Weather

Charlotte County Economic Development, in partnership with local chambers and regional organizations, will host a free Business Hurricane Season Preparedness Webinar at noon on May 6 to help local businesses prepare for, respond to, and recover from severe weather events. The virtual session will be held via Microsoft Teams and is open to businesses across the region.

A developing El Niño could affect Florida in two major ways: fewer Atlantic hurricanes, followed by a wetter, stormier winter with greater severe weather risk. NOAA says El Niño over a 60% chance of developing in summer 2026, with a 1-in-3 chance of becoming strong by late fall.

A 1,733-acre wildfire was being fought in the Picayune Strand State Forest in Collier County Monday afternoon. The fire was south of Alligator Alley and prompted a warning from the Florida Highway Patrol.

La Niña officially emerged in September 2025 and lasted until April. Neutral conditions are present, but an El Niño is expected to emerge later in 2026.

Colorado State University is one of the most highly revered names in hurricane forecasting, and for Florida, that matters. Here’s why a landlocked university has become so influential for a state that sees more hurricane hits than any other.

Highlands county burn ban extended because of extreme dought

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.

Severe, extreme, and exceptional drought expands across Florida as temperatures remain warm and high pressure keeps showers and storms focused only on some areas.

Fort Myers Broadcasting Company, which operates WINK News, filed a breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty lawsuit Wednesday against its former weatherman Matt Devitt alleging he gambled during work and violated a non-compete clause.

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.