Severe storms cause ground stop at Orlando International Airport, leading to delays & cancellations

Raphael Pires
·1 min read

Strong storms caused travel troubles for many at Orlando International Airport on Tuesday.

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People who showed up to the airport around 6 p.m. found screens displaying “Tornado Warning” and a ground stop that lasted several hours.

“It is a little concerning just because I’m not used to the whole tornado thing, we have them occasionally in Virginia, but it’s not like Florida.” said Heidi Cruz, who was at the airport trying to fly to Washington D.C.

Read: Temperatures rise and fall as more storms head our way for the weekend

Cruz was in Orlando for her daughter’s soccer event.

Her flight was delayed two hours, but she said it’s better to be safe than sorry.

“I’d rather get home safely more than anything,” said Cruz.

Read: Weather Alert Day: Tornado, severe thunderstorms warnings expire

The airport experienced major delays and at least 56 cancellations.

Dan Womack was at MCO to pick up someone flying in from Denver. However, that flight got rerouted to Jacksonville to wait out the storm.

Womack told us the flight eventually made it to MCO about 3 hours later than expected.

“They’ve had a long day,” said Womack.

Read: Tornado slams Florida Panhandle, leaves path of destruction

This photo provided by Bay County Sheriff's Office shows storm damage around around Panama City Beach, Fla., in Bay County, early Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024. A sprawling storm has hit the South with strong thunderstorms and tornado warnings that blew roofs off homes and tossed about furniture in the Florida Panhandle and brought cities across the Midwest to a standstill with more than half of foot of snow. (Bay County Sheriff's Office via AP)
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
A house is damaged after a storm passed the area on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024 in Panama City, Fla. A sprawling storm hit the South with tornado warnings and high winds that blew roofs off homes, flipped over campers and tossed about furniture in Florida on Tuesday. Another storm brought cities across the Midwest to a standstill with more than half a foot of snow, stranding people on highways as it headed to the Northeast. (Richmon Moore via AP)
This photo provided by Bay County Sheriff's Office shows storm damage around around Panama City Beach, Fla., in Bay County, early Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024. A sprawling storm has hit the South with strong thunderstorms and tornado warnings that blew roofs off homes and tossed about furniture in the Florida Panhandle and brought cities across the Midwest to a standstill with more than half of foot of snow. (Bay County Sheriff's Office via AP)
This photo provided by Bay County Sheriff's Office shows storm damage around around Panama City Beach, Fla., in Bay County, early Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024. A sprawling storm has hit the South with strong thunderstorms and tornado warnings that blew roofs off homes and tossed about furniture in the Florida Panhandle and brought cities across the Midwest to a standstill with more than half of foot of snow. (Bay County Sheriff's Office via AP)
This photo provided by Bay County Sheriff's Office shows storm damage around around Panama City Beach, Fla., in Bay County, early Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024. A sprawling storm has hit the South with strong thunderstorms and tornado warnings that blew roofs off homes and tossed about furniture in the Florida Panhandle and brought cities across the Midwest to a standstill with more than half of foot of snow. (Bay County Sheriff's Office via AP)
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
This photo provided by Bay County Sheriff's Office shows storm damage around around Panama City Beach, Fla., in Bay County, early Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024. A sprawling storm has hit the South with strong thunderstorms and tornado warnings that blew roofs off homes and tossed about furniture in the Florida Panhandle and brought cities across the Midwest to a standstill with more than half of foot of snow. (Bay County Sheriff's Office via AP)
This photo provided by Bay County Sheriff's Office shows storm damage around around Panama City Beach, Fla., in Bay County, early Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024. A sprawling storm has hit the South with strong thunderstorms and tornado warnings that blew roofs off homes and tossed about furniture in the Florida Panhandle and brought cities across the Midwest to a standstill with more than half of foot of snow. (Bay County Sheriff's Office via AP)
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
This photo provided by Bay County Sheriff's Office shows storm damage around around Panama City Beach, Fla., in Bay County, early Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024. A sprawling storm has hit the South with strong thunderstorms and tornado warnings that blew roofs off homes and tossed about furniture in the Florida Panhandle and brought cities across the Midwest to a standstill with more than half of foot of snow. (Bay County Sheriff's Office via AP)
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
They Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
They Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
They Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
They Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
Storms left a path of destruction across the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office shared images of storm destruction from the Florida Panhandle.

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