Florida airports shuttered as Hurricane Idalia’s ‘catastrophic storm surge’ cancels or delays hundreds of flights

NY Post ^ | 08/30/2023 | Isabel Keane

[ChicagoConservative27]

Hundreds of flights have been delayed or canceled as Hurricane Idalia wreaks havoc across the Sunshine State, causing a handful of airports to shutter Wednesday ahead of the destructive storm’s impact.

Several major airports were closed, including Tampa International, St. Pete-Clearwater International, Boca Raton, Gainesville Regional and Tallahassee International.

They may reopen Thursday depending on damage, officials said.

Over 700 flights in and out of Tampa International Airport were canceled for Tuesday and Wednesday, according to flight tracking website FlightAware.

[ChicagoConservative27]

How "catastrophic" has it been so far?

[smokingfrog]

It’s not going to be a fun day to fly.

[lightman]

How "catastrophic" has it been so far?

Two known deaths.

[JimRed]

The descriptive headline on FOX News’ display was calling it “UNPRECEDENTED”. You mean there’s never been a CAT 3 on the FL west coast? Looks more like fear porn than reporting.

[lightman]

https://nypost.com/2023/08/30/hurricane-idalia-makes-landfall-in-florida-as-category-4-storm/

Cat landfall = SNAFU

[Lizavetta]

Total fear porn. A cat 3 isn’t much except for possible ocean surge to coastal areas. We’re flying to Tampa tomorrow and there have been no alerts from the airlines. Everything on schedule.

[steve86]

For most, like a garden-variety tropical storm. Eye was so tiny the 90 mph winds affected nearly no one. Low tide prevented catastrophic flooding.

[Sicon]

officials warn areas won’t be inhabitable for ‘months’

Only if the government is involved in the cleanup.

[Chicory]

From the original article: “Hurricane Idalia made landfall at 8 am, ...rushing in with 125-mph winds as a Category 3 storm before weakening to a Category 2 an hour later.”

[RainMan]

No, unprecedented in this case means that the last time a storm hit this part of Florida, it was 127 years ago, and it was not as big of a storm. The Nature Coast of Florida is usually VERY protected from hurricanes because of the 90 degree turn one would have to take at the keys, then it would have to run due north skirting the coast for about 300 miles. This hurricane started in the PACIFIC, jumped central america, did a loop-de-loop around Cozumel, then came almost straight North. They expected it to turn into Tampa, but it kept its course and hit about 100 miles north of Tampa. The

Nature Coast is lightly populated compared to the rest of Florida, but Idalia gave it a direct hit, and houses have water up to the second floor, trees are dropping like flies because they are old growth that has never experienced these types of winds. There are not a lot of roads in that part of the state because it is mostly marshlands, but those that live there could be without power for weeks because of all the trees down on the roads.

[Macoozie]

Florida is pretty great from December to about April.
The rest of the time, it pretty much suuuucks.

Everybody has known this since just about forever.

But every 20 years or so, another group re-discovers the Sunshine State, and it all rolls around once more.

Until the next Hurricane flattens it all again, and folks abandon it once again.

Until the next re-discover ‘rounds again . . .

[gundog]

No looting? Aw, man!

[lightman]

For old time's sake:

[Rj Snows]

Huge storm surge, flooding

[armourenthusiast]

Do you all think it will be safe to drive to Tampa from Raleigh NC tomorrow?

[NautiNurse]

A cat 3 isn’t much except for possible ocean surge to coastal areas. We’re flying to Tampa tomorrow and there have been no alerts from the airlines. Everything on schedule.

Tampa Int'l Airport (TPA) closed at 12:01 AM yesterday. It has been closed for more than 24 hours. The airport is re-opening for incoming flights only this afternoon at 4:00 PM. Outbound flights will resume at 0300 tomorrow morning. Consider yourself lucky that your flight is scheduled after the airport re-opens.

[Trumpette1954]

And unless you live in the pathway of the hurricane like we do. We are in north FL close to the GA border. We have several trees down. No power for hours and will probably be days, and debris everywhere. It will take us days to clean up our property. Oh and the roof of our RV came apart on the one side due to wind. No.... you’re right. It must be fear porn.

[gundog]

”Heineken!?!”

[Tennessee Nana]

Joe has already taken credit for great preparedness

Deanne Criswell the FEMA Administrator said glowing things about him at the WH briefing...

No mention about all the days of work DeSantis did...

[Tennessee Nana]

Heineken Man !!!