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 

Sunday

February 16th 2025

S wind 12 to 18 kt becoming SW in the afternoon. A slight chance of showers after 5pm. Seas 2 to 3 ft.

Temperature: High 76 °F

Sunday Night

February 16th 2025

W wind 11 to 17 kt becoming NNE after midnight. A slight chance of showers before midnight. Seas 2 to 3 ft.

Temperature: Low 62 °F

Washington's Birthday

February 17th 2025

NNE wind 10 to 18 kt. Mostly sunny. Seas around 3 ft.

Temperature: High 73 °F

Monday Night

February 17th 2025

N wind 12 to 14 kt becoming ENE in the evening. Mostly cloudy. Seas 2 to 3 ft.

Temperature: Low 64 °F

Tuesday

February 18th 2025

ENE wind 5 to 12 kt becoming SW in the afternoon. Partly sunny. Seas 1 to 2 ft.

Temperature: High 75 °F

Tuesday Night

February 18th 2025

NNW wind 5 to 12 kt becoming SE after midnight. Mostly cloudy. Seas around 1 ft.

Temperature: Low 69 °F

Wednesday

February 19th 2025

SE wind around 13 kt becoming SW in the afternoon. A slight chance of showers after noon. Seas 1 to 2 ft.

Temperature: High 75 °F

Wednesday Night

February 19th 2025

SW wind 11 to 15 kt becoming NW after midnight. A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Seas around 2 ft.

Temperature: Low 66 °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.