Weather

In 2022, according to visitfortmyers.com, there were more than 4.4 million visitors, with the top three local attractions drawing crowds to the county being the beaches themselves at 66%, the Fort Myers Beach Pier at 36%, and the Sanibel Lighthouse at 26%. However, the year after Hurricane Ian, that number fell to nearly 3 million visitors. The pier’s visitation rate dropped to 15% while the beaches remained No. 1 at 51%. But now, with the promise of a new and improved pier on the horizon, those stats are starting to rebound.

A strong cold front will push through Florida, bringing a chance for severe storms, much-needed rain, and a brief drop in temperatures. Some relief to our A/C units.

A free Community Conversation on Hurricane Preparedness event is plannedfrom 9a.m.to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 11 at Riverview High School inSarasota.

After a winter that hit harder than anyone expected, freezing blossoms and fruit and bruising hopes, Florida blueberry growers are working to recover from this chilly season.

A rare celestial event will light up the skies on March 3 — the last total “Blood Moon” visible in the Americas until late 2028. Find out what makes this eclipse unique and when to look up before the moonset cuts the show short.

Reports of at least 25 dead manatees in Lee County have been received by Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission officials. A statement from the FWC says that they recently received an increase in reports of deceased manatees in the Orange River and surrounding areas of Fort Myers.

Should local governments in Florida be free to pursue local net-zero goals that fight climate change, sea-level rise, extreme heat and worsening weather plaguing their residents? Republicans in the state Legislature are saying no.

Three hurricanes in two years took a toll on Florida Gulf Coast University's Vester Field Station. But, that's all behind the research and classroom facility now, it reopened Monday, February 16, and is ready to resume operations.

2025 was the driest year in over a decade for the Sunshine State. The lack of perception has been felt hard in Southwest Florida, where current extreme drought conditions are the worst since 2001.

After a hiatus from local television and the loss of his social media weather page, former local weather forecaster Matt Devitt has returned to the Internet.