Hurricane Milton live updates: Category 3 storm closes in on Florida; Tornado watch in effect

Hurricane Milton is already causing travel disruptions as the storm takes aim at Florida's west coast.

Airports, like Philadelphia International, are quiet -- lacking the usual bustle flights to Florida often bring. Even travelers not going to Florida could see a ripple effect.

"It's all the ripple effect," said Hector Leal, from San Antonio, Texas.

Several airports have announced temporary closures ahead of landfall.

RELATED: Hurricane Milton travel impacts: Airport closures, flight cancellations and more

Tampa International Airport will suspend operations beginning at 9 a.m. on Tuesday and remain closed to the public "until it can assess any damage after the storm," airport officials said.

The St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, just outside of Tampa, will close at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, after its last flight departs, and remain closed on Wednesday and Thursday.

"The airport is in a mandatory evacuation zone and is not a public shelter," airport officials tweeted. "Prepare and stay safe."

The Sarasota Bradenton International Airport in Sarasota will close at 4 p.m. Tuesday and reopen "once safe to do so," airport officials tweeted.

Commercial operations will stop at the Orlando Executive Airport starting at 10 p.m. Tuesday and at the Orlando International Airport starting at 8 a.m. Wednesday, airport officials said. Both will reopen as soon as it's safe.

"While these airports will cease commercial operations, they are not closed to emergency/aid and relief flights and will remain open as necessary," airport officials said. "Commercial operations will resume as soon as possible based on damage assessment."

Orlando Sanford International Airport in Sanford will also suspend operations starting at 8 p.m. Wednesday, airport officials said while advising passengers to "stay tuned for updates."

Miami International Airport and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport will remain open and operational, with airport officials saying they are closely monitoring the storm.

More than 700 flights have been canceled throughout the U.S. as of early Tuesday afternoon, according to FlightAware. Tampa International Airport has the most, with nearly 350 flights canceled.

The disruptions are already growing on Wednesday, too, with nearly 1,600 flights across the U.S. canceled -- about half of which are into or out of Orlando International Airport, according to FlightAware.

Airlines are operating larger aircraft and adding more flights to their schedules ahead of the hurricane and airport closures.

The Department of Transportation is monitoring flights in and out of areas affected by Milton to "make sure airlines are not charging excessively increasing fares," Secretary Pete Buttigieg said on X.

A tornado was spotted crossing Interstate 75 in Glades County, Florida, Wednesday morning.

A tornado watch is in effect in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Naples, Fort Myers, Sarasota and Tampa. Tornado warnings have been issued in Collier, Hendry, Palm Beach, Glades and Broward counties.

Hurricane Milton could cause damage of more than $50 billion and possibly as much as $175 billion in a worst-case scenario, according to Wall Street analysts.

Just how much damage the storm leaves behind is tied to the path Milton takes and what area of Florida's Gulf Coast it hits.

RELATED: Officials expect Florida's coastline to change amid Hurricane Milton

Landfall in the heavily populated Tampa region could send damage totals soaring.

Two years ago, Hurricane Ian hit near Fort Myers as a Category 4 storm and led to $50 billion in losses.

Just how much damage the storm leaves behind is tied to the path of the hurricane.

In stunning video footage taken by NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick, Hurricane Milton is seen from space as it makes its way toward landfall.

In stunning video footage taken by NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick, Hurricane Milton is seen from space as it makes its way toward landfall.

Dominick shared the video on X, which he captured through the window of the SpaceX Crew Dragon, which is docked at the International Space Station (ISS).