Tropical Weather Update: DeSantis Declares State of Emergency, MCO Issues Update for Travelers

Latest Update: 9/30/22 8:57 pm EDT – Disney World Theme Parks Return to Normal Operation Saturday

Published: 9/23/22 5:16 pm EDT
Previous Updates – 9/23/22
11:13 pm EDT – Tropical Storm Ian Forms, Category 2 Hurricane Now Expected to Reach Disney World Area
Previous Updates – 9/24/22
9:37 am EDT – Tropical Storm Ian Grows, Disney World County Starts Storm Prep
11:25 am EDT – Path Moves Slightly West, Cape Canaveral Begins Preparations
5:22 pm EDT – Ian to Become Category 4 Hurricane, DeSantis Expands State of Emergency
11:26 pm EDT – Ian to Become Hurricane Sunday, Biden Cancels Disney World Visit
Previous Updates – 9/25/22
8:45 am EDT – Ian Still Tropical Storm, Still Moving West
11:45 am EDT – Path to Panhandle Narrows, Disney World Still at Risk
5:41 pm EDT – TS Ian Still Low and Slow, But Some Tracks Stay Over Disney World
11:33 pm EDT – Topical Storm Ian Building Strength, Turning Closer to Disney World
Previous Updates: 9/26/22
9:00 am EDT – Hurricane Ian Forms in Caribbean – Disney World Weekly Forecast
11:39 am EDT – Hurricane Ian Strengthens, Disney World Under Tropical Storm Watch
5:34 pm EDT – Hurricane Ian Now Category 2, Could Still Hit Disney World
11:25 pm EDT – Ian Expected to Become Major Hurricane, Disney Theme Parks Still Opening
Previous Updates: 9/27/22
8:45 am EDT – Ian Now a Category 3, Disney World Still Open Today
11:34 am EDT – Ian Still Cat 3, Disney World Under Hurricane Watch
5:43 pm EDT – Hurricane Ian Eyes Orlando, Disney World Confirms Multi-Day Park Closure
11:27 pm EDT – Hurricane Ian Set to Make Landfall, Still Locked on Disney World Area
Previous Update: 9/28/22
8:43 am EDT – Hurricane Ian Nearing Cat 5 Strength – Disney World Weather Update
12:38 pm EDT – Disney World Guests Hunker Down as Hurricane Ian Makes Landfall
6:02 pm EDT – Hurricane Ian Makes Landfall, Passing Through Disney World Area Tonight
11:30 pm EDT – Storm Center Moves into Disney World County
Previous Updates: 9/29/22
9:03 am EDT – VIDEO: Record Flooding Hits Central Florida — Disney World Status Update
12:20 pm EDT – Ian Leaving Florida, But Storm Still Rages in Orlando Area
7:10 pm EDT – Disney World, Disney Cruise Line Assess Damage Reopening Plans
Previous Updates: 9/30/22
8:47 am EDT – Storm has Passed – Disney World, Universal, MCO Begin Reopening
12:34 pm EDT – Post-Storm Update: Crowds Return to Parks, Disney World Weekend Weather Forecast

 

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for dozens of Florida counties, including one of Disney World’s, as the growing storm keeps its sights on the Sunshine State.

The latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) still shows most of the Florida Peninsula in the “Cone of Uncertainty,” but it appears that the median track has shifted to the northwest, putting landfall closer to the mouth of Tampa Bay than Naples. Still designated at “Tropical Depression 9” right now, it is expected to become “Tropical Storm Ian” by noon tomorrow.

A hurricane watch has been issued for the Cayman Islands, while Jamaica sits under a Tropical Storm Watch. Again, the direct effect on Disney Cruise Line Caribbean Cruises remains unclear at this time. The storm is still expected to reach the strength of a Category 3 Hurricane, with sustained winds of 115 mph before it potentially makes landfall in Florida.

NHC has issued a full advisory; Here's a look at the latest stats; pic.twitter.com/Muizn5wpui

— Eric Burris (@EricBurrisWESH) September 23, 2022

According to WESH 2,

“The governor’s office said the declaration will make resources and support available to Floridians, as well as allocate funding for emergency protective measures.

Members of the Florida National Guard will be activated and on standby under this emergency order.”

“The severity and track of Tropical Depression 9 will continue to evolve. Because of this and the potential for dangerous storm surge, heavy rainfall, strong winds, flash flooding, and the potential for isolated tornadic activity,” the governor’s office wrote. “Governor DeSantis issued the State of Emergency for the following 24 counties.” Gov. DeSantis issued this state of emergency before the National Hurricane Center released its 5:00 pm advisory.

The counties now under the State of Emergency include:

• Brevard
• Broward
• Charlotte
• Collier
• DeSoto
• Glades
• Hardee
• Hendry
• Highlands
• Hillsborough
• Indian River
• Lee
• Manatee
• Martin
• Miami-Dade
• Monroe
• Okeechobee
• Osceola
• Palm Beach
• Pasco
• Pinellas
• Polk
• Sarasota
• St. Lucie

Preparation activity is also underway at Orlando International Airport as the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority puts pre-storm procedures in motion at MCO and the Executive Airport.

WESH2 Reports, “Airport partners and airlines are planning to hold briefings in accordance to pre-storm procedure and authorities could also activate the hurricane emergency response plan.”

It should also be mentioned that this storm will no longer be called “Hermine.” The NHC reports that a separate system off the coast of Africa has developed faster and beat our storm to the name. This additional storm will have no effect on Florida.

Love how they say… 'but in the eastern Atlantic'… https://t.co/TkFXhEqvae

— Eric Burris (@EricBurrisWESH) September 23, 2022

We at Disney Fanatic will continue to hold out hope that the storm continues to veer west of the State, and we continue to advise all would-be Walt Disney World Guests and Disney Cruise Line Passengers, as well as Universal Orlando Resort Guests, to stay up-to-date for any updates or cancellations to your vacation come in. We will also update our readers if any public statements are issued by either group.

While the projections seem pretty confident, there are still a lot of unknowns at this stage. We will be back with the next update from the National Hurricane Center at 11:00 pm EDT tonight and how it can affect your Disney Cruise Line and Disney World Vacation.

Previous Coverage

• Tropical Weather Update: Hurricane Likely to Hit Florida as Category 3
• Storm Update: Hurricane Likely to Form, Head for Florida
• Going to Disney World Next Week? Might Want to Start Watching the Weather