Major Hurricane Milton has exploded into a Category 4 storm, and with the dangerous storm forecast to track close to Tampa, TPA is suspending operations.
Tampa International Airport will suspend all commercial and cargo operations beginning at 9am on Tuesday, October 8, 2024 ahead of Hurricane Milton, with the Airport remaining closed to the public until it can assess any damage after the storm.
The Airport and its partners used the time ahead of the suspension to prepare the airfield and terminals, including the securing of jet bridges, ground equipment and any remaining aircraft before the storm arrives. The three other public airports managed by the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority – Peter O. Knight, Tampa Executive and Plant City Airports – will also close in a similar timeframe.
TPA, including the Main Terminal and Airsides, will not be open for public use and is not equipped to function as a shelter for people or vehicles. The Airport is in an “A” evacuation zone and will not be staffed to assist others with supplies or assistance, nor will emergency services be able to respond to calls or transport individuals to or from the Airport.
For the same reason, parking garages will also be closed to the public during the suspension of operations, and people are asked not to bring vehicles to the Airport for parking.
Travelers are urged to heed emergency management advisories and pay close attention to public safety alerts. Currently, Milton is forecast to bring potentially catastrophic storm surge, high winds and heavy rain to Tampa Bay and all of Florida's Gulf Coast.
The Airport anticipates reopening after a damage assessment that will begin as soon as it is safe to do so. TPA will closely coordinate the reopening of the Airport with its partners, including the Transportation Security Administration and airlines, based on roadway safety, facility readiness and staffing. Any changes to the timing will be promptly communicated.
Important reminders for passengers:
Please contact your airline for the latest flight information. TPA will announce if flight operations are affected by the storm, but airlines are responsible for their schedules.
Monitor the weather closely. Please stay up to date on forecasts for your area and any regions to which you may be traveling to or from.
Follow TPA social media for the latest updates. TPA's account on X (formerly Twitter), @FlyTPA, will be the place to find the latest updates.
TPA will notify the public of our timeline to reopen when the decision to do so safely has been made.
Hurricane Milton strengthened into a Category 2 Hurricane overnight and has exploded into a dangerous Category 4 Hurricane this morning.
There has been no change to the track and intensity forecast over Florida from earlier this morning, bringing an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds for portions of the west coast of the Florida Peninsula beginning Tuesday night or early Wednesday. Storm Surge and Hurricane Watches are now in effect for portions of the west coast of the Florida Peninsula and residents in that area should follow any advice given by local officials and evacuate if told to do so.
Areas of heavy rainfall will impact portions of Florida today well ahead of Milton, with heavy rainfall more directly related to the system expected later on Tuesday through Wednesday night. This rainfall will bring the risk of considerable flash, urban, and areal flooding, along with the potential for moderate to major river flooding.
The first Hurricane Watches have been posted along Florida’s west coast as millions of people across the region prepare for dangerous impacts from Hurricane Milton, such as a life-threatening storm surge, destructive winds and flooding rain.
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Florida's Gulf Coast from Chokoloskee to the mouth of the Suwanee River, including Tampa Bay.
A Storm Surge Watch was also issued for Florida's Gulf Coast from Flamingo northward to the Suwannee River, including Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay.
Tropical Storm Watches have also been issued for Florida's Gulf Coast.
Here in Central Florida county officials across the area are making urgent plans for the storm, school closures are being announced, shelters are opening, and more.
We urge you to stay informed and stay safe as Hurricane Milton approaches Florida.
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Yesterday, Sunday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and other state officials held a news conference on Sunday morning and said evacuations are likely, and time is running out to prepare for the eventual hurricane’s potentially deadly impacts.
Residents and visitors are being urged to plan now and prepare for the possible impacts from the storm. Residents should be taking this time to check emergency kits and family plans.
Yesterday, Saturday, Gov. DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 35 of Florida's 67 counties, now today at a press conference Gov. DeSantis has increased this to 51 counties ahead of the major storms arrival.
The following counties are now under a state of emergency ahead of Milton:
Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Glades, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie Sumter, Suwanee, Taylor, Union, and Volusia counties.
Gov. DeSantis assured the public that state officials closely monitoring are Tropical Storm Milton, which has the potential to become a devastating hurricane.and is urging residents and visitors to prepare.
He commented, "Current estimates forecast landfall sometime Wednesday afternoon—there is still time to prepare your homes, organize your disaster plan, and implement plans to keep yourself and your family safe."
"I urge Floridians to finalize your storm preparations now; enact your plan," Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie said. "I highly encourage you to evacuate. We are preparing, and I have the State Emergency Response Team preparing, for the largest evacuation that we have seen most likely since 2017 Hurricane Irma."
The state is also mobilizing state assets to supplement local governments in an unprecedented debris removal mission for areas that suffered damage from Hurricane Helene and are currently in the projected path of Milton.
Local debris sites are open 24/7, and there is hundreds of personnel on the ground assisting in removal.
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