Hurricane Milton: Dozens of flights to Florida cancelled as US faces 'storm of the century'

Dozens of flights have been either cancelled or face long delays due to adverse weather conditions caused by Hurricane Milton in the US

Multiple flights due to arrive in Florida in the coming days have been cancelled due to adverse conditions expected to be caused by Hurricane Milton.

The hurricane, which US President Joe Biden said could be "the worst storm to hit Florida in over a century", is expected to make landfall late on Wednesday. Millions of people have been ordered to evacuate their homes and the Tampa Bay area faces the possibility of widespread destruction after avoiding direct hits from major hurricanes for more than a century.

The National Hurricane Center in the United States predicted Milton, a monstrous Category 5 hurricane during much of its approach, would likely weaken but remain a major hurricane when it makes landfall. Due to the hurricane, Virgin Atlantic said it has altered its flight schedule, with services to and from Orlando and Tampa being subject to cancellations and delays.

Any passenger travelling to and from these destinations have been urged to check the airline's website for the latest information. Orlando Airport had already announced that it would be closed for operations from 8am local time (1pm Irish time) on Wednesday.

READ MORE:Residents who don't evacuate warned 'you will die' as Hurricane Milton heads to Florida at terrifying 175mph

READ MORE:Brendan Grace's widow escapes Florida ahead of monster Hurricane Milton making landfall

Milton was centred early on Wednesday about 360 miles (580km) southwest of Tampa with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 kmh), the National Hurricane Center reported. Forecasters predicted the storm will retain hurricane strength as it crosses central Florida on Thursday on a path east toward the Atlantic Ocean.

The hurricane's precise track remained uncertain, as forecasters on Tuesday evening nudged its projected path slightly south of Tampa. Thousands of fleeing cars clogged Florida's highways ahead of the storm, but time for evacuations was running out Wednesday. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor noted that up to 15 feet (4.5m) of storm surge forecast for her city would be deep enough to swallow an entire house.

"So if you're in it, basically that's the coffin that you're in," Castor said. Milton is set to target communities still reeling two weeks after Hurricane Helene flooded streets and homes in western Florida along its devastating march that left at least 230 dead across the South. In the bayside town of Punta Gorda, about 100 miles (160km) south of Tampa, streets were still filled Tuesday with 5-foot (1.5m) piles of soggy furniture, clothing, books, appliances and other trash dragged from damaged homes.

Authorities have issued mandatory evacuation orders across 11 Florida counties with a combined population of about 5.9 million people, according to US Census Bureau estimates. Officials have warned that anyone staying behind must fend for themselves, as first responders are not expected to risk their lives attempting rescues at the height of the storm.

In Riverview, south of Tampa, several drivers waiting in a long line for fuel Tuesday said they had no plans to evacuate. "I think we'll just hang, you know - tough it out," said Martin Oakes, of nearby Apollo Beach. "We got shutters up. The house is all ready. So this is sort of the last piece of the puzzle." Others weren't taking any chances after Helene.

Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.