Hurricane Idalia: Here is the latest news for Lee County and what to know
Note to readers: As a public service, The News-Press is tracking Hurricane Idalia and its potential impact on Lee County and surrounding areas. Check here for the latest news from Lee County officials, including the Emergency Operations Center, cancellations, school information and more.
NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER: See the latest forecast for Idalia
LEE COUNTY: Go here for the county website
LEE COUNTY: Safe Haven centers are open for residents
LEE COUNTY: Flooding, surge forecast
LEE COUNTY: See photos of people getting supplies
LIVE RADAR: Complex thunderstorms causing tornadic activity in the region
FORT MYERS BEACH PHOTO GALLERY
6:58 l Storm surge watch discontinued south of Bonita Beach
As Hurricane Idalia churned its way past Southwest Florida on Tuesday, some weather concerns began to improve by early evening.
The Storm Surge Watch was discontinued south of Bonita Beach but remained in effect for other beaches to the north along the Southwest Florida coast.
Continue to follow to updates here into Tuesday evening.
5:35 p.m. | Sanibel issues advisory
Hurricane 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 hours tomorrow, 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 at 1:42 am and 12:03 pm tomorrow (August 30).
What about the Sanibel Causeway?
Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) reports that potential storm surge from Hurricane Idalia, water may cover portions of the Sanibel Causeway later today and overnight into Wednesday. Motorists are urged not to drive through flooded roadways. If damage occurs to the Sanibel Causeway due to the storm event, crews and materials are staged onsite to make repairs quickly and maintain critical access.
The National Weather Service advises motorist not to drive through standing flood waters.
4:01 p.m. | RSW reports Breeze, Delta flights impacted on Wednesday
While Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) remains open and operating at normal conditions the Fort Myers-based airport posted on its Facebook page this afternoon that there have been some changes on some flights with Breeze and Delta Airlines on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, these two Florida airports have closed due to Hurricane Idalia.
3:48 p.m. | FGCU sticking with remote classes on Wednesday
Wednesday will be another day of learning for FGCU students off campus. The Fort Myers-based university announced that it will hold classes remotely again on Aug. 29 due to Hurricane Idalia. Students and faculty at FGCU did remote learning today.
2:41 p.m. | Video from Barefoot Beach in Bonita Springs
Here's a reader submitted video of what was happening at Barefoot Beach as Hurricane Idalia started to impact Southwest Florida today:
2:50 p.m. | Circuit Court closures Wednesday
The 20th Circuit Courts in Lee and Charlotte counties will be closed Wednesday, officials said.
Also Wednesday, the Collier County Courthouse will reopen and courthouses in Glades and Hendry counties will remain open.
In Lee County, first appearances, shelter and detention hearings will be held in courtroom 2A at 10 a.m. Wednesday with Judge James Shenko presiding.
There is an option for counsel and interpreters to attend First Appearance hearings remotely via a conference line. The telephone number for attorneys and the interpreter to call in is 1-888-585-9008 and the participant code is 463-069-456#.
An update regarding Thursday’s court operations will be made Wednesday. Any updates will be posted on the court’s website and social media channels.
1:26 p.m. | Is Idalia going to get a second crack at Florida?
Seriously? Yes. There are forecast models being shared that show this could happen!
Check out the details about that question people are asking in this story by our growth and development reporter Phil Fernandez.
1:07 p.m. | Lee County calls off school for Wednesday
Here is a note the school district of Lee County sent to parents and students today:
The School District continues to work closely with Lee County's Emergency Operations Center in preparation for Hurricane Idalia’s potential impact to our area. The storm is currently forecast to make landfall late tonight or early tomorrow in the Big Bend area as a Category 3 Hurricane.Out of an abundance of caution due to the forecast for tropical storm force winds and rain in our area tomorrow morning, we have made the decision to cancel school and all school activities for Wednesday, August 30th. A decision about returning to school on Thursday, August 31st will be announced by 3:00 p.m. tomorrow.Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.The School District of Lee County
12:47 p.m. | Flooding reported on Fort Myers Beach
Our visual journalist Andrew West is on the ground at Fort Myers Beach and he is reporting that Times Square and an area near/under the Mantanzas Pass Bridge are starting to flood because of impact of Idalia.
