Detroit travelers stranded in Florida due to Hurricane Dorian

(WXYZ) — Hurricane Dorian, a category 5 storm, is capable of causing catastrophic damage according to the National Hurricane Center. It's now the strongest hurricane in modern records for the northwestern Bahamas, with winds of 185 mph.

As the storm pounded portions of the Island nation on Sunday, airports in the southeastern United States prepared for an impact. Several airlines have posted advisories, warning travelers of potential cancellations and delays.

Like hundreds of other travelers trying to leave Florida over the weekend, Jeff Balazs learned his flight from Orlando back home to Detroit was canceled due to Dorian.

"We were gonna take a chance. We can stay another night and pay for a hotel, that’s no big deal, but then the next flight gets canceled and the next flight," said Balazs, who is from New Boston.

After some airports, including Orlando announced they’d planned to close Monday, he and his family took a rental car home.

“18 hours. Yeah, they saw the Appalachians and everything," he said.

Sunday, Orlando International Airport announced that despite an earlier plan to close Monday, that it would remain open.

West Palm Beach Airport plans to close on Monday.

Metro Detroiter John Cammalleri found out later that he would have liked that his Spirit Airlines flight from Ft. Lauderdale to Detroit was canceled.

“We got up to a point where actually we started boarding, going down the corridor to board the plane. Then at that point they just decided to stop and started sending people back," he said by phone Sunday.

Cammalleri said he's been unable to find another flight home. For now, he and his family are riding out the storm in Ft. Lauderdale.

"It’s Mother Nature. She can do whatever she wants," said Parker Waisner, trying to return home to Boca Raton by way of Detroit.

Balazs and his family said Spirit refunded their entire flight. Travelers should check with each airline for specific cancellation policies.

Spirit Airlines announced on its website that Dorian has affected service to and from four Florida airports, including Ft. Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa. A fare difference fee is waived through Sept. 18 for affected flights.

Several travelers told Action News they were not notified of flight cancellations by the airline. We've attempted to contact Spirit Airlines for additional information and have not received a response at this time.