Hurricane Milton reached land in the US state of Florida on October 10 after 5.9 million people across the state were put under mandatory evacuation orders. The extremely powerful storm was only named on October 5, but within 48 hours it had “explosively” intensified into a Category 5 hurricane, the highest category. It has been downgraded from a Category 5 on Wednesday to a Category 1 in the early hours of Thursday morning, but the hurricane is still likely to cause life-threatening flash flooding in the state.
In Orlando, on Florida’s east coast, there have already been nine inches of rainfall, with more set to follow. Multiple residents of a retirement community in St Lucie County, about 150 miles northwest of Miami, were killed by tornadoes ahead of the storm.
Several airports, including Orlando International and Tampa International, announced closures ahead of the hurricane, with many flights from the UK affected.
If you have plans to visit Florida, here’s what you need to know.
Florida palm trees bend in the wind after Hurricane Milton made landfall
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Have flights been cancelled, and which airports have closed?
Several Florida airports have temporarily closed, including Orlando International (MCO) and Tampa International (TPA).
Miami International (MIA), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL), Palm Beach International (PBI) and Jacksonville International (JAX) are currently open and monitoring the situation.
Airlines including Virgin Atlantic, TUI and British Airways have cancelled flights from the UK to Florida due to the hurricane.
Has the hurricane affected Walt Disney World?
Yes. Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and SeaWorld in Orlando have all closed.
Ticket holders should contact the relevant supplier regarding refunds.
Is there a live tracker where I can follow the hurricane?
You can follow the storm live on the US National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration website. It shows the expected route for Hurricane Milton and other potential storms.
Which areas of Florida have been evacuated?
Currently there are mandatory evacuation orders in place for Charlotte County, Citrus County, Collier County, Hernando County, Hillsborough County, Lee County, Levy County, Manatee County, Marion County, Pasco County, Pinellas County, Sarasota County, St Johns County, and Volusia County. The majority of these counties are on the west coast of Florida, on either side of Tampa.
In addition, there are also several counties with voluntary evacuation orders in place, particularly for those living in low-lying areas or in mobile homes.
The full list of evacuation orders can be found here.
A television reporter in Tampa as Hurricane Milton makes landfall
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Is it safe to travel to Florida during Hurricane Milton?
Hurricane Milton is a life-threatening storm, causing flight cancellations and a number of airport closures. While some areas of the state may not be affected directly by the storm, the evacuation orders mean there will be a lot of displaced people and those trying to get to other parts of the country. Visitors travelling against evacuation orders are effectively likely to be uninsured.
Can I get a refund if I cancel my holiday because of the hurricane?
If you have a trip booked for Florida in the near future, you should contact your travel provider. It’s likely that they will cancel your trip and automatically offer you a full refund or the chance to rebook for another time. If you cancel your trip yourself, you’re unlikely to get a refund despite what’s happening in Florida.
• Compensation for cancelled and delayed flights: everything you need to know
Am I covered by my travel insurance?
You should check your travel insurance policy to see whether you’re covered for extreme weather events such as a hurricane. Many policies do have a clause on this, but the level of coverage can vary. In some cases, you’ll only get money to cover travel disruption rather than any compensation.
• Travel insurance guide: everything you need to know
• Caribbean hurricane season: how will it affect my holiday?
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