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Current Weather | Average Weather | All About Hurricanes

CURRENT CONDITIONS

*Current conditions are updated hourly.
Current sky conditions: CLOUDY 
Current temperature: 82° F 
Relative humidity: 69% 
Wind direction: SSW 
Wind speed: 11 mph 
Barometric pressure: 29.96 in 

FIVE-DAY FORECAST











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The current time is 10:39 am.
Weather information © 2008 AccuWeather, Inc.





All About Hurricanes

FAQs: What to Do in the Event of a Hurricane | FAQs: About Hurricanes | Hurricane-Related Resources

When you visit The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel, you’ll experience the unfettered beauty of 590 miles of coastline and the more than 100 pristine barrier islands that define the character of our destination. Those who live and travel here respect the wonders of nature, and must be mindful of its ability to disrupt our otherwise peaceful tropical life. For this reason, it’s important to understand hurricanes and to know what to do in the event of a serious storm during your vacation or business trip.

Read on to discover the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about hurricanes and how to respond to them when traveling to The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel, as well as a host of resources to help guide you through a storm emergency, should one occur.

WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT OF A HURRICANE

Is it OK to travel to The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel during hurricane season?
 Of course! Our tropical island paradise draws thousands of visitors year-round, and many prefer to come during our value season of August and September when rates are lower and there are fewer visitors. It’s unlikely that you will encounter any hurricanes when visiting our barrier islands; but, if you do, you will be in good hands. Our area’s storm emergency response efforts have been praised repeatedly, including accolades from the state’s Governor.

What should I do if I’m vacationing on The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel and a storm threatens the area?
 In the unlikely event that a hurricane heads for our area while you’re here, be sure to monitor local radio and television stations closely, as well as www.FortMyers-Sanibel.com, for the latest news on the storm and any mandatory evacuation for visitors. You also can call our local visitor and convention bureau for the latest storm news at 1-800-237-6444.

Lee County emergency management officials stay in close touch with the National Hurricane Center in South Florida during any storm so they can direct our local response accordingly. An evacuation will be ordered only if the area is in imminent danger from a storm, so please heed any requests to leave the area. Doing so in a timely manner will protect you and your family from potential harm from high winds, storm surges and flooding. Be sure to take all of your belongings with you, and follow the evacuation routes that are clearly marked with blue hurricane evacuation route signs.

If no evacuation is necessary, but a weak hurricane does impact the area, be sure to stay indoors during the storm to avoid airborne debris. And don’t be fooled if there is a pause in the wind. It could be the eye of the storm passing over, and the winds will come again from the opposite direction at speeds of up to 75 miles per hour within seconds. Monitor local radio and television broadcasts to determine when the hurricane has passed and if it is safe to venture outside again.

What if I’m about to travel to The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel, and a storm is threatening the area?
 Monitor weather reports and forecasts about the storm closely to determine if it’s safe and feasible to continue your vacation plans. Check this Web site (www.FortMyers-Sanibel.com), our area visitor and convention bureau at 1-800-236-6444, or the property where you plan to stay to determine your best course of action. Use common sense and heed advice from local tourism leaders. If an evacuation is ordered, you will need to reschedule your visit for another time in order to allow for visitors and residents to leave unimpeded, local attractions to prepare for the storm, and emergency personnel to devote their attention to a smooth and speedy evacuation.

When will I be asked to leave?
 If an evacuation becomes necessary due to a hurricane’s projected intensity and path, visitors and residents will be given as much notice as possible. Because some of our destinations’ barrier islands have limited road access or are accessible only by boat, an evacuation is time-consuming. Thus, we normally ask visitors to leave first to permit residents a little more time to prepare their property and belongings for the storm before they too must evacuate. This means that you may be leaving when the skies are blue and the sun is shining. Rest assured you are being asked to leave for your own safety and in enough time to stagger the evacuation so as not to clog roads and to permit everyone enough time to vacate the area. Note that high profile vehicles such as campers and boats are at greater risk when traveling in high winds, especially on bridges; these vehicles should be evacuated long before any heavy winds begin.

If you decide to ignore evacuation orders and stay for the storm, be prepared to sustain yourself for at least 72 hours after the hurricane passes, during which time there may be no power, water, rescue or medical services available. During the storm, stay away from windows and glass doors, and move furniture away from exposed doors and windows. Stay informed about the status of the storm via local television and radio stations. High water and storm surge are the greatest threat to life and property, especially during high tides, so be aware of tide schedules and use caution. Be alert for tornados, which are often spawned by hurricanes. Above all, remain calm. Your ability to handle emergencies will help others.

