Fort Myers Beach boaters alter plans due to incoming stormy weather

FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. — Boaters across Southwest Florida are taking advantage of calm conditions Friday, knowing rougher and potentially dangerous weather is on the way this weekend.

The WINK Weather Authority is tracking a cold front expected to move through the area Saturday, bringing rain and potential wind gusts near 40 miles per hour.

Those conditions could quickly turn calm waters into choppy, hazardous seas.

Local boaters say the forecast is enough to keep them at the dock.

“It’s always a toss up,” said Jay Johnston, an Iona resident who has spent decades visiting the area. “We never really know what’s going to happen with the weather.”

At Bowditch Point Park on Fort Myers Beach, visitors said they’re enjoying Friday’s sunshine but don’t plan to be back on the water this weekend. Many said they’re already shifting plans, opting for restaurants or indoor activities instead.

Johnston said unpredictable weather has always been part of coastal life, adding that rainy or windy weekends often change how visitors spend their time.

For experienced captains, the concern isn’t just rain, it’s wind.

James Douvia, a U.S. Coast Guard licensed master captain who operates Sunset Jet Ski Rental and Boat Tours in the area, said even moderate wind speeds can quickly make boating unsafe.

“Any time it’s about 12 miles an hour or more out on the bay, it starts to get pretty choppy,” Douvia said. “Those are days you probably don’t want to take your family out.”

Douvia said strong winds and rain can reduce visibility and make it harder to control a vessel, increasing the risk of running aground or capsizing especially in areas with shallow water or hidden sandbars.

“In inclement weather, you might not know until you’re 50 feet away,” he said. “By that time, it’s too late.”

Because of those risks, Douvia said his company plans to cut operations short.

“We’re doing rentals until probably about 3:30 tomorrow afternoon,” he said.

Safety experts urge boaters to closely monitor marine forecasts, wear life jackets and consider staying in port until conditions improve.