Travel Alert July 2020: Hurricane Isaias to Impact Bahamas and Affect the East Coast of the United States

If the Bahamas and the east coast of the United States are in your travel plans over the next few days, you may want to consider delaying your travel — or, at least, keep yourself updated as to the latest information pertaining to the weather — due to Hurricane Isaias, of which landfall is likely, as the eye is forecast to pass over Andros Island of the Bahamas on the morning of Saturday, August 1, 2020.

Travel Alert July 2020: Hurricane Isaias to Impact Bahamas and Affect the East Coast of the United States

Source: National Hurricane Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States.

Maximum sustained winds of this storm — which is currently centered approximately 250 miles southeast of Nassau and is currently moving northwest at 16 miles per hour — are 75 miles per hour, which means that this storm is currently a minimal Category 1 hurricane.

Hurricane Isaias may vacillate in strength as it tracks along the east coast of the United States — but it is not forecast to strengthen beyond a Category 1 hurricane. Although landfall may not occur in the United States until possibly somewhere on the coast of southeastern North Carolina during the late afternoon of Monday, August 3, 2020, the east coast of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina can expect flash flooding from up to ten inches of heavy rain, locally damaging winds of at least 39 miles per hour with gusts up to 80 miles per hour at times, rough surf, a storm surge, and electric power outages.

Hurricane warnings have been issued for the Bahamas — including Nassau, Freeport, and the Abacos Islands, where hurricane conditions are expected into tomorrow, Saturday, August 1, 2020.

Tropical storm warnings are in effect for parts of southeastern Florida — including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach; while a hurricane watch has been issued for portions of eastern Florida from north of Deerfield Beach to the border between Volusia County and Brevard County.

Flight Waivers, Delays and Cancellations

If you are traveling to or from the Bahamas or the east coast of the United States over the next few days, expect delays and cancellations of flights. Keep up to date on the latest information pertaining to this tropical weather system which may adversely affect your travel plans. Better yet, postponing or canceling your trip might be a better option — no matter which mode of travel you plan on taking.

If you have a flight scheduled, your flight may be delayed or canceled — and you may be eligible for a waiver of a fee to change your itinerary.

Here are six airlines which have issued travel alerts — or are at least monitoring the storm — as a result of this tropical weather system:

• American Airlines has issued travel alerts for eight cities in four countries and territories in the Caribbean for Wednesday, July 29, 2020 through Friday, July 31, 2020; and Friday, July 31, 2020 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
• Delta Air Lines has issued travel alerts for:
  • Six cities in four countries and territories in the Caribbean for Wednesday, July 29, 2020 through Friday, July 31, 2020; and Monday, August 3, 2020 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
  • Seven cities in Florida for Saturday, August 1, 2020 through Sunday, August 2, 2020; and Wednesday, August 5, 2020 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
• Southwest Airlines has issued travel alerts for Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach for Saturday, August 1, 2020 through Sunday, August 2, 2020; and Saturday, August 15, 2020 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
• JetBlue Airways has issued travel alerts for:
  • Ten cities in four countries and territories in the Caribbean for Thursday, July 30, 2020 through Friday, July 31, 2020; and Monday, August 3, 2020 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
  • Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach for Saturday, August 1, 2020 through Sunday, August 2, 2020; and Wednesday, August 5, 2020 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
• Frontier Airlines has issued travel alerts for Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and West Palm Beach for Saturday, August 1, 2020 through Sunday, August 2, 2020; and Saturday, August 15, 2020 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
• Spirit Airways has issued travel alerts for:
  • Five cities in three countries in the Caribbean for Thursday, July 30, 2020 through Friday, July 31, 2020; and Thursday, August 13, 2020 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
  • Fort Lauderdale for Saturday, August 1, 2020; and Saturday, August 8, 2020 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.

Summary

Expect more travel alerts to be issued by more airlines for the east coast of the United States as this tropical system progresses over the coming days.

Be sure to contact your airline or transportation provider for the latest information pertaining to your travels — if they are adversely affected — and please: travel safely.

Source: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the Department of Commerce of the United States.