Tourists and locals alike are speculating about whether Orlando Airport may close as Hurricane Idalia approaches the Florida shore.

On Tuesday, August 29, Idalia reached hurricane strength over Cuba with winds of 75 mph. Later this week, the storm is predicted to intensify even more before making landfall in Florida.

Is Orlando Airport closing due to Hurricane Idalia?

As of now, Orlando Airport remains open and is operating as usual.

“We continue to monitor the status of Tropical Storm Idalia to identify any potential extent of impact to airport operations,” they said in a Twitter statement.

“Meetings are taking place throughout the day with airport leadership and partnering agencies,” the airport continued.

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“We’re currently open and operational. If operational changes occur, we’ll make sure to post about it. Please make sure to verify with your airline directly for any updates in regards to your specific flight.”

It’s crucial to stay up to current with the most recent information because delays, closures, and cancellations may occur as the hurricane approaches and strengthens.

Travelers are advised to keep checking this page on Twitter, where Orlando Airport’s official updates are given, as well as the airport’s website.

One should get in touch with the relevant airline via their website, email address, or phone number for further details about booked flights.

Orlando International Airport, the seventh busiest in the nation, lies six miles southeast of Downtown Orlando.

In 2021, it had 19,618,838 enplanements, making it the busiest airport in the state and the busiest for international travelers.

According to the National Hurricane Center’s most recent update, the storm was around 370 miles southwest of Tampa and 85 miles north of Cuba’s westernmost point.

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Idalia will “rapidly intensify” and might produce “extremely dangerous” and “life-threatening storm surge inundation,” according to the forecasters.

Prior to the projected Wednesday landfall, portions of coastal Florida have been issued hurricane warnings and evacuation orders.

Florida’s disaster declaration has been approved by President Joe Biden, and numerous counties have received emergency declarations from Governor Ron DeSantis.

“So, this is going to be a major impact and Floridians should expect that this storm will be a major category three plus hurricane, so please prepare accordingly,” DeSantis said.

The hurricane will bring extreme weather, including strong winds, heavy rain and storm surges, all of which are expected to cause destruction.