There are a trio of storms in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico that are either already impacting travel, or could be soon. Hurricane Humberto is approaching Bermuda, Tropical Depression Imelda is bringing heavy rain to Texas and Louisiana, and Tropical Storm Jerry has become the tenth named storm of the 2019 season.
According to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center, the outer rain bands of Hurricane Humberto began to affect Bermuda Wednesday morning, and a hurricane warning is in effect for the island. With maximum sustained winds of 115 mph, the storm is now a category 3 hurricane and, while some fluctuations in intensity are expected over the next day or so, it should remain a powerful hurricane through early Thursday. The core of the storm is expected to pass just to the northwest and north of Bermuda later Wednesday night.
Tropical Depression Imelda, meanwhile, is bringing maximum sustained winds of 30mph and heavy rain to southeast Texas and extreme southwest Louisiana. Flash flood watches are in effect for the area.
Finally, Tropical Storm Jerry is now the tenth named storm of the 2019 season. At approximately 960 miles east of the Leeward Islands, the storm is still quite far out, but interests in the area are advised to monitor the storm, according to the National Hurricane Center. It could pass near the northern Leeward Islands Thursday night or Friday.
Cruise Updates
A spokesperson for Carnival Cruise Line tells Travel Agent that it has modified the September 15 itinerary on the Carnival Pride out of Baltimore and the September 16 itinerary on the Carnival Sunrise out of New York. The Carnival Pride will now call at Grand Turk and Amber Cove on September 18 and 19, respectively, instead of at Bermuda as originally planned. The Carnival Sunrise will replace its planned call at Bermuda on those two days with a call at Charleston, South Carolina, on September 18 and a sea day on September 19.
A spokesperson for Royal Caribbean tells Travel Agent that there are no itinerary changes to report at this time.
Air Travel Updates
A number of airlines have also issued change waivers due to the storms.
American Airlines is offering travelers scheduled to fly through Bermuda through September 19 the chance to rebook through September 22 between the same city pair in the same cabin (or pay the difference).
United Airlines is offering customers scheduled to fly through Houston through September 19 the chance to rebook through September 22 in the originally ticketed cabin and between the same city pair.
Delta is offering travelers scheduled to fly through September 19 the chance to rebook through September 22, with the new ticket to be reissued on or before that date.
JetBlue customers scheduled to fly through Houston or Bermuda through September 19 can rebook through September 22.
Southwest Airlines customers scheduled to fly through Houston through September 19 can rebook in the original class of service or travel standby within 14 days of their original date of travel between the original city pair.
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