Tropical Storm Nicole has produced storm warnings in the Bahamas and will shut down airlines in Orlando this afternoon.
“Hurricane conditions and a dangerous storm surge are expected in portions of the northwestern Bahamas today, where a Hurricane Warning is in effect,” the National Hurricane Center (NHC) predicted. By this evening, these hurricane conditions are expected to reach the coast of southeast and east-central Florida, accompanied by a dangerous storm surge along most of the state’s east coast and parts of coastal Georgia.
In light of these storm projections, airport officials decided yesterday, in coordination with airline partners, that Orlando International Airport (MCO) would cease all commercial operations at 4 p.m. on November 9, according to the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA).
GOAA also said that staff members at MCO are currently preparing the curbside and gates for the storm, tying down passenger bridges, and removing debris. They are also tracking the storm through ongoing communication with the National Weather Service and NHC.
Some staff members will remain inside MCO as a “ride-out-crew” tasked with addressing any damage that may occur and helping prepare the airport to resume operations when circumstances allow, the GOAA explained.
Spirit Airlines, which is based in Miramar, Florida, said that it would waive change fees and fare differences for Fort Lauderdale and Miami flights through November 14 and Orlando flights through November 16, NBC News reported. The budget carrier said it would continue waiving change fees after that but that passengers would have to pay the difference in fare.
Fees have also been waived for travelers affected by the storm by JetBlue — which has a large operation in Fort Lauderdale — as well as other airlines like Southwest, American, and Delta.
The storm is threatening the state about a month and a half after Hurricane Ian slammed into Florida as a Category 4 storm, causing severe damage in the Fort Meyers and Naples areas and other parts of its Gulf Coast, The Dallas Express previously reported.
U.S. President Joe Biden declared a major disaster for the state, as thousands of Floridians were placed in emergency shelters after their homes were damaged or destroyed, and thousands more remained without power.
Biden called it “an American crisis.” He explained, “We’re just beginning to see the scale of that destruction. It is likely to rank among the worst in the nation’s history. You have all seen on television homes and property wiped out. It is going to take months, years, to rebuild.”
Indeed, with unrepaired coastal roads and beaches now threatened by Nicole’s imminent arrival, some have warned that these areas may be especially vulnerable to further damage.
Airlines are also still reeling from Hurricane Ian. As NBC News reported, the last storm cost Spirit almost $15 million through the fourth quarter due to lower bookings and canceled flights.
