Irma Downgraded to Tropical Storm

After a destructive weekend in the Caribbean and Florida, Irma has been downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm, but it is still carving a path of destruction as it moves north.

Tropical Storm Irma made its way through the Tampa Bay area early Monday as a Category 1 storm after hitting the Florida Keys with winds of up 130 miles per hour, according to NBCNews.com.

Irma also left portions of cities like Miami and Fort Lauderdale submerged in water.

The National Hurricane Center said the storm is still producing wind gusts near to hurricane force, but they believe it will be downgraded to a tropical depression by Tuesday afternoon. Irma's current projected path would see it cross the eastern Florida Panhandle into southern Georgia on Monday afternoon before heading into eastern Alabama.

Weather forecasters are warning of possible tornadoes in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina through Monday night.

As for flights to airports in the region, operations are slowly getting back to normal. While Palm Beach International Airport is scheduled to reopen Monday at noon, officials from Miami International Airport said their facility would reopen Tuesday. The Ft. Lauderdale and Tampa International airports will remain closed Monday.

Tropical Storm Irma has already caused over 12,000 flights cancellations throughout the United States, including 8,000 in Florida alone, according to CNBC.com. Further cancellations are expected as the storm moves north to Georgia and the Carolinas.

Other major hubs like Hartsfield-Jackson-Atlanta International Airport are preparing for a direct hit from the weakened storm and are advising customers to check with their airline for possible delays and cancellations over the next two days.

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According to Reuters.com, Irma made landfall just months ahead of the busy winter travel season, with major tourist attractions like Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Legoland and SeaWorld all closed through Monday.

In addition, several major cruise lines including Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean have continued to cancel and revise sailings as a result of the storm. The cruise lines are offering impacted passengers credits and waivers for future sailings.

More Hurricane Irma Coverage

Irma's Toll on Caribbean Life, Infrastructure and Tourism

travAlliancemedia Caribbean and Latin America executive editor Brian Major broke down the structural, financial and emotional destruction in the region left behind by Hurricane Irma in an in-depth feature. Also, read a report on rebuilding efforts as Caribbean islands start to pick up the pieces.

A Post-Irma Guide to Vacationing in the Caribbean

The Caribbean Tourism Organization has provided an island-by-island status report throughout the Caribbean.

FEMA

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is looking for reservists, who work on a "temporary, on call and intermittent basis" to help with ongoing recovery efforts.

Travel Insurance

Wondering if your travel insurance will cover you in the case of Hurricane Irma? TravelPulse has all the information you need.

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