The Orlando International Airport is closely monitoring Hurricane Milton as the storm, which is currently at Category 4 strength, heads toward the west coast of Florida.

In a press release on Monday, October 7, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) stated that it has activated its Emergency Operations Center to a “Level 2” and begun pre-storm procedures ahead of Hurricane Milton’s anticipated landfall on Wednesday, October 9.

As of 11 a.m. on Monday, the National Hurricane Center stated that Hurricane Milton is approximately 720 miles southwest of Tampa. The storm is heading east-southeast at 9 mph, with sustained winds of around 155 mph.

In an update on Monday morning, the National Hurricane Center stated that Hurricane Milton has reached Category 4 strength with sustained winds of around 155 miles per hour.
In an update on Monday morning, the National Hurricane Center stated that Hurricane Milton has reached Category 4 strength with sustained winds of around 155 miles per hour.

Hurricane Milton is expected to travel in an eastern-southeastern direction through Monday night, followed by a turn toward the east and northeast on Tuesday and Wednesday.

On the current forecast track, Milton is expected to move near the Yucatan Peninsula on Monday and Tuesday before crossing the eastern Gulf of Mexico. The storm will then approach the west coast of the Florida peninsula by Wednesday.

The National Hurricane Center states that Milton is expected to gain strength later in the day on Monday, likely reaching Category 5 strength with wind speeds exceeding 157 mph. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from Milton’s center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend up to 80 miles.

In anticipation of Milton’s impact, GOAA stated that its crew members are “going through their hurricane checklist and making plans to secure outdoor items, construction sites, and boarding bridges with safety as the top priority.”

Orlando International Airport (MCO) officials are currently holding briefings with other airlines and partners while activating GOAA’s hurricane emergency response plan. As of Monday morning, MCO remains open and operational.

Passengers are encouraged to check with their airlines, since delays and cancellations are expected due to Hurricane Milton.

For more information, visit the Federal Aviation Administration’s National Airspace System Status webpage.