Author: LeAneSUAREZGroup

While this year’s Atlantic hurricane season has been unusually calm so far (fingers crossed), forecasters are predicting a significant uptick in tropical activity later this month.

Experts from AccuWeather are advising businesses and local officials to remain prepared for an increase in tropical storms, as water temperatures in the Gulf have surged to record levels for this time of year, heightening the risk of rapid intensification.

What’s Driving the Shift?
As Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather’s Lead Hurricane Expert, explains, the climatological peak of hurricane season occurs around September 10, when Atlantic water temperatures are typically at their highest, creating the ideal conditions for tropical storms to develop. Interestingly, this year marks the first time in nearly a decade that the peak of hurricane season has passed without a named storm, a rare event that’s only happened three times in the last 30 years.

AccuWeather also noted that this year marks the first back-to-back Labor Day weekends without a named storm in the Atlantic basin in more than 30 years. A surge of dry air has been a significant factor, limiting tropical development. However, experts predict that the second half of the season will likely be more active than the first, as surges of dry air and Saharan dust begin to subside.

What to Expect Going Forward
Starting next week, the tropics will likely see less dry air, reduced wind shear, and lower amounts of Saharan dust, all of which will allow for more favorable conditions for storm development. Additionally, sea surface temperatures and ocean heat content in the Gulf have reached unprecedented highs. These warm waters are expected to fuel the rapid strengthening of any storms that form in the region.

“The exceptional warmth in the Gulf is troubling,” said DaSilva. “These warm waters can act as fuel for developing storms and intensifying hurricanes. If a storm forms or moves into these waters later this month, we are concerned about the potential for rapid intensification.”

What Does This Mean for the U.S.?
AccuWeather’s forecast calls for 13-18 named storms, including 7-10 hurricanes, with 3-5 of them reaching Category 3 or higher. The U.S. Gulf Coast, especially Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, North Carolina, as well as Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Atlantic Canada, are all at higher-than-average risk for direct impacts this year.

Stay prepared and stay informed! For more details, visit AccuWeather’s Hurricane Center.

For hurricane preparedness tips, check out the 2025 Lee County Hurricane Guide by the Breeze Newspapers here.

The City of Sanibel has announced the start of the Periwinkle Way Milling and Resurfacing Project on September 15. This important project will cover the stretch of Periwinkle Way from 500 feet west of Casa Ybel Road to about one-third of a mile east of Donax Street.

What to Expect:

• Drainage repairs will kick off the project on the north side of Periwinkle. Crews will be working on swale and concrete pipe installation along Main Street, Fitzhugh Street, Palm Street, and Center Street. Work hours for the drainage phase will be from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m..

• Milling and paving will begin in the coming weeks, with work scheduled for evening and overnight hours from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. The city will announce when this phase starts through a news release and updates on their Facebook page and website.

Important Reminders:

• Access to residences and businesses will be maintained throughout the project.

• Slow down and drive cautiously when passing through work zones, as there will be workers, signage, and flaggers directing traffic.

The entire project is expected to take about 120 days, weather permitting.

For more details, reach out to the Public Works Department at sanpw@mysanibel.com or call 239-472-6397.

Naples City Council has voted to keep the city’s millage rate at 1.23 mills, meaning property owners will see a slight increase in their tax bills next year. For example, a homeowner currently paying $2,900.63 would pay $2,969.44 under the same rate. The millage rate determines how much tax is charged per $1,000 of taxable property value.

The decision, approved unanimously on September 3, is projected to generate over $2.36 million in additional revenue. According to City Manager Gary Young, these funds will cover rising operational costs, maintain current service levels, preserve reserves, and support increased staff salaries, benefits, and additional police officers to enhance the Naples Police Department’s services.

Naples’ fiscal year 2025-26 budget will increase from $208.8 million to $240.06 million starting October 1, reflecting a $31.3 million rise. The budget also allocates a larger share of telecommunications-service taxes to the city’s streets fund, supporting ongoing street repaving and infrastructure projects.

The rollback rate—1.1658 mills—is the rate that would generate the same revenue as last year, excluding new construction. By keeping the rate at 1.23 mills, the city implements a modest tax increase above the rollback.

Council also approved budgets and millage rates for two local taxing districts:

• East Naples Bay: $406,200 budget at 0.5 millage

• Moorings Bay: $116,285 budget at 0.0125 millage

The second and final budget hearing is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. on September 22 in City Council Chambers at 735 Eighth St. S.

This decision ensures continued funding for city services while supporting infrastructure improvements and public safety initiatives.

After years of delays, Naples is poised to receive over $12 million in federal funding to demolish and rebuild the iconic Naples Pier. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is expected to approve $11.4 million in grants for the project, though the city is still awaiting the final “go-ahead” from FEMA, which is contingent on an official permit from the Army Corps of Engineers.

On August 28, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited Naples to inspect the damage to the pier caused by Hurricane Ian in September 2022, which left most of the structure collapsed into the Gulf. Noem, alongside Mayor Teresa Heitmann and City Manager Gary Young, toured the pier and voiced frustration over the delays, calling the situation “incompetency” and emphasizing the need for faster disaster response.

FEMA’s delay in permitting the demolition has been a major roadblock, as the city could not begin the process without risking the loss of FEMA funding. The pier must undergo a series of reviews by local, state, and federal agencies. The city has already issued $11 million in bonds for initial funding since FEMA and state reimbursements are based on a reimbursement model.

The total project cost is estimated at $26 million, which includes construction, design, and permitting fees. Funding sources for the project include $12.67 million in federal funds, $5 million from the state, $2.2 million from the county Tourist Development Council, and contributions from the city’s beach funds and public donations.

City officials expect to receive FEMA’s final approval this month, allowing demolition to begin. The construction process is projected to take 1½ years, including 4 to 6 months for demolition.

Originally built in 1888, Naples Pier has been rebuilt six times after hurricanes. It remains a major tourist attraction, drawing over a million visitors annually for sunsets, fishing, wildlife watching, and other activities. Efforts to include a concession stand at the pier have been scrapped after feedback showed it was not a top priority for residents.

For more information on how to donate to the project, visit bit.ly/DonateToNaplesPier.