MIA information in response to Tropical Storm Elsa

With potentially stormy weather approaching South Florida and parts of the Caribbean due to Tropical Storm Elsa, the Miami-Dade Aviation Department offers the following tips to make traveling through Miami International Airport easier during this July 4 holiday weekend:

• Departing passengers should arrive at the airport two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight to allow enough time for parking, airline check-in and screening at the security checkpoint.

• Passengers are encouraged to check in online before arriving at MIA.

• Many airlines decide to cancel flights from MIA to certain destinations well before a storm impacts South Florida and sometimes on a case-by-case basis. Passengers should stay in close contact with their airline about their flight status and make necessary arrangements before coming to MIA.

• The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) only closes its control tower at MIA if sustained winds (not gusts) reach 55 miles per hour, at which point planes cannot take off or land.

• For the latest updates about airport operations, follow MIA on Twitter: @iflymia.