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

March 19th 2024

N wind 16 to 19 kt, with gusts as high as 26 kt. A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 4am, then a slight chance of showers. Seas 2 to 4 ft.

Temperature: Low 60 °F

Tuesday

March 19th 2024

NNE wind 16 to 21 kt decreasing to 9 to 14 kt in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 28 kt. Sunny. Seas 3 to 4 ft.

Temperature: High 71 °F

Tuesday Night

March 19th 2024

N wind 9 to 11 kt becoming ENE after midnight. Mostly clear. Seas 2 to 3 ft.

Temperature: Low 60 °F

Wednesday

March 20th 2024

NE wind 6 to 9 kt becoming NW in the afternoon. Sunny. Seas 1 to 2 ft.

Temperature: High 71 °F

Wednesday Night

March 20th 2024

NNW wind around 9 kt becoming NE after midnight. Partly cloudy. Seas around 1 ft.

Temperature: Low 64 °F

Thursday

March 21st 2024

ENE wind 7 to 10 kt becoming S in the afternoon. Partly sunny. Seas around 1 ft.

Temperature: High 75 °F

Thursday Night

March 21st 2024

ESE wind 7 to 17 kt. A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1am. Seas 1 to 2 ft.

Temperature: Low 69 °F

Friday

March 22nd 2024

ESE wind 17 to 20 kt becoming SSW in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 27 kt. Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Seas 2 to 4 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.