Latest Updates on Hurricane Michael's Impact on Travel

Update: October 12, 2018 at 9:30 a.m. ET

Tropical Storm Michael was moving away from the Southeast United States Friday and heading over the Atlantic Ocean after leaving a path of death and destruction in its wake.

While the storm was still registering maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour, the National Hurricane Center said all tropical storm and surge warnings have been dropped for the Florida Panhandle.

According to FlightAware.com as of 9:20 a.m. ET, over 650 flights were delayed in the United States Friday and another 180-plus flights were canceled so far.

In addition to flight operations resuming in impacted areas, airlines such as American, Delta and Southwest are sending aid and working with the Red Cross to assist people. Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport remains closed until clean-up efforts are completed.

Update: October 11, 2018 at 3:20 p.m. ET

The parade of flight delays and cancellations continues Thursday as Tropical Storm Michael makes its way through the Carolinas toward Virginia and the Atlantic Ocean.

According to FlightAware.com as of 3:10 p.m. ET, over 3,290 flights were delayed in the United States Thursday and another 870-plus flights were canceled. Over 60 flights have already been canceled for Friday.

Between American, Delta, Southwest and United, more than 1,550 flights were delayed Thursday.

Update: October 11, 2018 at 12:10 p.m. ET

After becoming the most powerful storm to hit the Florida Panhandle in recorded history, Tropical Storm is impacting Georgia and the Carolinas with winds reaching 50 miles per hour, up to seven inches of rain, flooding and even tornadoes through Thursday.

According to FlightAware.com as of 12:05 p.m. ET, over 1,750 flights were already delayed in the United States Thursday and another 650-plus flights were canceled.

American Airlines and its regional carriers, PSA Airlines and Republic Airline, continue to deal with the most cancellations, as they combined for over 350 of the abandoned flights. Southwest Airlines reported almost 300 flight delays.

Amtrak also continues to modify service to and from Florida through at least Thursday, with Amtrak Silver Star Trains 91 & 92 (New York – Miami) and Amtrak Palmetto Trains 89 & 90 (New York – Savannah) being impacted by the storm.

Update: October 11, 2018 at 6:40 a.m. ET

Former Hurricane Michael was downgraded to a tropical storm overnight, but the weather system will continue to cause havoc with damaging winds and flooding from northern Florida to Georgia, the Carolinas and southeastern Virginia Thursday.

Tropical Storm Michael is then expected to move off the coast of North Carolina and Virginia as a tropical storm early Friday morning. CBS News is reporting at least two people have died as a result of the former hurricane.

Hurricane Michael tore off roofs as its powerful winds and devastating storm surge wreaked havoc in Panama City Beach, Florida https://t.co/5brvsg2Jfs pic.twitter.com/PtCuMUfvZV

— CNN (@CNN) October 11, 2018

According to FlightAware.com as of 6:30 a.m. ET, over 150 flights were already delayed in the United States Thursday and another 500-plus flights were canceled. American Airlines and its regional carrier PSA Airlines continue dealing with the most cancellations, as they combined for almost 300 of the abandoned flights.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina was the airport dealing with the most upheaval, with over 300 arrival or departure flight cancellations.

As for cruise passengers, at least eight different cruise ships have been forced to alter itineraries in the wake of the storm, impacting over 20,000 travelers. Companies forced to make changes include Carnival Cruise line, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International.

Update: October 10, 2018 at 9:40 p.m. ET

Hurricane Michael made landfall Wednesday at around noon near Mexico Beach, Florida, with maximum sustained winds of 155 miles per hour. The storm is now around 80 miles southwest of Macon, Georgia, and is moving northeastward as a Category 1 hurricane.

Hurricane #Michael has made landfall just northwest of Mexico Beach, Florida. The latest public advisory is available on the NHC website: https://t.co/fniXaEmxWe pic.twitter.com/s4X21XtdX1

— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) October 10, 2018

ABCNews.com is reporting one confirmed casualty from the storm and property damage is widespread along the Florida panhandle. Video from social media shows a devastated coastline:

Footage shot by a TV crew in Panama City gives a sense of the damage in the aftermath of #HurricaneMichael, the worst hurricane to hit the Florida Panhandle since the mid-1800s, according to FEMA officials. https://t.co/Xnj5eFo0zF pic.twitter.com/LI0IS4Ze6S

— ABC News (@ABC) October 10, 2018

New drone footage shows just how strong Hurricane Michael was when it tore through a high school basketball gym in Tallahassee, Florida https://t.co/qYFau5Ss1O pic.twitter.com/3iY3iKdJOM

— CNN (@CNN) October 11, 2018

According to FlightAware.com as of 9:30 p.m. ET, over 2,900 flights were delayed in the United States Wednesday and another 320-plus flights were canceled.

Over 200 flights originally scheduled for Thursday were also canceled.

