Last revised: 31 July 2010
NOAA’s prediction for our area
There’s a good reason why we’re optimistic our shoreline and islands will have minimal impact from the Gulf oil spill. Recent projections by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) report the probability of oil impacting our destination is less than 1 percent.
That echoes the opinion of Kristie Anders, education director for the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation. She says the Loop Current in the Gulf of Mexico follows the edge of the continental shelf, which runs parallel to the state’s coast and extends to about 150 miles off the destination’s shores. When the strong current hits the shelf, it curves southward along its edge. So, barring a major storm, it will steer the Loop Current away from our area and well offshore of Southwest Florida. See for yourself.
At this time, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill has not impacted the beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel. The Florida Division of Emergency Management does not expect the oil to impact the Fort Myers/Sanibel Island area between now and Tuesday, August 3. Forecasts are being made in 72 hour increments. There are no projections beyond that time frame.
Destination officials on The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel are monitoring the situation closely and will respond accordingly to any potential impact on our area. If you are traveling to the destination within the next few days, you can monitor the following websites for the latest updates on the spill and check back with this site for specific information regarding The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel.
J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island is reporting, “There are currently no impacts to our refuge waters. The beaches are clean and open.”
Where can I get more information?
Lee County Emergency Operations Center
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
BP Oil Spill Incident Response
Environmental Protection Agency Website on BP Oil Spill