WASHINGTON — With Hurricane Milton heading straight to Florida, some airlines are canceling flights to the area. Some airports in the area have completely closed.
Milton is now a large and dangerous hurricane after rapidly becoming a Category 5 Monday night. The storm is approaching Florida Tuesday and will likely make landfall Wednesday night or Thursday morning.
The DMV will not see any impacts from the storm, which is headed straight through Florida's west coast to its east coast. Many Florida counties are recommending residents evacuate to avoid the storm.
However, if you were still hoping to fly down to Florida Tuesday, Oct. 8 from a D.C.-area airport, you might be out of luck.
Here are all of the flights that these local airports say have been canceled to Florida for Tuesday:
Airport Closures:
Tampa International Airport is located in a mandatory evacuation zone and has been closed since 9 a.m. Oct. 8 until further notice.
Sarasota Bradenton International Airport has been closed since 4 p.m. Oct. 8 until further notice.
Orlando International Airport ceased commercial passenger operations at 8 a.m. Oct. 9 until further notice. This means the airport itself is open for emergency relief and aid, but no flights will leave and it will not be open for passengers.
Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers is closed Oct. 9 and 10. It plans to reopen Friday, Oct. 11, but says it depends on conditions.
St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport in Tampa has been closed since after the last flight departed Oct. 8 and will be closed at least through Oct. 10.
Additional cancellations:
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Fort Lauderdale:
JetBlue 12:55 p.m.
West Palm Beach:
JetBlue 1:45 p.m.
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Only flights heading to closed airports have been canceled.
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
West Palm Beach:
Southwest 9:30 a.m.
If you see your flight on the list above, double check with your airline to figure out next steps.