12:38 p.m. | Update on the Sanibel Causeway
Almost one year ago, the Sanibel Causeway was torn apart by Hurricane Ian. Within a week after the damage, efforts began to rebuild the causeway. Now, another storm is lurking in the Gulf and some people may be wondering if Hurricane Idalia will impact the progress that has been made.
Here is a story from our journalist Kate Cimini that addresses questions you might be asking:
12:04 p.m. | Fort Myers Beach officials share four important messages
As preparations continue today for what currently looks like possible wind, rain and two to four feet of storm surge from Tropical Storm/Hurricane Idalia, the Town of Fort Myers Beach has these messages to share.
Please do not try to ride out this storm in a recreational vehicle in the Town. Prepare now to ride this storm out off-island. Lee County has “safe havens” open in two locations and transportation by Lee Tran is in place until 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 29. Visit www.leegov.com/hurricane/idalia for more information.
The Town urges everyone to be vigilant and stay up to date on storm alerts. Stay connected to the Town’s social media and website (www.fmbgov.com) as well as the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the FMB Fire District, and Lee County Government.
FREE sand and bags are available until supplies last, weather permitting, behind the former Town Hall property. Please bring your own shovel to fill your own bags. Each household will receive 10 bags each.
Please be aware of these streets that are prone to flooding in the Town. The storm system cleaning vendor is working on these streets today to clear as much as possible: Crescent, First, Second, Third, Bahia Via, Anchorage, Andrew Mar, Dakota, Oak Ridge, Fairweather, Lazy Way, Estrellita.
11:32 a.m. | Here's the latest on the status of schools, colleges
From our education reporter Nikki Ross:
Nova Southeastern University
The university's Fort Myers campus will be closed until further notice.
Keiser University
The university's Fort Myers campus is closed Tuesday.
Florida Gulf Coast University
Tuesday operations are remote, students do not need to evacuate campus and dining halls will be open.
Operations for Wednesday will be announced by 3 p.m. Tuesday.
Florida SouthWestern University
Tuesday operations are cancelled. Plans for Wednesday will be announced by 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Rasmussen University
The Fort Myers campus is closed Tuesday. The university plans to reopen on Wednesday.
Lee County Schools
Schools and district operations are closed Tuesday. Operations for Wednesday will be announced by 1 p.m. Tuesday.
Collier County Schools
Out of an abundance of caution, all activities and athletic competition scheduled from after 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday are cancelled and will likely be rescheduled, according to the district.
Any leases of school district facilities after 6:30 p.m. Tuesday will be suspended.
Curriculum nights and open houses on Tuesday will be rescheduled.
All district operations will be open on Wednesday.
10:28 a.m. | Sanibel continues to monitor Idalia
The City of Sanibel continues to monitor Hurricane Idalia. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) 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. Click here to view the most recent information from the NHC.
Yesterday, Mayor Richard Johnson has issued a Mayoral Proclamation declaring a Local State of Emergency on Sanibel what is now Hurricane Idalia. Governor DeSantis and Lee County have also declared a State of Emergency for Lee County. No evacuation orders for Sanibel have been issued for this storm.
The weather on Sanibel this morning was sunny, however, weather conditions are expected to deteriorate rapidly as the storm moves north. The City encourages residents to monitor weather forecasts until the storm has moved well north of Sanibel. For personal safety, residents 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.
10:04 a.m. | Lee County says: 'Be vigilant and smart' with Idalia
There is also a lot of storm activity on the south side of this hurricane. That will continue into the evening and overnight.
