LIST: Eta forces closures, cancellations across Tampa Bay

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Tropical Storm Eta is bringing strong winds and heavy rain to the Tampa Bay area Wednesday morning, causing a number of cancellations and closures.

Bridges

Courtney Campbell Causeway

Courtney Campbell Causeway was shut down Wednesday night due to rising water levels.

Skyway Bridge

The Florida Highway Patrol is closing the Sunshine Skyway Bridge ahead of Eta’s arrival on Wednesday. The bridge will remain closed until the weather calms. Drivers should seek alternate routes.

Colleges closed

USF campuses will close effective at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11 through Thursday, Nov. 12. All classes will be delivered remotely on Thursday, Nov. 12 and all employees who can work remotely should continue to do so. All campuses are expected to reopen on Friday, Nov. 13.

Polk State College in Winter Haven and its collegiate high schools will be closed Thursday, November 12, due to Tropical Storm Eta. Classes will take place Wednesday evening.

Keiser University to close Sarasota, Tampa, Clearwater, Lakeland and New Port Richey Campuses on Thursday, November 12.

The University of Florida announced classes were canceled Thursday.

School closures

Public school students in Pinellas and Pasco counties will be dismissed early on Wednesday. The school will not hold classes on Thursday. All extracurricular activities for Wednesday and Thursday have been canceled. Public school buildings in Hillsborough and Manatee counties will be closed on Thursday and Friday. The districts said all students will transition to remote learning. In Sarasota County, students will be dismissed two hours early Wednesday and return back to normal Thursday. In Polk County, schools will be closed Thursday.

Airports

Tampa International Airport

Tampa International Airport will suspend all operations at 3 p.m. Thursday. Passengers are being told to check with their airlines for flight status updates.

Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport

The airport will close sometime between 3 and 4 p.m. Wednesday. All departing flights between 3:10 p.m. Wednesday and 6:12 a.m. Thursday, have been canceled.

PSTA and HART suspend service

PSTA, the transit system serving Pinellas County, will begin suspending service starting Wednesday at 12 p.m. All PSTA terminals, including Park Street, Grand Central Station, and Pinellas Park will be closed until the storm passes.

Passengers are being told to get to their destinations before services are suspended.

HART also suspended all services, including #HARTSmartAV and the @TampaStreetcar, starting at noon.

Busch Gardens

“Due to inclement weather from Tropical Storm Eta, Busch Gardens will be closed today, November 11,” the park said in a tweet.

ZooTampa

The park will close at noon Wednesday and remain closed on Thursday.

Tropicana Field

The drive-through COVID-19 testing site at Tropicana Field will be closed Wednesday.

Veterans Day ceremony in Williams Park

The event is postponed due to inclement weather. Organizers say veterans will be honored at a later date.

Sixth Judicial Circuit courthouses

All courthouses in the Sixth Judicial Circuit, which comprises Pinellas and Pasco counties, will be closed on Thursday. Hearing that were supposed to be held via teleconferencing or Zoom are also cancelled, but advisories, juvenile detention and shelter hearings will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the County Justice Center in Clearwater, and the West Pasco Judicial Center in New Port Richey.

District-managed campgrounds

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will close all district-managed campgrounds and trails at 3 p.m. Wednesday. Campgrounds are expected to reopen at 8 a.m. Friday.

This story is being updated. Please check back for updates.