Hurricane Michael Impacting Travel as it Aims for Gulf Coast

Update: October 9, 2018 at 4:10 p.m. ET

Travelers continue to keep a close eye on Hurricane Michael as it churns toward the panhandle of Florida and is projected to become a Category 3 storm before making landfall.

Cruise passengers should be paying extra attention to the storm, as several cruise ships were forced to alter itineraries in response to the hurricane. For Carnival Cruise Line, the routes were changed for the Carnival Miracle, Carnival Paradise, Carnival Glory and Carnival Freedom.

As for the Carnival Triumph and Carnival Victory, they will be sailing reverse itineraries.

Royal Caribbean’s Empress of the Seas was also caught in the storm near Cuba, and passengers onboard shared video on social media of the storm impacting the voyage:

Live look: @RoyalCaribbean’s #EmpressoftheSeas chasing #HurricaneMichael around #Cuba. Arrival to #Havana severely delayed.@CruiseCritic @weatherchannel @SAWeatherServic @bbcweather @breakingweather @TheWeatherStn #tropicalstormmichael #storm #caribbean #lightning #cruiseship pic.twitter.com/52vK6tUjNX

— Snapper Tams (@SnapperTams) October 9, 2018

For tourists and residents along the Gulf Coast, mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for around 12,000 people, including people in Panama City Beach and other low-lying areas.

HRRR expects the eye to become well defined and clear ...
Water vapor forecast imagery shows a major / catastrophic #HurricaneMichael pic.twitter.com/BWXOVqu33b

— Ryan Maue | weathermodels.com (@RyanMaue) October 9, 2018

FLORIDA - It is imperative that you heed the directions of your State and Local Officials. Please be prepared, be careful and be SAFE! #HurricaneMichael https://t.co/VP6PBXfzm9 pic.twitter.com/aKmaDNgZve

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 9, 2018

Airlines continue to issue waivers for impacted travelers as Hurricane Michael strengthened into a Category 2 storm and continued moving toward the Florida panhandle Tuesday.

According to the New York Times, the hurricane was measured with maximum sustained winds of 100 miles per hour and located around 395 miles south of Panama City. Forecasters believe the storm will be a major hurricane when it makes landfall in Florida Wednesday.

#HurricaneMichael
•Cat 2
•100 mph max sustained winds
•395 miles S of Panama City, FL
•Moving NNW at 12 mph
•State of emergency for 35 FL counties
•Mandatory evacuations for 120K+ around Panama City Beach
•Apx 60% of storms that have made landfall in US in Oct have hit FL pic.twitter.com/KmFcMaFCSF

— Fox News Research (@FoxNewsResearch) October 9, 2018

The National Hurricane Center said Michael could make landfall as a Category 3 storm between the Alabama-Florida border and Mississippi-Alabama border, but will then turn northeast and move over the Atlantic Ocean Thursday night.

Florida Governor Rick Scott also issued a state of emergency for 26 counties.

As for the airlines that are waiving change fees, top carriers such as American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest and United have implemented flexible rebooking policies for customers scheduled to fly to or from several cities in the storm's path this week.

Due to the forecasted path of Hurricane Michael we've issued a travel waiver. View more info. here: https://t.co/eONnwkITrz

— Delta (@Delta) October 8, 2018

Impacted travelers are being advised to call their airlines or travel agents.

Several airports along the Gulf Coast have started canceling flights ahead of the storm, with Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport in Florida even announcing it will close indefinitely Wednesday at 12:01 a.m. ET until the storm has passed.

The Airport will CLOSE and cease all operations starting on Wednesday, October 10 at 12:01 a.m. due to the impacts of Hurricane Michael. The airport will remain closed until further updates are provided.

Please check DIRECTLY with your airline regarding all flight information. pic.twitter.com/qMJ7rVlqu5

— Destin-Ft Walton Beach Airport (@FlyVPS) October 8, 2018