Hurricane Idalia: Tampa Bay area airports to close ahead of storm

Tampa International Airport and St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport will both close down ahead of Tropical Storm Idalia.

TPA will close beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday and will remain closed until it can assess any damages later in the week.

According to airport officials, the closure will allow the airport and its partners to prepare the airfield and terminals, including the securing of jet bridges, ground equipment, and any remaining aircraft before Idalia’s expected landfall early Wednesday as a potential major hurricane.

Some cargo and private aircraft operations could continue overnight, but all air traffic will end by 7 a.m. Tuesday morning. 

Tropical Storm Idalia info: County-by-county

The airport, including the main terminal and airsides, will be closed to all visitors and is not equipped to function as a shelter.

Airport authorities anticipate reopening Thursday morning to assess damage after the storm passes. 

St. Pete-Clearwater will close at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 29, and it plans to reopen at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30. PIE is in a mandatory evacuation zone within Pinellas County.