Hurricane Idalia: Barefoot Beach access closed Thursday for maintenance

Note to readers: As a public service, the Naples Daily News is tracking Idalia and its potential impact on Collier County and surrounding areas. Check here for the latest news from Collier County officials, including the Emergency Operations Center, cancellations, school information and more."

HURRICANE IDALIA VIDEOS ― Our visual journalists' coverage before, during and after the storm

NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER: See the latest forecast for Idalia

COLLIER COUNTY CLOSINGS: Find out what's closed, canceled

COLLIER COUNTY GOVERNMENT: Visit the county's website

COLLIER COUNTY SCHOOLS: Visit school district's website

Live radar: Follow the progress of Hurricane Idalia

7:30 p.m. l Barefoot Beach access closed Thursday, Aug. 31

The Barefoot Beach Access at 5901 Bonita Beach Road, which is 20 feet off the road, will temporarily close Thursday, Aug. 31, for hurricane maintenance.

Residents who want to go to the beach should use the Conner Park Beach Access at 111th Ave. N., Naples, and the Vanderbilt Beach Access at 280 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples, Parks & Recreation Division officials said in a news release.

For more, call the parks division at (239) 252-4000.

4:14 p.m. l Some Collier roads still hazardous, county says

Several Collier County roads are covered with water due to higher-than-normal high tides following the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia.

San Marco Road/County Road 92 from U.S. 41 to the Stan Gober Memorial Bridge is closed because of water over the roadway, county officials said in a news release.

"Once the water recedes the roadway will be reopened to traffic, but it may be closed again at subsequent high tides over the next few days," the county said. "Drivers may use Collier Boulevard and the Jolley Bridge during those times."

Other roadways impacted include:

• Danford Road from Hamilton Road to Bayview Park has water over the roadway and drivers are advised to use caution during high tides.

• Several roads off Vanderbilt Drive including Pan Am, Park and Glendale avenues, Venetian Way, Belaire Court, Rainbow Court and Grand Canal Circle have water over them and drivers are advised to use caution during high tides.

• Road, Bridge & Stormwater Maintenance Division Director Marshal Miller said the higher-than-normal tides ― often called “king tides” ― may be an issue through this Saturday on low lying roads near the coastal areas, the county said.

• Collier County Road, Bridge & Stormwater Maintenance Division crews are continuing to monitor Collier County maintained roadways and are working to clear roadside swales and drainage inlets to mitigate any potential flooding. They also are handling debris removal, as needed.

• Officials urge drivers to remember that “If You Can’t See the Ground, Turn Around” when approaching a flooded roadway.

3:46 p.m. l FSW says classes will return Thursday

Florida SouthWestern State College will resume all normal operations and classes Thursday, Aug. 31, the school said Wednesday afternoon.

Students should proceed to classes as normal.

That includes the FSW Collier Campus at 7505 Grand Lely Drive and the Lee Campus at 8099 College Parkway.

3:31 p.m. l Flooded Bonita streets Wednesday made a big splash

Gulf waters surged onto parts of Hickory Boulevard, McLaughlin Boulevard, Hickory Bay Drive and other roads as Hurricane Idalia brushed the Southwest Florida coast.

Jonah Hinebaugh, a Naples Daily News journalist, visited the south Lee County community Wednesday to document the day after Idalia made its presence felt.

11:18 a.m. l Minimal flooding in Naples

Naples experienced heavy rain and winds Tuesday afternoon and evening from Hurricane Idalia, but as of this morning, damage and flooding is minimal in the city, as Daily News journalist Kendall Little reports.

More than 278,000 homes and businesses across Florida are without power as of 11:37 a.m., with Collier County experiencing nearly 300 power outages.

Read more from her story here.

11:02 a.m. l No swim advisory issued for Naples

The state Department of Health in Collier County is advising swimmers not to go into the water due to the potential of increased water-borne illnesses affected by Hurricane Idalia.

Swimming is not recommended. Read more in the story by Liz Freeman.

10:54 a.m. l Latest updates on Collier schools, colleges

Florida Gulf Coast University

FGCU will be open Thursday. Assessment of the campus Wednesday morning showed no damage.

Collier County School District

The district announced Tuesday evening schools would be closed on Wednesday but will reopen Thursday.

Lee County School District

A decision regarding operations on Thursday will be announced by 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Nova Southwestern University

As of 10 a.m. Wednesday, the university's Fort Myers campus will be closed until further notice.

Rasmussen University

In Tuesday's update the university planned to resume operations Wednesday.

Keiser University

No updates have been posted since Tuesday, when the university said it would be closed Tuesday.

Florida SouthWestern University

A decision about Thursday operations at the Fort Myers campus will be made by 5 p.m. Wednesday.

9:38 a.m. l Everglades Airport remains closed

Everglades Airport remained closed this morning, as officials continued to assess damage.

The airport was forced to shut down due to flooding early Tuesday afternoon, said Elena Ortiz Rosado, marketing manager for the county's Public Transit & Neighborhood Enhancement Division, in an email.

"Water came in and covered the runway," she said.

Airport updates: Naples Airport open, but not busy, due to Hurricane Idalia

8:52 a.m. l Coastal flooding in Collier County today

Coastal flooding is expected along the Gulf Coast today, reported the National Weather Service in Miami.

NWS shared the high-tide cycle for early afternoon today. "High-tide timing" is 12:10 p.m. in Naples; 12:37 p.m. Marco Island; 2:25 p.m. Chokoloskee; and 2:35 p.m. Everglades City.

8:30 a.m. | The latest from RSW

Posted this morning on the Southwest Florida International Airport Facebook page:

As of 6:55 a.m. on Aug. 30, some airlines have cancelled morning flights at RSW. Please check your airline's website for cancellation and delay information. By this afternoon, most flights will be operating normally.

And a check of flights this morning showed some cancellations and delays. Read our story for more details.

8:21 a.m. l What is open now in Collier County

Collier County libraries, which closed early Tuesday, are open today for regular hours.

Also, beaches, boat ramps and all community and regional parks ― which county Parks and Recreation had closed at 6 p.m. Tuesday ― are open today.

For more, visit collierparks.com or CollierLibrary.org.

8:04 a.m. l How many power outages in Collier County

Florida Power & Light reports there are 330 Collier County residents without power as of 8 a.m. today.

That is less than 1 percent of FPL's 230,780 Collier customers.

FPL updates outages throughout the state at fplmaps.com.

7:30 p.m. l Collier County schools closed today

After outcry from parents regarding safety during Hurricane Idalia, Collier Schools are closed today, Aug. 30

All schools will be closed and after school activities cancelled. Schools will reopen Thursday. Many parents were frustrated Tuesday, waiting in pick-up lines to pick up their children as multiple tornado warnings had students across the county hunkering down in classrooms.

Lee schools also were closed today.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Idalia live updates: Latest news for Naples, Marco Island, Bonita