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 

Tonight

December 29th 2024

S wind 5 to 7 kt becoming variable and less than 5 kt after midnight. A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 9pm. Widespread fog, mainly after midnight. Seas around 2 ft.

Temperature: Low 66 °F

Monday

December 30th 2024

Variable winds 5 kt or less. Widespread fog, mainly before 8am. Seas 1 to 2 ft.

Temperature: High 75 °F

Monday Night

December 30th 2024

Variable winds less than 5 kt becoming S 5 to 7 kt after midnight. Partly cloudy. Seas around 1 ft.

Temperature: Low 68 °F

Tuesday

December 31st 2024

S wind 6 to 9 kt becoming WSW in the afternoon. Mostly sunny. Seas around 1 ft.

Temperature: High 72 °F

Tuesday Night

December 31st 2024

WSW wind around 6 kt becoming NW after midnight. Partly cloudy. Seas around 1 ft.

Temperature: Low 66 °F

New Year's Day

January 1st 2025

NNW wind 6 to 13 kt. Sunny. Seas around 2 ft.

Temperature: High 70 °F

Wednesday Night

January 1st 2025

NNW wind 13 to 15 kt becoming NNE after midnight. Partly cloudy. Seas 2 to 3 ft.

Temperature: Low 56 °F

Thursday

January 2nd 2025

NNE wind 10 to 15 kt. Mostly sunny. Seas around 2 ft.

Temperature: High 68 °F

Wind Speed (kts)

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

Created with Highstock 6.0.4Today, Dec 30th - PMN0000008800000077N/A10:000 knots5 knots10 knots15 knots
Created with Highstock 6.0.4Monday, Dec 30th - AMNNNN77665566665533331:004:007:0010:000 knots5 knots10 knots15 knots
Created with Highstock 6.0.4Monday, Dec 31st - PMNNNN77665555444433441:004:007:0010:000 knots5 knots10 knots15 knots
Created with Highstock 6.0.4Tuesday, Dec 31st - AMNNNN55777799555566771:004:007:0010:000 knots5 knots10 knots15 knots
Created with Highstock 6.0.4Tuesday, Jan 1st - PMNNNN111110106655887755551:004:007:0010:000 knots5 knots10 knots15 knots
Created with Highstock 6.0.4Wednesday, Jan 1st - AMNNNN55667799555555771:004:007:0010:000 knots5 knots10 knots15 knots
Created with Highstock 6.0.4Wednesday, Jan 2nd - PMNNN1111121213130088991212001:004:007:00N/A0 knots5 knots10 knots15 knots
Created with Highstock 6.0.4Thursday, Jan 2nd - AMNN1414001515001313001414001:00N/A7:000 knots5 knots10 knots15 knots

Wave Heights(ft)

Created with Highstock 6.0.4Wave heightsMon 30 Dec12:00Tue 31 Dec12:00Wed 1 Jan12:00Thu 2 Jan12:00Fri 3 Jan12:00Sat 4 Jan12:000 feet0.5 feet1 feet1.5 feet2 feet2.5 feet

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.