Tornado Watch Issued for Walt Disney World Area as Hurricane Helene Approaches Florida

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 6:50am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

With Hurricane Helene gaining strength and edging closer to Florida, a Tornado Watch has been issued for Orange and Osceola Counties, including Walt Disney World.

The National Weather Service warns of the potential for several tornadoes embedded in rain bands from the hurricane, posing a significant threat to Central Florida throughout the day.

Latest Hurricane Helene Forecast

As of early Thursday morning, Hurricane Helene is about 410 miles southwest of Leesburg, Florida, with sustained winds of 90 mph. The storm is moving north-northeast at 12 mph and is forecast to make landfall along the Florida Big Bend coast as a major hurricane this evening. Central Florida will experience tropical storm conditions, with winds of 60-65 mph and heavy rainfall of 1 to 3 inches, leading to potential flooding in low-lying areas.

Tornado Watch vs. Tornado Warning: What's the Difference?

A Tornado Watch means that weather conditions are favorable for tornadoes to develop. In this case, the Tornado Watch covers Orange and Osceola Counties, indicating that tornadoes could form within Hurricane Helene's rain bands. During a Tornado Watch, it's important to stay alert, have multiple ways to receive weather updates, and be prepared to take shelter if a tornado develops.

A Tornado Warning, on the other hand, means that a tornado has been spotted or indicated on radar. If a Tornado Warning is issued, you should take immediate action by seeking shelter in an interior room or basement away from windows. Warnings are typically short-lived but require immediate response to protect yourself from potential danger.

Closures at Walt Disney World Due to Hurricane Helene

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.

All four main Walt Disney World parks are planned to operate as normal today.

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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.