If I’m asked to evacuate, where can I go short of returning home?
 Depending on the hurricane’s projected path, you may be able to travel to a nearby city within the state to wait out the storm’s passing, including Tampa and Orlando. The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel work closely with other destinations in the state, which typically survey hotels for their availability and rates and publish updates on special hotlines. These phone numbers will be posted on www.FortMyers-Sanibel.com in the event of a hurricane.

If I’m visiting the area but don’t have a car, how can I evacuate?
 Check with the concierge or front desk personnel at your host hotel to determine if rental cars are available or if any local transportation companies can assist you. Also check your preferred airlines via the Internet or contact Southwest Florida International Airport at 239-590-4800 or www.flylcpa.com to see if there is room on any outbound flights.

When can I resume my vacation to The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel?
 That depends on several factors. If a hurricane misses the area, then you may be able to return rather quickly. Keep in mind that residents must have enough time to return and to reopen hotels, resorts, attractions and other businesses to serve you. On the other hand, if a storm strikes the area, then the amount of damage will dictate when it is safe to return to the destination. Monitor www.FortMyers-Sanibel.com and stay in touch with the property in which you were staying for news about when visitors may return to the area. Obviously, road access as well as water and electrical service will need to have been restored for you to continue your vacation with us.

Will I be able to secure a refund for my trip?
 Each individual property has its own refund policy, so it’s best to check when booking your trip to determine how the property you’ve selected handles refunds in the event of a hurricane. The same holds true for your chosen airline. Some travel companies also offer trip insurance that can provide you with additional storm protection.

ABOUT HURRICANES

What is a hurricane?
 A hurricane is an intense tropical weather system generally accompanied by rain, thunder, lightning and tornados, with a well-defined circulation and a sustained wind speed of 74 miles per hour or higher. Hurricane winds blow in a large spiral around a relatively calm center or "eye." Circulation is counter-clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. In meteorology, a tropical cyclone is a type of low-pressure system that generally forms in the tropics over warm ocean areas. While they can be highly destructive, tropical cyclones are an important part of the atmospheric circulation system, which moves heat from the equatorial region toward the higher latitudes. This same tropical cyclone is known as a typhoon in the western Pacific and a cyclone in the Indian Ocean.

When is hurricane season?
 The Atlantic hurricane season is officially June 1 to November 30, but the peak of the season is from mid-August to mid-October.

What is the difference between a tropical disturbance, a tropical depression and a tropical storm?
 The difference is in intensity and wind speed. A tropical disturbance refers to an organized system of clouds and thunderstorms with a defined circulation. Once that system achieves a circular wind flow and maximum winds up to 39 miles per hour, it becomes a tropical depression. And once a depression reaches a defined circulation and maximum sustained winds of 39 to 73 miles per hour, it’s classified as a tropical storm. In turn, a tropical storm develops into a hurricane once its sustained winds exceed 73 miles per hour.

What is the difference between a hurricane watch and a hurricane warning?
 It’s a matter of timing. The National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida, monitors and issues watches and warnings in the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic and Northeast basins. The Center issues a watch when hurricane conditions are possible within 36 hours and upgrades to a warning when hurricane conditions are expected in 24 hours. If a warning or watch is issued for our area, you should begin preliminary preparations for potential landfall and stay tuned to radio and television stations for weather updates. If you choose to wait for a hurricane warning before leaving, your options are fewer, traffic will be slow, and using a designated Emergency Public Shelter may be required.

How do I read those tracking maps that I see on the Internet and television with the cone-shaped projections for storms?
 The sheer complexity of weather systems makes predicting hurricanes an inexact science. The National Hurricane Center produces two types of tracking maps. The first shows the area of strike possibility from zero to three days out, and the second includes four to five days out. The farther away the storm is, the less accurate the prediction, especially when it’s more than three days away. It’s best to monitor the tracking maps closely and be prepared to respond should the storm be forecasted to impact an area in which you are located or to which you are traveling.

What is the eye of the storm? How about rainbands?
 The hurricane’s core is called its eye. The winds closest to the eye are the strongest (typically averaging about 60 miles from the center of the storm) and bring the most potential for damage. Rainbands or outer spiral bands are the bands of clouds and thunderstorms that trail away from the eye wall in a spiral fashion and are capable of producing heavy bursts of rain and wind. The spiral bands also make hurricanes appear to cover a much larger area with damaging winds than they really do. This is the reason why devastation during strong storms does not cover the entire area over which the storm passes.

