantis emphasized the importance of clearing debris left by Helene to mitigate further damage from Milton, highlighting that leftover wreckage could significantly exacerbate destruction in the most affected regions.
Air travel in and out of Florida is also at risk due to the storm. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that it is closely monitoring Hurricane Milton's trajectory and its potential effects on key airports, including Tampa International Airport. The agency has advised travelers to stay updated on flight statuses through the FAA's dashboard and to communicate with their airlines ahead of Milton's expected landfall.
As of 7:50 p.m. ET Monday, several Florida airports have announced planned cancellations:
- Tampa International Airport: TPA will suspend operations starting at 9 a.m. ET Tuesday and will reopen when safe to do so. The airport will not be open for public use during this time, including parking garages. It is located in Evacuation Zone "A" in Hillsborough County, which is a mandatory evacuation zone.
- Hillsborough County: The Peter O. Knight, Tampa Executive, and Plant City airports will also be closed to the public during the same timeframe as TPA.
- St. Pete-Clearwater International: PIE, located in Pinellas County, will close after the last flight departs Tuesday and will remain shut down Wednesday and Thursday due to Milton. Administrative offices will be closed Monday through Thursday as PIE is also in a mandatory evacuation zone.
- Orlando International Airport: Commercial operations at MCO will cease at 8 a.m. ET Wednesday, but the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) stated that the airport will remain open for emergency and relief flights as necessary. Commercial flights will resume as soon as possible based on the extent of any damage.
Miami International Airport, Florida's largest airport, remains open as of Monday but is monitoring Hurricane Milton closely. In a statement posted on X, the airport expressed its commitment to ensuring smooth travel plans for passengers. Travelers are encouraged to check with their airlines to confirm flight statuses amid the storm.
Palm Beach International Airport, Jacksonville International Airport, and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport are operating normally as of Monday evening.
The FAA has confirmed that its Joint Crisis Action Team and Command Center are actively managing air traffic preparations for Hurricane Milton. They are coordinating communication and planning efforts to prioritize activities in the storm-affected airspace.
Emergency personnel will be deployed to assist with restoring services and ensuring that air traffic control equipment gets the necessary protection along the hurricane's path, allowing for a quick return to normal operations once the storm passes.
For airspace coordination, the FAA will embed personnel at Emergency Operations Centers to ensure flight safety and provide priority access to emergency services.
Update 10/07/24, 8:01 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional comments from the FAA.
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