Hurricane Milton affecting some flights at Toronto Pearson airport
Hurricane Milton is already causing flight disruptions at Pearson International Airport in Toronto as it barrels towards Florida’s Gulf Coast.
The Category 4 storm is expected to make landfall in Tampa Bay sometime on Wednesday, less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc on the state and beyond.
Tampa International Airport announced it was suspending operations on Tuesday as the storm moves closer, with plans to reopen when it is “safe to do so.” Orlando International Airport, which is also in the hurricane’s path, made a similar announcement and will close Wednesday.
As a result, Pearson Airport said in a post to social media that flights to and from those locations will be affected.
“We're closely monitoring Hurricane Milton as it moves through the Yucatan Peninsula and heads toward Florida,” the airport said in a tweet.
It’s unclear how long the closures at Tampa and Orland airport will be in effect. Miami International Airport and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport -- neither of which are currently in the storm path -- remain open.
Milton grew to a Category 5 storm on Monday, but has since been downgraded to a Category 4.
The weather system could bring with it eight to 12 foot-storm surges and evacuation orders have been issued for communities along the coast.
A major hurricane has not made a direct hit on Tampa Bay since 1921 and U.S. President Joe Biden has approved an emergency declaration for the state.
In a Monday news conference, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor called Milton “the real deal.”
"If you want to take on Mother Nature, she wins 100% of the time," she said. The region is still reeling from Helene, which produced a wall of water up to 8 feet and left 12 people dead.
'Devastatingly powerful'
Although Milton has been downgraded to a Category 4 hurricane, CP24 meteorologist Bill Coulter said the storm is still “devastatingly powerful” and could be upgraded back to a Category 5 as it travels over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
“It's been downgraded, but it's really just pulled back a little bit. Storms of this magnitude often go through what’s called eyewall replacement… it wobbles, the winds tend to back off a little bit, and then it gets a redefined eye,” he said.
The storm is expected to dump as much as 450 millimetres of rain in some areas of Florida, Coulter said, noting that Toronto saw less than a quarter of that amount when the Don Valley Parkway flooded in in July. Wind gusts could also reach speeds of over 200 km/h.
“So with the rain, with a storm surge, with the winds, this is going to be devastating all up and down,” he said.
With files from The Associated Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Tracking Hurricane Milton: Canadian travel advisory issued, Florida governor warns 'time is running out'
U.S. forecasters are warning of destructive waves, devastating winds and flash floods through the week as Hurricane Milton makes its way from the Yucatan Peninsula toward Florida.
Meteorologist becomes emotional giving update on Hurricane Milton
A seasoned American meteorologist became emotional on air as he gave an update on a major hurricane, later suggesting the reason behind his strong reaction.
A U.S. physician has 1,500 patients waiting for her in Canada, but it's taking years to get through the red tape
An American family doctor is frustrated with what she says has been a challenging two-year-and-counting bureaucratic journey to be accepted into Canada.
'Extremely disappointed': Family of homicide victim storms out of courtroom as judge reads decision
Emotions boiled over after a judge acquitted two out of three defendants in a manslaughter case, while the third accused has since died.
Is it safe to buy from Temu and Shein? Here's what Canada says it's doing to try to protect consumers
As U.S. regulators push for an investigation into what they call 'deadly baby and toddler products' from foreign e-commerce sites, health officials in Canada say they haven't determined whether any laws or regulations have been broken.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Pierre Poilievre's dramatic side could become his undoing
In his column for CTVNews.ca, former NDP leader Tom Mulcair argues that the dramatic side to Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, and his tendency to 'play everything to the hilt,' could well become his undoing.
Baby Boomers are living longer than previous generations but have worse health, study finds
Baby Boomers may be expected to live longer than their predecessors, but a recent study has found that they are more likely to suffer from worse health than previous generations.
'They are just ruthless': Toronto senior loses $27,000 to roofing scam
A Toronto senior says she can’t believe that two roofers took advantage of her, despite knowing she was recently widowed and suffering from a painful disability.
B.C. couple offers Taylor Swift tickets to anyone who can find their missing dog
A B.C. couple is getting desperate – and creative – in their search for their missing dog.