How are hurricane categories determined and what do they mean?
 In the United States, the strength of hurricanes is rated using the Saffir/Simpson scale. This scale assigns a storm to one of five categories based on its wind speed. Category One is a minimal hurricane, and Category Five is the strongest. Using this scale helps estimate the potential property damage and expected coastal flooding from a hurricane.

Storm surge refers to an onshore gush of water associated with a low pressure weather system caused primarily by high winds pushing on the ocean's surface. The wind causes the water to pile up higher than the ordinary sea level. Storm surges are particularly damaging when they occur at the time of a high tide, which combines the effects of the surge and the tide.

CategoryMaximum Sustained WindsStorm SurgePotential Damage
1 74-95 mph 5-8 feet Damage primarily to shrubbery, trees and unanchored mobile homes. No real damage to other structures. Some damage to poorly constructed signs. Low-lying coastal roads inundated, minor pier damage, and some small craft in exposed anchorage from moorings.
2 96-110 mph 8-13 feet Considerable damage to shrubbery and tree foliage; some trees blown down. Major damage to exposed mobile homes. Extensive damage to poorly constructed signs; some damage to roofing materials of buildings; and some window and door damage. No major damage to buildings. Coast roads and low-lying escape routes inland cut by rising water two to four hours before arrival of the hurricane’s center. Considerable damage to piers. Marinas flooded and small craft in unprotected anchorages torn from moorings.
3 111-130 mph 11-20 feet Foliage torn from trees; large trees blown down. Practically all poorly constructed signs blown down; some damage to roofing materials of buildings; some window and door damage; and some structural damage to small buildings. Mobile homes destroyed. Serious flooding at coast and many smaller structures near coast destroyed; low-lying escape routes inland cut by rising water three to five hours before the hurricane’s center arrives.
4 131-155 mph 17-29 feet Shrubs and trees blown down; all signs down. Extensive damage to roofing materials, windows and doors. Complete failure of roofs on many small residences; complete destruction of mobile homes. Major damage to lower floors of structures near shore due to flooding and battering by waves and floating debris.
5 156+ mph 17-29 feet Shrubs and trees blown down; considerable damage to roofs of buildings; all signs down; very severe and extensive damage to windows and doors; complete failure of roofs on many residences and industrial buildings; extensive shattering of glass in windows and doors; some complete building failures; small buildings overturned or blown away and complete destruction of mobile homes. Low-lying escape routes inland cut by rising water three to five hours before the hurricane’s center arrives.

Why are hurricanes named? Who names them?
 The National Hurricane Center names tropical cyclones in the Atlantic basin. Hurricanes are named to provide ease of communication and reduce confusion between forecasters and the general public regarding forecasts, watches and warnings. There are six lists of names used in rotation. The only time those names will change is if a storm is so deadly or costly that the future use of its name on a different storm would be inappropriate for reasons of sensitivity. If all 21 names are exhausted for a given year, additional storms are assigned names from the Greek alphabet: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, etc...

How do hurricanes/storms affect The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel?
 While storms certainly can cause damage to our area, they are part of an important environmental cycle that produces some very beneficial effects. These include:

  • Depositing sand atop and on the backside of barrier islands, which elevates them, keeping islands from becoming a sand bar. Barrier islands need hurricanes for their survival, as it's during hurricanes that islands get higher and wider.
  • Helping to scrub harmful algae from coral reefs.
  • Pruning dead limbs from trees and allowing sunlight to penetrate to lower levels.
  • Refilling the aquifer.
  • Increasing water for wildlife. Dried out wetlands are rehydrated and come back to life.
  • Increasing habitat for the endangered scrub jays, which benefit from downed trees.
  • Moderating global temperatures.

HURRICANE-RELATED RESOURCES

There are a variety of trustworthy sources of weather information that you can consult when trying to make decisions regarding travel in the event of a tropical storm or hurricane. Real-time advisories can be found at the following websites:

We at The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel know that a hurricane is a hardship on our visitors, so we do everything we can to take care of you during your stay with us. Resources within the destination that can assist you are as follows:

VISIT FLORIDA, the state’s official travel planning source, also provides resources to assist vacationers impacted by a hurricane. They include:

  • Consumer website: www.VISITFLORIDA.com
  • 1-800-287-8598 tourism emergency hotline
  • 1-888-735-2872 general tourism information
  • Educated front-line staff at five official Florida Welcome Centers located on I-10 west of Pensacola, U.S. 231 near Campbellton, I-75 at Jennings and I-95 north of Yulee. A fifth center is located at the west entrance of the State Capitol Building in Tallahassee.


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