MCO Stays Open as Hurricane Helene Rain Bands Approach Disney World, Dozens of Flights Canceled

3 hours ago in "Severe Weather impacts to Walt Disney World"

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Hurricane Helene

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Posted: Thursday September 26, 2024 5:40pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

As Hurricane Helene makes its way toward Florida's Big Bend area, Orlando International Airport (MCO) remains operational, though some airlines have preemptively canceled flights. As of 4:15 pm, a total of 65 flights have been canceled, including 31 arrivals and 34 departures.

Orlando International's Operations Update

While MCO is still open, passengers are advised to check directly with their airlines for updates on flight cancellations and schedule changes. The airport's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) remains active at Level 2, meaning it is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with the National Weather Service in Melbourne for real-time updates on the storm's progress.

In preparation for Hurricane Helene, MCO has taken several precautionary steps, including lowering water levels in nearby ponds and lakes, removing portable signage that could be impacted by strong winds, reviewing emergency plans, and ensuring that emergency generators are fully functional.

Hurricane Helene's Latest Forecast

As of the latest advisory, Hurricane Helene has intensified to a Category 3 storm, with sustained winds of 125 mph. The storm is approximately 180 miles west-southwest of Leesburg, FL, moving north-northeast at 23 mph. Helene is expected to make landfall along Florida's Big Bend coast late tonight.

A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and nearby counties, with the potential for wind gusts between 60 and 65 mph and frequent tropical storm force winds affecting the entire Florida Peninsula. Rain bands associated with the hurricane are expected to produce 1 to 2 inches of rain in the Orlando area, with higher amounts possible in certain locations, leading to the risk of localized flooding.

A Tornado Watch is also in effect for the region until 8 pm, with the possibility of additional watches being issued later tonight. There is also a Flood Watch for East Central Florida, including the Walt Disney World and MCO area, as heavy rainfall could lead to urban and low-lying area flooding.

Operational Impacts at Walt Disney World

Disney announced late this afternoon that all nighttime shows, including Fantasmic! and Luminous, had been canceled for this evening. Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, originally scheduled for September 26, 2024, has been canceled, and guests will receive refunds. Additionally, Typhoon Lagoon and all miniature golf courses will be closed for the entire day. At Disney's Animal Kingdom, the following Enchanting Extras Collection experiences are also canceled: Savor the Savanna, Up Close with Rhinos, Walking with Giants, and Wild Africa Trek. To accommodate guests, Magic Kingdom's operating hours have been extended until 8 pm on September 26.

