UPDATE: National Hurricane Center Issues Tropical Storm Watch for Orlando

It’s time for another storm watch update in Orlando!

We’ve been tracking the recent storm progress, which is expected to fall around Disney World and Central Florida within the latter part of the week. While preparations are underway and the state has already issued a state of emergency declaration for dozens of Florida’s counties, there’s a new upgrade to the incoming severe weather you need to know about!

UPDATE: Potential Tropical Cyclone 9 has been upgraded to Tropical Storm Helene.

If you’ve been tracking the progress along with us as your Disney World vacation draws closer, new updates have been made to the severe weather we’re expecting soon. We’re well into hurricane season for Central Florida, where Disney World resides, and if you’re not terribly familiar with its unpredictable weather patterns during this section of the year, then allow us to catch you up to speed.

During the summer to early winter months in Central Florida, the weather conditions hold the potential to create just the right amount of chaos together to cause inclement weather and severe storms. Sometimes, those weather conditions are capable of becoming severe weather watches, warnings, and, yes, on occasion, turning into hurricanes and tropical storms.

As of the latest update issued by WESH news, as of 5AM on September 24th, the severe weather potential has increased to conditions right for a tropical storm. A tropical storm watch has been issued for the Orlando area, and a hurricane watch for the Gulf Coast has been issued.

Tropical storm watch posted for much of our area as of the 5am advisory.

This means that tropical storm conditions are possible.

Heads up friends- we'll be getting some nasty weather from PTC9… pic.twitter.com/gLzj7glWdP

— Eric Burris (@EricBurrisWESH) September 24, 2024

Additionally, Brian Shields, a local weatherman, has shared that the area in the Caribbean could be formed into what they’re potentially calling Hurricane Helene soon. According to the National Hurricane Center, Potential Tropical Cyclone 9 may become a hurricane before reaching the Gulf Coast on Thursday.

Good Morning!

FOR CENTRAL FLORIDA: The area in the Caribbean will be Helene soon. It will be a powerful Hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico by Thursday. (1/…) pic.twitter.com/4UFQUd1Dnd

— Brian Shields (@BrianWeather) September 24, 2024

So what does this watch really mean to us in or traveling to Orlando soon? This means that the conditions over the next 48 hours are such that we could see the cone forming for the storm pick up some steam and continue into tropical storm and eventual hurricane status as it hits landfall. However, from multiple meterologist projections, the landfall for the storm is expected to hit closer to the panhandle of Florida and not put Orlando right at the center. Most likely, the impact we will see from the storm in Central Florida will be gusty winds, dramatic rainfall, and thunderstorms from the outer bands of the storm pushing outward and reaching over the theme parks with some less than ideal weather conditions if you’re planning on visiting Disney World.

If you’re planning to visit Disney World this week, now is the time to prepare for the weather! You’ll want to be certain to have ALL of your rain gear with you, multiple changes of comfortable shoes, and continue to track your travel plans (and start forming a back up plan if you didn’t have one already).

We’ll continue to keep tracking the storms progress and any increases in severity that could impact your upcoming trip, so be sure to stay tuned with us at All Ears for the latest!

The National Hurricane Center Is Monitoring a Disturbance That Could Impact Disney World

Do you usually carry on with your plans for a Disney World vacation when severe weather strikes or do you prefer to move your vacation even if there’s a chance? Tell us your strategy in the comments below!