RECON

River, Estuary and Coastal Observing Network

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Weather Stations Update

Originally deployed in 2012, thanks to funding from the West Coast Inland Navigation District (WCIND) through a grant from Lee County, the RECON weather stations became the first weather stations in this area located directly over the water. Designed to give researchers and boaters near real-time information on the current over water weather conditions, they quickly became the go to weather source for the local boating community.  ...

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The River, Estuary and Coastal Observing Network (RECON) is a network of water quality sensors deployed throughout the Caloosahatchee river and estuary to provide real-time, water quality data to scientists, policy makers, and the general public.

The extensive watersheds of the Caloosahatchee (1,400 square miles) and Lake Okeechobee (4,400 square miles) each contribute water that flows into the Caloosahatchee estuary and the Gulf of Mexico. Water quality is affected by both Lake Okeechobee discharges and runoff from the Caloosahatchee watershed. Over time, these watersheds have changed from low-nutrient loading marshes and wetlands to high loading urban and agricultural land uses. Nutrients increase turbidity and decrease concentrations of dissolved oxygen (DO). In addition, excess nutrients fuel nuisance algal blooms. Losses of low-nutrient adapted communities, such as seagrasses have contributed to changes in fish, crustacean and marine mammal communities.

Boater Forecast

Weather forecast data provided courtesy of the National Atmospheric and Oceanographic Administration

This NOAA marine forecast covers the area 6NM SSW of Captiva FL.  Additional Associated Zone Forecast 

Overnight

December 7th 2024

Variable winds 5 kt or less. Partly cloudy. Seas 1 ft or less.

Temperature: Low 62 °F

Friday

December 7th 2024

Variable winds less than 5 kt becoming N 8 to 13 kt in the afternoon. Mostly sunny. Seas 1 to 2 ft.

Temperature: High 70 °F

Friday Night

December 7th 2024

NNE wind around 16 kt. Partly cloudy. Seas 2 to 3 ft.

Temperature: Low 55 °F

Saturday

December 8th 2024

NNE wind 11 to 16 kt. Sunny. Seas 2 to 3 ft.

Temperature: High 72 °F

Saturday Night

December 8th 2024

ENE wind 12 to 14 kt. Mostly clear. Seas around 2 ft.

Temperature: Low 60 °F

Sunday

December 9th 2024

ENE wind 7 to 12 kt. Sunny. Seas around 1 ft.

Temperature: High 73 °F

Sunday Night

December 9th 2024

E wind 9 to 11 kt. Partly cloudy. Seas around 1 ft.

Temperature: Low 65 °F

Monday

December 10th 2024

E wind 6 to 10 kt becoming S in the afternoon. Mostly sunny. Seas around 1 ft.

Temperature: High 74 °F

Wind Speed (kts)

Below is the NOAA wind speed forecast. Click Here to view the data from the RECON weather stations. 

Wave Heights(ft)

This is a graph of the NOAA marine forecast for wave height 6NM SSW of Captiva FL. This is the same area the RECON wave buoy is deployed.