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Gringrinngghost1 hour ago

000 WTNT34 KNHC 262353 TCPAT4 BULLETIN Hurricane Helene Intermediate Advisory Number 14A NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL092024 800 PM EDT Thu Sep 26 2024 ...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS HURRICANE HELENE NEARING THE NORTHEAST GULF COAST... ...CATASTROPHIC STORM SURGE AND LIFE-THREATENING WINDS EXPECTED IN THE FLORIDA BIG BEND AREA... SUMMARY OF 800 PM EDT...0000 UTC...INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------- LOCATION...28.7N 84.3W ABOUT 80 MI...125 KM WSW OF CEDAR KEY FLORIDA ABOUT 115 MI...190 KM S OF TALLAHASSEE FLORIDA MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...130 MPH...215 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNE OR 25 DEGREES AT 23 MPH...37 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...942 MB...27.82 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY: None SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT: A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for... * Mexico Beach eastward and southward to Flamingo * Tampa Bay * Charlotte Harbor A Hurricane Warning is in effect for... * Anclote River to Mexico Beach A Hurricane Watch is in effect for... * Englewood to Anclote River, including Tampa Bay A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for... * Florida Keys, including the Dry Tortugas * Flamingo to Anclote River, including Tampa Bay * West of Mexico Beach to the Okaloosa/Walton County Line * Flamingo northward to Little River Inlet * Lake Okeechobee A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline. For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov. This is a life-threatening situation. Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions. Promptly follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials. A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area. For storm information specific to your area in the United States, including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office. DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK ---------------------- At 800 PM EDT (0000 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Helene was located near latitude 28.7 North, longitude 84.3 West. Helene is moving toward the north-northeast near 23 mph (37 km/h). A continued fast motion to the north-northeast is expected through landfall in the Florida Big Bend in a few hours. After landfall, Helene is expected to turn northwestward and slow down over the Tennessee Valley on Friday and Saturday. Maximum sustained winds are near 130 mph (215 km/h) with higher gusts. Helene is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some additional strengthening is possible before the center reaches the coast in a few hours. Weakening is expected after Helene moves inland, but the fast forward speed will allow strong, damaging winds, especially in gusts, to penetrate well inland across the southeastern United States, including over the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 310 miles (500 km). Albert Whitted airport in St. Petersburg, Florida reported a sustained wind of 53 mph (85 km/h) with a gust to 76 mph (122 km/h). The minimum central pressure estimated from Hurricane Hunter aircraft observations is 942 mb (27.82 inches). HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND ---------------------- Key Messages for Helene can be found in the Tropical Cyclone Discussion under AWIPS header MIATCDAT4 and WMO header WTNT44 KNHC and on the web at hurricanes.gov/text/MIATCDAT4.shtml STORM SURGE: The combination of a life-threatening storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide... Carrabelle, FL to Suwannee River, FL...15-20 ft Apalachicola, FL to Carrabelle, FL...10-15 ft Suwannee River, FL to Chassahowitzka, FL...10-15 ft Chassahowitzka, FL to Anclote River, FL...8-12 ft Indian Pass, FL to Apalachicola, FL...6-10 ft Anclote River, FL to Middle of Longboat Key, FL...5-8 ft Tampa Bay...5-8 ft Middle of Longboat Key, FL to Englewood, FL...4-7 ft East of Mexico Beach, FL to Indian Pass, FL...3-5 ft Englewood, FL to Flamingo, FL...3-5 ft Charlotte Harbor...3-5 ft The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the east of the landfall location, where the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances. For information specific to your area, please see products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office. For a complete depiction of areas at risk of storm surge inundation, please see the National Weather Service Peak Storm Surge Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?peakSurge. WIND: Hurricane conditions are beginning within the hurricane warning area. When the eye comes ashore, people are reminded to not venture out into the relative calm, as hazardous winds will increase very quickly when the eye passes. Tropical storm conditions are occurring in southern and central Florida, and these conditions will be spreading northward across the tropical storm warning areas in the Southeastern U.S. through early Friday. Strong, damaging winds, especially in gusts, will likely penetrate as far inland as the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians. RAINFALL: Over portions of the Southeastern U.S. into the Southern Appalachians, Helene is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 6 to 12 inches, with isolated totals around 20 inches. This rainfall will likely result in catastrophic and potentially life-threatening flash and urban flooding, along with significant river flooding. Numerous significant landslides are expected in steep terrain across the southern Appalachians. For a complete depiction of forecast rainfall associated with Hurricane Helene, please see the National Weather Service Storm Total Rainfall Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?rainqpf and the Flash Flood Risk graphic at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?ero. For a list of rainfall observations (and wind reports) associated this storm, see the companion storm summary at WBCSCCNS4 with the WMO header ACUS44 KWBC or at the following link: www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/discussions/nfdscc4.html. TORNADOES: The risk for several tornadoes continues through tonight over much of Florida, southeast Georgia, central and southern South Carolina, and southern North Carolina. The tornado risk will continue Friday across the Carolinas and southern Virginia. SURF: Swells generated by Helene will affect much of Florida and the coasts of Georgia and the Carolinas during the next couple of days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office. NEXT ADVISORY ------------- Next complete advisory at 1100 PM EDT. $$ Forecaster Pasch

Disney Analyst2 hours ago

thank you for feeding the fish?

The Mighty Tim2 hours ago

I'm at Three Bridges at CSR having my dinner and they're shutting early (closing at 7). Just as well really; some of my salad got blown into the lake!

networkpro2 hours ago

White caps on bay lake

Captain Barbossa2 hours ago

Well, she be a cat 4 now

Gringrinngghost2 hours ago

684 WTNT64 KNHC 262218 TCUAT4 Hurricane Helene Tropical Cyclone Update NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL092024 620 PM EDT Thu Sep 26 2024 ...HELENE NOW AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE... A NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft currently investigating Helene recently found that the maximum sustained winds have increased to 130 mph (215 km/h). The minimum central pressure has also decreased to 947 mb (27.96 inches) based on dropsonde data. SUMMARY OF 620 PM EDT...2220 UTC...INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------- LOCATION...28.0N 84.5W ABOUT 120 MI...195 KM W OF TAMPA FLORIDA ABOUT 165 MI...265 KM S OF TALLAHASSEE FLORIDA MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...130 MPH...215 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNE OR 25 DEGREES AT 23 MPH...37 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...947 MB...27.96 INCHES $$ Forecaster Bucci/Pasch

