UPDATE: City provides update on hurricane
UPDATE: At about 5 p.m. today, Aug. 29, the city of Sanibel provided an update on Hurricane Idalia.
Idalia continues to move northward on a path to the Big Bend area of Florida. During the evening, Sanibel and other Lee County coastal areas will experience onshore winds from the south and increased rain that will likely arrive in heavy bands. During the evening and morning of Aug. 30, the chance for tropical storm force winds and storm surge of 2-4 feet on Sanibel will be at its highest. Surge potential increases during high tides. Sanibel high tides will occur today, Aug. 29, at 1:42 a.m. and on Aug. 30 at 12:03 p.m.
ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION
Current information from the city’s consulting meteorologist includes:
– As of 4:30 p.m., Idalia was 175 miles southwest of Sanibel.
– The storm will be due west of Sanibel by 8 p.m.
– Winds will increase steadily during the evening and sustain at 20-30 mph with gusts to 50 mph.
– Possible storm surge of 2-4 feet could occur tonight and into Aug. 30.
– 1-3 inches of rain is likely.
CITY OPERATIONS
City offices will be closed on Aug. 30. It includes City Hall, the Recreation Center, and Building and Planning Department offices on Library Way. Curbside trash collection on Sanibel will be collected on Aug. 30 with a one-hour delay. Residents should not place their containers curbside until the morning.
The city has provided sand at the Sanibel Recycling Center on Dunlop Road, and the Sanibel Fire and Rescue District has provided a limited number of sandbags. Residents who need sandbags to place at their property are encouraged to plan bring their own bags and a shovel to fill their bags.
The public should closely monitor the storm through the National Hurricane Center and the National Weather Service as it moves northward. Forecasts may change with each update.
The city will continue to issue updates over the next few days. The public should consider registering with Alert Lee at https://alertlee.com/ to receive emergency notifications from the county and with the city at https://www.mysanibel.com/government/city-manager-s-office/useful-links/sign-up-for-city-announcements to receive city announcements.
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ORIGINAL (Aug. 29, 2023):
At about 10:30 a.m. today, Aug. 29, the city of Sanibel reported that it continues to monitor Hurricane Idalia.
The National Hurricane Center upgraded Idalia from a tropical storm to a hurricane this morning. The NHC has issued a Tropical Storm Warning and a Storm Surge Warning for Florida’s Gulf Coast, which includes Sanibel and Lee County. To view the most recent information from the NHC, visit https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics_at5.shtml?start#contents.
On Aug. 28, Mayor Richard Johnson issued a mayoral proclamation declaring a Local State of Emergency for Sanibel. Gov. Ron DeSantis and Lee County have also declared a State of Emergency for Lee County. No evacuation orders for the island have been issued for the storm at this time.
The weather on Sanibel this morning was sunny; however, conditions are expected to deteriorate rapidly as the storm moves north. The city encourages residents to monitor forecasts until the storm has moved well north of the island. For personal safety, the public should not visit the beach. Heavy rain bands are expected to impact Sanibel after the eye of the storm passes and localized flooding and storm surge is a possibility.
Should sustained winds reach 40 mph during the storm, police, fire and emergency medical personnel will not be able to respond to calls until sustained winds drop below 40 mph.
ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION
Current information from the city’s consulting meteorologist includes:
– As of 8 a.m., Idalia was 250 miles southwest of Sanibel.
– The storm will be at its closest point to Sanibel after sunset tonight (approximately 125 miles).
– Winds will increase steadily throughout the day with peak winds expected after 7 p.m.
– Possible storm surge of 2-4 feet could occur tonight and into Aug. 30.
– 1-3 inches of rain is likely.
– Winds of 40-60 mph are likely, with the possibility of sustained winds of 40 mph throughout the evening hours.
CITY OPERATIONS
All city offices are closed today, Aug. 29. It includes City Hall, the Recreation Center, and Building and Planning Department building on Library Way. Curbside trash collection on Sanibel will be collected today, Aug. 29, in accordance with the normal schedule.
The city will determine by 3 p.m. today, Aug. 29, if city offices will be closed on Aug. 30. A decision on curbside trash collection for Aug. 30 will also be provided by 3 p.m. today, Aug. 29.
The city has provided sand at the Sanibel Recycling Center on Dunlop Road, and the Sanibel Fire and Rescue District has provided a limited number of sandbags. Residents who need sandbags to place at their property are encouraged to plan bring their own bags and a shovel to fill their bags.
The public should closely monitor the storm through the NHC and National Weather Service as it moves northward. Forecasts may change with each update. To view the NWS information on “What to Do Before the Tropical Storm or Hurricane,” visit https://www.weather.gov/safety/hurricane-plan.
The city reported that it will continue to issue updates over the next few days. The public should consider registering with Alert Lee at https://alertlee.com/ to receive emergency notifications from the county and with the city at https://www.mysanibel.com/government/city-manager-s-office/useful-links/sign-up-for-city-announcements to receive city announcements.