Tropical Weather Update: Hurricane Likely to Hit Florida as Category 3

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Published: 9/23/22 11:42 am EDT
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The National Weather Service’s National Hurricane Center has released another update concerning the latest Tropical Depression, and, once again, we at Disney Fantastic are here to explain how this can affect those bound for or will find themselves at Walt Disney World Resort or aboard a Disney Cruise Line ship.

Here is what we know now: Tropical Depression 9 is expected to officially evolve into Tropical Storm Hermine later today, and it will most likely arrive on the west coast of Florida on the morning of Wednesday, September 28, as a Category 3 hurricane.

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

— Eric Burris (@EricBurrisWESH) September 23, 2022

Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, and the rest of Central Florida are still deep into the proverbial hurricane target range known as the “cone of uncertainty.” While the storm is still incredibly far off, and confidence in tracking is still rated as low, residents planning to stay in the area are advised to finish prepping for the storm’s arrival by Tuesday.

Okay, so Central Florida is in a cone… What does that mean?

Today? Confidence is low, so just keep tracking… Tomorrow, let's start thinking of the possibility of a storm next week.

As confidence in the forecast goes up, we can make preps if needed… pic.twitter.com/lDuC20N359

— Eric Burris (@EricBurrisWESH) September 23, 2022

The NHC is also tracking the storm to come close to the Cayman Islands either this Sunday or Monday before passing over the western tail of Cuba. This will potentially cut off Disney Cruise Line adventures from accessing Western Caribbean ports of call, and we advise any readers who are expecting to board a Disney Cruise Line ship and set sail from Port Canaveral or Miami over the next week to be on the lookout for advisories and last-minute changes.

Walt Disney World Resort is significantly inland from Florida’s Gulf Coast, and the terrain is known to quickly weaken storms. For instance, Hurricane Charley, in 2004, arrived to the Sunshine State as a Category 4 but had weakened to a Category 1 by the time it reached Central Florida. Walt Disney World is also one of–if not the–safest places in Florida to be during a hurricane with tested and proven protocols in place to keep all Guests safe and comfortable as the storm rages around them.

But, again, it is too soon to tell precisely how this will affect operations at Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, as well as Orlando International Airport. It is also unclear at this time just how fast we can expect the tropical cyclone to push its way completely through the state.

Newest update for Tropical Depression 9. Important to remember that the cone indicates where the center of the storm could make landfall. In this case, there is still a lot of uncertainty. Remember to not panic, but stay informed. We will be providing updates when available. pic.twitter.com/af35Al0G4W

— NWS Tampa Bay (@NWSTampaBay) September 23, 2022

We at Disney Fanatic will continue to keep our readers update on this storm as more developments come to light.

Previous Coverage: 

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