Gringrinngghost4 hours ago

618 WTNT34 KNHC 262042 TCPAT4 BULLETIN Hurricane Helene Advisory Number 14 NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL092024 500 PM EDT Thu Sep 26 2024 ...HELENE IS A VERY DANGEROUS AND LARGE MAJOR HURRICANE... ...DAMAGING HURRICANE WINDS AND CATASTROPHIC STORM SURGE EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN THE FLORIDA BIG BEND THIS EVENING... SUMMARY OF 500 PM EDT...2100 UTC...INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------- LOCATION...27.9N 84.6W ABOUT 130 MI...205 KM W OF TAMPA FLORIDA ABOUT 175 MI...280 KM S OF TALLAHASSEE FLORIDA MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...125 MPH...205 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNE OR 25 DEGREES AT 23 MPH...37 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...951 MB...28.09 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY: None SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT: A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for... * Mexico Beach eastward and southward to Flamingo * Tampa Bay * Charlotte Harbor A Hurricane Warning is in effect for... * Anclote River to Mexico Beach A Hurricane Watch is in effect for... * Englewood to Anclote River, including Tampa Bay A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for... * Florida Keys, including the Dry Tortugas * Flamingo to Anclote River, including Tampa Bay * West of Mexico Beach to the Okaloosa/Walton County Line * Flamingo northward to Little River Inlet * Lake Okeechobee A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline. For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov. This is a life-threatening situation. Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions. Promptly follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials. A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area. For storm information specific to your area in the United States, including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office. For storm information specific to your area outside of the United States, please monitor products issued by your national meteorological service. DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK ---------------------- At 500 PM EDT (2100 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Helene was located near latitude 27.9 North, longitude 84.6 West. Helene is moving toward the north-northeast near 23 mph (37 km/h). A continued fast motion to the north-northeast is expected through landfall in the Florida Big Bend this evening. After landfall, Helene is expected to turn northwestward and slow down over the Tennessee Valley on Friday and Saturday. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 125 mph (205 km/h) with higher gusts. Helene is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Additional strengthening is expected, and Helene will likely be an extremely dangerous category 4 hurricane at landfall. Weakening is expected after Helene moves inland, but the fast forward speed will allow strong, damaging winds, especially in gusts, to penetrate well inland across the southeastern United States, including over the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 310 miles (500 km). A weather station at Venice Municipal Airport recently reported a sustained wind of 46 mph (74 km/h) with a gust of 69 mph (111 km/h). Another observation near Venice Beach reported a sustained wind of 51 mph (82 km/h) with a gust to 66 mph (106 km/h). The estimated minimum central pressure based on data from the Air Force Hurricane Hunters is 951 mb (28.09 inches). HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND ---------------------- Key Messages for Helene can be found in the Tropical Cyclone Discussion under AWIPS header MIATCDAT4 and WMO header WTNT44 KNHC and on the web at hurricanes.gov/text/MIATCDAT4.shtml STORM SURGE: The combination of a life-threatening storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide... Carrabelle, FL to Suwannee River, FL...15-20 ft Apalachicola, FL to Carrabelle, FL...10-15 ft Suwannee River, FL to Chassahowitzka, FL...10-15 ft Chassahowitzka, FL to Anclote River, FL...8-12 ft Indian Pass, FL to Apalachicola, FL...6-10 ft Anclote River, FL to Middle of Longboat Key, FL...5-8 ft Tampa Bay...5-8 ft Middle of Longboat Key, FL to Englewood, FL...4-7 ft East of Mexico Beach, FL to Indian Pass, FL...3-5 ft Englewood, FL to Flamingo, FL...3-5 ft Charlotte Harbor...3-5 ft The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the east of the landfall location, where the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances. For information specific to your area, please see products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office. For a complete depiction of areas at risk of storm surge inundation, please see the National Weather Service Peak Storm Surge Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?peakSurge. WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected within the hurricane warning area this evening. Tropical storm conditions are occurring in the southern and central Florida, and these conditions are expected to spread northward across the tropical storm warning areas in the Southeastern U.S. through early Friday. Strong, damaging winds, especially in gusts, will likely penetrate as far inland as the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians. RAINFALL: Over portions of the Southeastern U.S. into the Southern Appalachians, Helene is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 6 to 12 inches, with isolated totals around 20 inches. This rainfall will likely result in catastrophic and potentially life-threatening flash and urban flooding, along with significant river flooding. Numerous significant landslides are expected in steep terrain across the southern Appalachians. For a complete depiction of forecast rainfall associated with Hurricane Helene, please see the National Weather Service Storm Total Rainfall Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?rainqpf and the Flash Flood Risk graphic at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?ero. For a list of rainfall observations (and wind reports) associated this storm, see the companion storm summary at WBCSCCNS4 with the WMO header ACUS44 KWBC or at the following link: www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/discussions/nfdscc4.html. TORNADOES: The risk for several tornadoes continues through tonight over much of Florida, southeast Georgia, central and southern South Carolina, and southern North Carolina. The tornado risk will continue Friday across the Carolinas and southern Virginia. SURF: Swells generated by Helene will affect much of Florida and the coasts of Georgia and the Carolinas during the next couple of days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office. NEXT ADVISORY ------------- Next intermediate advisory at 800 PM EDT. Next complete advisory at 1100 PM EDT. $$ Forecaster Cangialosi