Hurricane Warnings Just Issued for Walt Disney World Resort Area. At 5:07 PM EST on October 7th, 2024, the National Weather Service issued Hurricane Warnings for the Central Florida counties, including Orange County and Osceola County which is home to the Walt Disney World Resort area.
Before anything, please understand we are NOT an official source of weather. Please go to your trusted source of weather information, the Florida Gov Website, or the National Weather Service. If you are not a local to Florida and are visiting on vacation, here is a direct link to the Orange County, Florida Weather and Forecast from the National Weather Service. We also follow Mike’s Weather Page on Instagram. We are here to bring the information to people who are either here at Disney World and reading Disney-related news and information, or those who may be headed here.
Earlier we had been updating 1 post to keep you informed of all the Hurricane Watches and updates, but Hurricane Milton has changed plans again, and now we are sitting in a Hurricane Warning zone. So what is the difference between a watch and a warning? A Hurricane Watch is issued around 48 hours prior to arrival which means it could be expected to impact the area. Hurricane warnings indicate that hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 mph or higher) are expected. Because hurricane preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph), the hurricane warning is issued 36 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical storm-force winds to allow for important preparation.
Hurricane Warning
Milton Local Watch/Warning Statement/Advisory Number 11 National Weather Service Melbourne FL AL142024 507 PM EDT Mon Oct 7 2024 FLZ045-080515- /O.NEW.KMLB.HU.W.1014.241007T2107Z-000000T0000Z/ /O.UPG.KMLB.HU.A.1014.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/ Orange- 507 PM EDT Mon Oct 7 2024 ...HURRICANE WARNING IN EFFECT... A Hurricane Warning means hurricane-force winds are expected somewhere within this area within the next 36 hours * WIND - LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: Equivalent Cat 1 Hurricane force wind - Peak Wind Forecast: 60-80 mph with gusts to 95 mph - Window for Tropical Storm force winds: Wednesday evening until Thursday afternoon - Window for Hurricane force winds: early Thursday morning until Thursday morning - THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY THAT INCLUDES TYPICAL FORECAST UNCERTAINTY IN TRACK, SIZE AND INTENSITY: Potential for wind 74 to 110 mph - The wind threat has remained nearly steady from the previous assessment. - PLAN: Plan for life-threatening wind of equivalent CAT 1 or 2 hurricane force. - PREPARE: Efforts to protect life and property should now be rigorously underway. Prepare for considerable wind damage. - ACT: Act now to complete preparations before the wind becomes hazardous. - POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Extensive - Considerable roof damage to sturdy buildings, with some having window, door, and garage door failures leading to structural damage. Mobile homes severely damaged, with some destroyed. Damage accentuated by airborne projectiles. Locations may be uninhabitable for weeks. - Many large trees snapped or uprooted along with fences and roadway signs blown over. - Some roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban or heavily wooded places. Several bridges, causeways, and access routes impassable. - Large areas with power and communications outages. * FLOODING RAIN - LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: Flood Watch is in effect - Peak Rainfall Amounts: Additional 4-8 inches, with locally higher amounts - THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY THAT INCLUDES TYPICAL FORECAST UNCERTAINTY IN TRACK, SIZE AND INTENSITY: Potential for major flooding rain - The flooding rain threat has remained nearly steady from the previous assessment. - PLAN: Emergency plans should include the potential for major flooding from heavy rain. Evacuations and rescues are likely. - PREPARE: Strongly consider protective actions, especially if you are in an area vulnerable to flooding. - ACT: Heed any flood watches and warnings. Failure to take action will likely result in serious injury or loss of life. - POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Extensive - Major rainfall flooding may prompt many evacuations and rescues. - Rivers and tributaries may rapidly overflow their banks in multiple places. Small streams, creeks, canals, and ditches may become dangerous rivers. In mountain areas, destructive runoff may run quickly down valleys while increasing susceptibility to rockslides and mudslides. Flood control systems and barriers may become stressed. - Flood waters can enter many structures within multiple communities, some structures becoming uninhabitable or washed away. Many places where flood waters may cover escape routes. Streets and parking lots become rivers of moving water with underpasses submerged. Driving conditions become dangerous. Many road and bridge closures with some weakened or washed out. * TORNADO - LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: - Situation is somewhat favorable for tornadoes - THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY THAT INCLUDES TYPICAL FORECAST UNCERTAINTY IN TRACK, SIZE AND INTENSITY: Potential for a few tornadoes - The tornado threat has remained nearly steady from the previous assessment. - PLAN: Emergency plans should include the potential for a few tornadoes. - PREPARE: If your shelter is particularly vulnerable to tornadoes, prepare to relocate to safe shelter before hazardous weather arrives. - ACT: If a tornado warning is issued, be ready to shelter quickly. - POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Limited - The occurrence of isolated tornadoes can hinder the execution of emergency plans during tropical events. - A few places may experience tornado damage, along with power and communications disruptions. - Locations could realize roofs peeled off buildings, chimneys toppled, mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned, large tree tops and branches snapped off, shallow-rooted trees knocked over, moving vehicles blown off roads, and small boats pulled from moorings. $$
MCO Orlando Airport has announced it will be closing on 10/9/2024 Here is the official statement: Together with our partners, a decision has been made to cease commercial operations on Wednesday morning, 10/09, until circumstances permit safe operations to resume. We will continue to monitor Hurricane Milton to determine the potential impact at MCO. We ask you to please continue to work with your airline directly in regard to your specific flight and follow our Facebook or X accounts for detailed operational updates. Click the link in today’s story for more information.
Tampa International is closing on Tuesday according to their site. Tampa International Airport will suspend operations early Tuesday ahead of Hurricane Milton. TPA plans to resume services as soon as it is safe to do so later this week, but passengers should check with their airlines regarding flight schedules
Legoland Florida has officially closed ahead of Hurricane Milton for October 9th and 10th, 2024.
Busch Gardens is now closed from Tuesday through Friday 10/8 – 10/11
Monitoring Tropical Storm Milton – Walt Disney World Resort is currently operating under normal conditions. We are closely monitoring the path of the projected storm as we continue to prioritize the safety of our Guests and Cast Members.
We are closely monitoring the path of the projected storm, and the safety of our Guests and Cast Members remains our top priority. Walt Disney World Resort is currently operating under normal conditions and will continue to be on Tuesday, Oct. 8. Looking ahead, we are making adjustments based on the latest weather forecast and some areas with unique environments.
- Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground (including dining and recreation locations), the Copper Creek Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, and the Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa will temporarily close beginning at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, Oct. 9.
- Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground and the Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa are likely to remain closed until Sunday, Oct. 13.
- The Copper Creek Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge will likely reopen on Friday, Oct. 11.
Last updated on Monday, October 7, 2024 at 6:00 PM ET.
Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World, are some of the safest places to be during major weather events. Activities to keep people calm, backup generators to keep power, and great infrastructure keep guests safe. In fact, people normally book rooms at both resorts during a hurricane for those reasons.
The hurricane is expected to make landfall on the western side of Florida, somewhere on the West Central area of the Gulf Coast, and then drive across the state on I4, making Walt Disney World and Universal direct hits. The timeline right now looks to be Wednesday, October 9th into Thursday, October 10th, 2024.