Hurricane Warnings, Evacuation Orders Extended as Dorian's Winds Reach Florida Coast
As tropical storm winds reach the Florida coast, hurricane and storm surge warnings have been extended up the Florida coast. Mandatory evacuations are in place from South Florida to coastal South Carolina. Meanwhile, Hurricane Dorian has all but stalled over Great Bahama island with 150 mph sustained wind speeds.
Hurricane Dorian is currently not forecast to make landfall on the Florida coast. However, the National Hurricane Center still gives a 99% probability of tropical storm-force winds reaching Fort Pierce and Cocoa Beach, Florida. The storm's proximity has already led to the closure of the first Florida airport and four more have announced that they'll cease operations later Monday.
Although Florida may avoid catastrophic effects from the storm, millions of Floridians are still forecast to lose power, and significant flooding could still occur. Most airlines still have airfare caps in place and are waiving baggage and pet fees, and many are still giving travelers the option to delay their trip or cancel outright without fees.
Weather waivers have been extended beyond Florida into Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. Waivers now stretch across 24 Southeast airports and four airports in the Bahamas:
Forecast
As of the 2 p.m. Monday National Hurricane Center update, Hurricane Dorian has weakened slightly but is a one of the strongest hurricanes on record — a Category 4 with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph. For reference, that wind speed is equivalent to an EF-3 tornado. The center of the official track as of 2 p.m. keeps the catastrophic hurricane from making landfall on the east coast of the US.
However, the storm strengthened faster and tracked further south than models have predicted. While most models are in agreement that the center of the storm will stay off of the coast, the proximity to the Florida coast can cause significant flooding and strong winds.
Most of the east coast of Florida is still in the cone of uncertainty through the end of day Wednesday. The coasts of Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina are very much at risk Wednesday through Friday.
Florida Impact
Even if the storm stays off of the coast, Florida is expected to get significant rain, storm surge and wind damage. The NHC computes a 99% probability of tropical storm-force winds in Fort Pierce and Cocoa Beach, Florida, and 98% probability of tropical storm winds in West Palm Beach. A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for parts of Florida, where 4-7 feet of storm surge is predicted within 36 hours.
Evacuation orders are in place up the coast of Florida -- including St. Augustine, Jacksonville, Georgia (east of I-95) and the coastal areas of South Carolina:
Between 4-8 inches of rain is expected in Florida with isolated parts getting 10 inches. However, rainfall could reach up to 15 inches along the Carolina coast later this week.
Those effects are likely to leave millions of Floridians in the dark. The Guikema Research Center estimated that 4.6 million Floridians will be left without power if the storm follows the National Hurricane Center forecast as of 8 a.m. Monday.
Airport Closures
Palm Beach International (PBI) announced Sunday afternoon that it will "cease all commercial air service" on Monday:
Orlando Melbourne International Airport (MLB) plans to suspend operations at noon ET Monday, but American Airlines and Delta have already ceased operations:
Fort Lauderdale (FLL) announced on Sunday night that it would suspend operations at noon Monday and reiterated that on Monday morning:
Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB) will close at 6 p.m. on Monday:
Northeast Florida Regional Airport (UST) in St. Augustine will close at 6 p.m. ET on Monday:
On Saturday evening, Orlando International Airport (MCO) announced it would continue operations on Monday. It has not announced a new closure time:
Further up the coast, Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) says that it will remain open until airlines cancel their flights:
Flight Cancellations
Despite many Florida airports deciding to remaining open into Monday, flight cancellations have begun piling up. As of 11:00 a.m. Monday, FlightAware's cancellation tracker shows the following cancellations:
- Fort Lauderdale (FLL): 44 cancellations Sunday, 543 on Monday, 90 on Tuesday
- Orlando (MCO): 148 cancellations Sunday, 255 on Monday, 89 on Tuesday
- Miami (MIA): 37 cancellations Sunday, 89 on Monday, 103 on Tuesday
- Palm Beach International (PBI): 11 cancellations Sunday, 89 on Monday, 35 on Tuesday
- Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB): 18 cancellations Sunday, 62 on Monday, 8 on Tuesday
- Jacksonville (JAX): 16 cancellations Monday and 23 on Tuesday
Through noon Sunday, Delta claimed to not have canceled any flights — even to airports that plan to suspend operations, saying it's "expecting normal operations, with no cancels as a result of the storm." Delta relented on Sunday night and cancelled 25 flights due to the closure of West Palm Beach Airport (PBI).
As of 4:30 p.m. Sunday, American Airlines reports cancelling 98 flights -- including flights between the US and the Bahamas.
Fare Caps
Many airlines have continued to cap fares for flights out of Florida. Through September 4, American Airlines has capped fares at $499 one-way nonstop in economy or $699 in domestic first class for flights out of Florida. In addition, American Airlines is capping fares from eight Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina locations through Sept. 6.
Delta has also capped fares on nonstop flights out of Florida at $299-$599 in Main Cabin and $499-$799 in the forward cabin now through September 4.
Fee Waivers
American Airlines and Delta are both waiving checked bag and pet fees for flights out of airports covered by travel waivers.
Delta's waiver "includes piece fees, overweight and oversize fees." However, Delta warns that "there will be limitations to the amount of baggage that the aircraft can carry, and some or all of your luggage may not be able to be accommodated on your flight."
American Airlines is waiving fees "for two checked bags and in-cabin pets for flights to/from all cities covered under the travel alert in Florida." To avoid needing to turn passenger bags away, AA is only accepting "up to two free checked bags per traveler." On Sunday afternoon, AA extended this waiver to eight Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina airports.
Most US airlines have issued weather advisories for the Bahamas, Florida and into Georgia and the Carolinas, allowing flexible travelers the chance to rebook away from the storm. Current waivers cover 24 airports on the US Southeast Coast and four airports in the Bahamas. Here are the latest waivers:
