On October 17, the city of Sanibel announced that the Public Works Department has been actively managing the city’s weirs in response to Hurricane Milton. Water levels have successfully receded below target elevations at both monitored locations.
As the island moves into the dry season, with no rain forecast for the coming week, water levels are expected to continue decreasing. The department will keep monitoring the situation and adjust the weirs as needed, following the city’s weir management policy.
Starting today, October 18, Sanibel will experience a period of king tides, which are expected to last through October 23. These extreme tides, driven by the full moon, will result in higher than usual high tides and lower than usual low tides. While widespread flooding is not anticipated, minor saltwater flooding may occur in bayside areas such as Bailey Road and Dixie Beach Boulevard, particularly during high tide between midnight and 3 a.m.
Although moderate flooding is expected in Florida’s southeast counties due to the king tides, the National Weather Service in Miami predicts that offshore winds along Sanibel and Florida’s west coast will help minimize the impacts in the local area.
For more information on king tides, visit https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/kingtide.html