American Airlines and its regional carrier PSA Airlines were facing the most cancellations Thursday with over 120 announced already.

Update: October 10, 2018 at 3:40 p.m. ET

Hurricane Michael made landfall in Florida Wednesday with maximum sustained of 155 miles per hour, making it the most powerful hurricane to hit the United States mainland in nearly 50 years.

WATCH: Destroyed homes in Mexico Beach, FL #HurricaneMichael (Vid: talarico.tessa / IG) pic.twitter.com/Oa9nPkbtGa

— Joel Franco (@OfficialJoelF) October 10, 2018

The roof of a hotel collapsed as ABC News was doing a live report in Panama City #HurricaneMichael pic.twitter.com/MSIUFxtwBe

— Joel Franco (@OfficialJoelF) October 10, 2018

According to FlightAware.com as of 3:15 p.m. ET, over 1,300 flights have been delayed in the United States Wednesday and another 300-plus flights have been outright canceled. Delta, American and Southwest were impacted most by the storm.

In addition to the closures of Tallahassee International Airport, Northwest Florida Beaches Airport, Destin Fort Walton Beach Airport and Pensacola International Airport, many local roads in impacted areas have also been closed.

Travelers are on notice as Hurricane Michael intensified into an extremely dangerous Category 4 storm overnight and is heading for landfall along the Florida Panhandle Wednesday.

According to Weather.com, the National Hurricane Center revealed Michael is likely to cause life-threatening storm surge along impacted coastlines, bring heavy rain that causes flash flooding and sustain maximum wind speeds of 145 miles per hour.

Menacing high resolution satellite imagery from the Gulf this morning... Major Hurricane #Michael is approx. 80 miles away from Panama City, FL and landfall is expected early this afternoon. Maximum sustained winds are currently 145 miles per hour (category 4) #HurricaneMichael pic.twitter.com/tAYIJ9aqhR

— Weather World (@WeatherWorldPSU) October 10, 2018

For cruise passengers, the storm is forcing lines to alter itineraries. Carnival Cruise Line has changed the originally planned courses of several ships, including the Carnival Miracle, Carnival Paradise, Carnival Glory, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Triumph and Carnival Victory.

Royal Caribbean’s Empress of the Seas was also caught in the hurricane near Cuba, and a passenger onboard shared a 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

Rail travelers will also have to deal with delays and cancellations as Amtrak is modifying service to Florida, including adjusting the schedules for The Silver Star line and The Palmetto line. Amtrak will waive additional charges for impacted customers changing their reservations.

Airlines are also feeling the impact of Hurricane Michael, as carriers have started canceling flights and continue issuing waivers for impacted travelers. According to FlightAware.com, 240 flights were canceled in the United States Wednesday and another 329 were delayed.

Due to #HurricaneMichael, flights in your area could be delayed and possibly cancelled. Please continue to check the status of your flight with your airline. You can also check the status of major airports at https://t.co/TUgXxG0jZc. #FlySafe #TravelSafe https://t.co/GfBQTE5LF4

— The FAA (@FAANews) October 9, 2018

Travelers looking to see if their airline is offering waivers as a result of the storm, here is a full list of carriers waiving change fees:

Allegiant Air

­—Travel advisory lasts through October 12 and applies to airports in Destin, Florida; Gulfport, Mississippi; Jacksonville, Florida; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; and Savannah, Georgia

American Airlines

—Travel advisory lasts through October 11 and applies to airports in Destin/Fort Walton Beach, Florida; Mobile, Alabama; Panama City, Florida; Pensacola, Florida; and Tallahassee, Florida.

Delta Air Lines

—Travel advisory lasts through October 11 and applies to airports in Albany, Georgia; Augusta, Georgia; Dothan, Georgia; Fort Walton Beach, Florida; Mobile, Alabama; Panama City, Florida; Pensacola, Florida; Tallahassee, Florida; and Valdosta, Georgia

To prepare for Hurricane Michael’s landfall, we’ve waived baggage fees and capped fares to help impacted customers. https://t.co/XpCh4koUxM

— Delta (@Delta) October 9, 2018

Frontier Airlines

—Travel advisory lasts through October 11 and applies to airports in Pensacola, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Birmingham, Alabama; and Tampa, Florida.

Southwest Airlines

—Travel advisory lasts through October 13 and applies to airports in Tampa, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; New Orleans, Louisiana; Panama City, Florida; Pensacola, Florida; Charleston, South Carolina; Norfolk, Virginia; and Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina.

United Airlines

—Travel advisory lasts through October 11 and applies to airports in Mobile, Alabama; Atlanta, Georgia; Savannah, Georgia; Fort Walton Beach, Florida; Pensacola, Florida; Panama City, Florida; Charleston, South Carolina; Columbia, South Carolina; Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina; and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.