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CVG braces as Hurricane Matthew starts canceling flights to Florida, Georgia, Carolinas

CVG braces for canceled flights to Florida
Posted at 6:11 AM, Oct 06, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-06 13:03:48-04

HEBRON, Ky. -- As Hurricane Matthew barrels toward the Florida coastline, more than 2,500 flights nationwide have been canceled since Wednesday -- and they'll likely continue through Friday or longer, including at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

The storm is moving through the Caribbean Sea, and a mandatory evacuation is in effect for more than 2 million people in Florida, South Carolina and Georgia.

As of 6 a.m. Thursday, only one flight to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, from Cincinnati had been canceled, however airport officials expect more to roll in as the hurricane closes in on the American mainland.

Flight cancellations are stranding passengers flying out of major airline hubs like Miami International Airport. Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Orlando will also shut down for hours when the storm hits. 

Airports ground flights when cross winds are more than 30 mph, and meteorologists are estimating winds to top 90 mph. American Airlines alone has canceled more than 1,000 flights -- compared to Delta's 120 cancellations from southern Florida airports. United Airlines has canceled 60 flights from similar airports.

If you have a flight south in the coming days, check with your airline at their individual website or at the airport website here before you leave home.