Tropical Storm Nicole already disrupting travel: 2 Orlando airports close

Just a little more than a month after Hurricane Ian devastated parts of southwest Florida, the area is bracing for another major weather event. Tropical Storm Nicole is heading toward the Bahamas and is expected to hit eastern Florida by Wednesday night.

In preparation, two Orlando airports, including Orlando International Airport (MCO), have announced Wednesday closures. The Orlando Airport announced Tuesday afternoon that it will cease commercial flights at 4 p.m. EST tomorrow, Nov. 9, for an unknown period.

Airport closures so far: 2 Orlando airports

Operational Update – Tropical Storm Nicole
Together with our partners, a decision has been made to cease commercial operations at 4:00pm on Wednesday, November 9th, until circumstances permit operations resume.

— Orlando International Airport (@MCO) November 8, 2022

Additionally, Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB) will close tomorrow at 2 p.m.; it’s anticipated to reopen Thursday, airport officials announced in a press release.

“Specific reopening details will be released as more information becomes available,” according to the release.

Other closures: Parts of Disney World and cruises

Although Disney World started announcing specific resort closures ahead of Nicole earlier Tuesday, those appear to have been rescinded for now.

Initially, the Orlando-based theme park had said Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, Copper Creek Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa and the Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort would close tomorrow through Friday, Nov. 11.

However, as of late Tuesday, it appears that only The Walt Disney World Water Parks and Miniature Golf locations will shut down temporarily on Nov. 10, per their website.

Additionally, at least three cruise lines rerouted ships in the Caribbean and the Bahamas from their original destination of Florida.

Bottom line

Tropical Storm #Nicole Advisory 7: Nicole Intensifying and Expected to Become a Hurricane On Wednesday. New Tropical Storm and Storm Surge Watches Issued. https://t.co/tW4KeFW0gB

— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) November 8, 2022

The National Weather Service issued a Tropical Storm Watch for Orange and Osceola Counties, which includes Orlando. As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, NWS expects Nicole to progress to a hurricane tomorrow, moving west toward the Bahamas at 10 miles per hour, with sustained winds of 65 miles per hour.

By Wednesday evening at the latest, NWS predicts Nicole will hit Florida’s southeastern and east-central coast as a hurricane, and tropical storm conditions in Florida and Georgia will begin earlier in the day.

Hurricane conditions are expected across portions of the coast of southeast and east-central FL beginning late Wed or Wed night, where a Hurricane Warning has been issued. Tropical storm conditions are expected in the Tropical Storm Warning areas in FL and GA beginning early Wed. pic.twitter.com/4f12m0nouY

— National Weather Service (@NWS) November 8, 2022

This story will continue to be updated.