On Monday, Hurricane Debby hit the Big Bend coast of Florida as a Category 1 storm, leading to the cancellation or delay of thousands of flights.
As of Monday morning, flight tracker FlightAware reports that over 1,300 flights have been canceled and 1,800 more have been delayed in, into, or out of the United States. The majority of these disruptions have occurred at Orlando International Airport (MCO), where 20 percent of scheduled flights have been canceled and an additional 14 percent have been delayed.
Disruptions were also experienced by Tampa International Airport (TPA), Miami International Airport (MIA), and Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT).
Out of all the airlines, American Airlines took the biggest hit with more than 370 flight cancellations, which accounted for 10% of its entire schedule. Southwest came in second, canceling more than 240 flights, while Delta canceled more than 130 flights.
Over the weekend, over 3,800 flights were canceled, and an incredible 19,000 flights were delayed, leading to numerous flight issues.
Several major airlines in the United States, including Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, and Spirit Airlines, have issued travel alerts. These alerts allow passengers to postpone their travel plans without incurring any change fees or fare differences.
Hurricane Debby has reportedly hit Florida’s Gulf Coast, disrupting flights, according to The Associated Press. The storm has brought 80 mph maximum sustained winds and is predicted to move slowly north across the northern part of Florida. It is also expected to stall over coastal Georgia and South Carolina, further affecting travel plans.
Governors Ron DeSantis of Florida, Brian Kemp of Georgia, and Henry McMaster of South Carolina have declared a state of emergency in their respective states. The declaration covers 61 counties in Florida and the entire states of Georgia and South Carolina.
The Atlantic hurricane season is predicted to be “above-normal” this year, and Hurricane Debby has already become the fourth named storm of the season.