Don’t go the beach to watch waves or recreate.
Don’t let children play in the rain and standing water.
Stay indoors during the height of the wind.
Don’t drive through flooded water.
Stay indoors this evening and overnight. Avoid unnecessary trips.
10:03 a.m. | What is the status of Lee County bridges
According to Lee County this morning:
The Florida Department of Transportation projects on the Sanibel Causeway and the Matlacha area are secured. Contractors are mobilized and will be monitoring the sites and will immediately inspect the sites after the storm passes.
Lee County does not literally “close” bridges during tropical storms or hurricanes with barricades, cones, gates or signs because they can easily blow away, becoming ineffective and hazardous.
Lee DOT strongly advises motorists to stay off bridges – and the roads leading to them— when sustained winds reach 40 mph (tropical storm force). At those speeds, wind gusts can already be much higher. Winds also become stronger at higher elevations, so dangers increase on higher bridges and elevated roadways.
Motorists may encounter law enforcement officers during weather events around and near bridges. Follow the directions given.
9:59 a.m. | FYI: Cape Coral trash pick up
Trash collection will not be affected by the storm; however, residents with a Wednesday morning collection should not put totes out Tuesday evening.
Please pull all totes inside and secure them overnight so the garbage does not become a projectile.
Residents should put their trash by the curb Wednesday at 7 a.m. Waste Pro will start trash collection on Wednesday after sunrise.
Thursday and Friday collections will not be affected.
7:13 a.m. | What is the mood of Southwest Florida as storm approaches?
What is the mood of Southwest Florida as the first big storm since Hurricane Ian closes in on Florida? Our growth and development reporter Phil Fernandez and breaking news reporter Tomas Rodriguez filed these round-ups that focused on the hard-hit areas from Ian and what preparations were being made:
STORY: Fort Myers Beach braces as Idalia approaches
STORY: Fort Myers Beach resident: It's like "a war"
7:07 a.m. | Are Lee county schools are closed today?
Here is the latest from our education reporter Nikki Ross. Schools are closed in Lee County today. Check back here today for what the plan is for Wednesday.
More: Lee County schools closed Tuesday for Tropical Storm Idalia
What about colleges and universities?
More: FGCU and FSW closed Tuesday due to Tropical Storm Idalia
6:46 a.m. | United Way ready to help
For questions regarding preparation for Tropical Storm Idalia, contact United Way 211.
211 is a United Way program that provides free information and referral to human/social service agencies within Lee, Hendry, and Glades Counties.
To use the 211 services, just dial 2-1-1 or search our database of providers online. United Way 211 is for non-emergency assistance only. In these cases, 211 can be reached in Lee, Hendry, and Glades Counties at (239) 433-3900.
If you have not signed up for AlertLee, we encourage you to do so. This is a great way to stay up to date with critical and time-sensitive information. You can sign-up by going here: https://alertlee.com/
Visit: https://www.leegov.com/storm for county updates.
6:30 a.m. | Recap from Monday's coverage: Fort Myers Beach prepares
Two of our journalists, Tomas Rodriguez and Andrew West, spent time on Fort Myers Beach on Monday. The covered a news conference with Fort Myers Beach officials, who were communicating with residents what they knew about Idalia and providing information about what to do.
Part of their coverage was talking to people who are living on Fort Myers Beach, was devastated by Hurricane Ian on Sept. 28, 2022. A video is at the top of the blog. Here is to story Rodriguez wrote:
More: 'It's like a war': FMB resident living in trailer shares Ian struggles as town braces
More coverage
More: 20 historic Florida hurricanes and where they made landfall in the Sunshine State
More: Tropical Storm Idalia expected to rapidly intensify like Ian did: What to know
More: Pine Island, Cabbage Key, barrier islands batten down hatches as Idalia approaches
More: Lee County schools closed Tuesday for Tropical Storm Idalia
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Hurricane Idalia: What to know for Lee County impact
