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

7 days 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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Lilofan20 hours ago

The worrisome storm I hope the forecasters are wrong is next week going across FL again. Hopefully it will just be a rain event but the friends I know who lost their homes in the Tampa area due to floods don't need anymore. Wait and see and pray.

JoeCamel1 day ago

There is nothing bad to say about Asheville it was a wonderful place to visit and probably to live as so many did. Sounds like your Uncle is being cared for and conditions are easing quickly in the population centers, the nooks and hollars will take much longer. Help is pouring into the area so the work has started to recover from the hit they took Sad that many have chosen to inject politics into a natural disaster playing who can I blame rather than asking "WHO CAN I HELP"

mf19721 day ago

i have an uncle who lives in asheville. he retired there 16-18 years ago i believe. he’s now in a assisted living facility. my sister is his POA & what i read the facility, staff, & their residents are doing fine. they’re doing ok with food, water, etc. they did lose phones, power, etc but have generators. they haven’t listed anything yet as far as making any donations. i already donated to red cross & a food service/shelter through amazon. i’ve never had the chance to visit asheville myself. my dad has, & both he & my uncle had nothing bad to say about it.

Ayla1 day ago

The previous invest is now tropical depression 13.

Ayla1 day ago

John park hopper1 day ago

Both storms in the Atlantic according to the NHC will track north in the mid Atlantic --nothing so far off the Yucatan. Month of October hurricane tapper off.

HauntedPirate1 day ago

Looks like 91 will take a more northerly track once it gets closer to the southern Caribbean.

JoeCamel1 day ago

Thank you

Alice a1 day ago

Checking in from our little hardware store in downtown Charleston, SC. People from NC, TN, and upstate SC have been driving hours and hours to our coastal store, as we are the only place anywhere with tarps, gas cans, generators, and other storm supplies because our buyer buys storm stuff every time there’s a deal on it and has jammed it all into our upstairs overstock space for the past 5 years. The stories they’ve been sharing are heartbreaking. We’ve been donating what we can, and are praying there are no more storms this year because everyone and their suppliers are wiped out of stuff.

Touchdown2 days ago

To be selfish, the orange blob may affect the end of my vacation I’ll be safely back north by the time the red x gets near to FL.

HauntedPirate2 days ago

The red 'X' (AL91) is the one I'm watching more closely. Most models have a projected path right now moving it into or close to the southern Caribbean, whereas Kirk is going to curl off to the north.

Vegas Disney Fan2 days ago

It’s interesting how life works sometimes, guy makes a goofy persona and creates a YouTube channel, makes enough to learn to fly, buy an old helicopter and restore it, right as the Helicopter is finished the hurricane happens and he flies his brand new (refurbished) helicopter up to help… right place, right time… an interesting view of what’s really happening in NC right now though.

Touchdown2 days ago

NHC has removed the X on the forecast map for this low and kept development of a tropical depression at 40% over the next 7 days.

JohnD2 days ago

They were completely wrong in the last one and we know how that turned out for western NC and that area as no one expected it to go that far east. I would rather they be right in their forecast so that people can properly prepare.