S. Florida sees canceled flights, high surf
Hurricane Florence has made traveling by air a nightmare for travelers and flight crews, with airports forced to make a slew of cancellations all the way to South Florida.
As the massive storm closed in on North Carolina on Thursday, it also was disrupting life in Florida. Here are some ways:
Canceled flights
Many airports were reporting numerous flights canceled, including at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Miami International Airport.
More cancellations are expected today, and airport officials are urging passengers to check with their airline for more detailed flight information.
In Fort Lauderdale, 10 flights had been canceled as of 5 p.m. Thursday, the airport said. It also had 41 delayed flights, with some more than two hours long.
“We expect the number to grow,” said airport spokesman Greg Meyer. “Everything depends on the trajectory of the storm. They’re taking all the aircraft out of these airports in Myrtle Beach and Charleston and other airports in the direct path of the hurricane.”
In Miami, nine flights were canceled Thursday but there were no delays, said MIA spokesman Greg Chin.
“We only had four inbound and five outbound flights canceled,” Chin said. “The flights were [coming and going] from Charleston, S.C, and Norfolk, Va.”
Evacuees arrive in Florida
With the threat of Florence, some East Coast residents evacuated to Florida, making reservations on the fly.
Meredith Maki is a travel agent who runs Inspirely Travel in Charleston, S.C., which specializes in Disney vacations.
She decided to evacuate to Florida with her family. She’s staying in Orlando’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, caring for her baby, with her husband, their older two sons and two dogs. “Everything that’s important to us is in this cabin,” Maki said.
Beaches and piers
South Florida’s coastal conditions were expected to start deteriorating, with the National Weather Service predicting rough surf, strong rip currents and beach erosion.
The seas should be at their roughest today, with swells reaching up to 8 feet off Palm Beach County and up to 6 feet off Broward and Miami-Dade, said meteorologist Barry Baxter with the National Weather Service in Miami. The seas should drop down to 4 feet or less on Saturday as Florence weakens and moves over land.
Higher swells are expected to reach South Florida, increasing the chances for beach erosion, especially along the Palm Beach County coast, which juts out the farthest east in the state.
“If it stalls before shore, that could add an additional day to the swells we’re getting,” said Andy Studt, Palm Beach County’s interim coastal resources manager.
Surf and riptides
Despite the dangers posed by the rougher seas, many surfers and other water sport enthusiasts in South Florida are preparing for what they hope will be a few good days of riding the waves.
Wind and rain
Florence is expected to stay north of Florida, which will keep heavy rains away from the state, and it should stay far enough away that lessens the effect of wind, too.
There’s a 20 percent chance or less that portions of Northern and Central Florida will experience tropical storm force winds of 39 mph or more.
There is a coastal flood advisory in effect for the Jacksonville area until 8 p.m. Friday. That is due to a combination of the higher seas caused by Florence and the seasonal king tides now taking place.
Animals
One bunny, 14 dogs and 22 cats and kittens are now out of harm’s way thanks to animal rescuers who made the eighthour drive from South Carolina to Dania Beach.
The Humane Society of Broward County also took in 26 dogs from a shelter in Puerto Rico fretting over Tropical Storm Isaac.
Most of the animals were available for adoption as of Thursday and five dogs had already found homes, said Mary Steffen, director of operations at the shelter.
“Three were from South Carolina and two from Puerto Rico,” Steffen said. “We also have a 110-pound mastiff named El Chapo. He has a hold on him for a dog meet for tomorrow morning. He’s beautiful.”
The Humane Society, located at 2070 Griffin Road one block west of Interstate 95, will likely take in more shelter pets after the storm, Steffen said.
“Wings of Rescue has already contacted us about that,” Steffen said. “Everyone is sitting tight right now and then they’ll reassess. But we’ll be available.”