Traffic mania on Pondella Road and US-41 following Caloosahatchee Bridge closureGov. DeSantis to hold news conference in Lee County
NORTH FORT MYERS Traffic mania on Pondella Road and US-41 following Caloosahatchee Bridge closure Headaches ensue on Pondella Road and US-41 as motorists deal with day two of the Caloosahatchee Bridge closure.
WINK NEWS Gov. DeSantis to hold news conference in Lee County Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to hold a press conference in Lee County.
The Weather Authority Hot afternoon with scattered storms this evening The Weather Authority is tracking hot temperatures with storms expected to develop along the east of I-75 in the afternoon and into the evening.
Lee County to give update on FEMA flood insurance discount Lee County will give an update on the issue at Tuesday’s county commissioners meeting at 9:30 a.m.
NAPLES Lorenzo Walker Technical High School students protest closure Students showed up Monday to the Collier County school board meeting in an effort to save Lorenzo Walker Technical High School.
FORT MYERS Lessons Learned: Day 1 of Caloosahatchee Bridge closures A domino effect of traffic delays, the Caloosahatchee bridge closure had hundreds of drivers searching for a new route on Monday.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Storm Watch 2024: Ensuring Your Safety, Insuring Your Future this hurricane season Protecting your family, your home and yourself. The hurricane season has arrived and WINK News is here to help you prepare.
Safely securing your boat as a storm approaches Whether your boat rides out a storm on land or in the water, there are steps you can take to increase the odds it won’t get damaged.
Hurricane Hunter who flew into Ian shares his story and the team’s critical mission The Hurricane Hunters fly directly into the world’s worst weather. Hurricane Ian is high on that list.
PORT CHARLOTTE As a new hurricane season begins, thousands still have open insurance claims from Ian A family of six has lived in their Port Charlotte driveway since Ian. They are battling Citizens Insurance over their claim.
BONITA SPRINGS 2 dogs, 2 cats rescued from garage fire in Bonita Springs According to the Bonita Springs Fire Department, firefighters received a call about a structure fire in a garage before 11 a.m. Monday.
CAPE CORAL ‘That monster was the last one to talk to her’; victim’s family speaks out against accused murderer Wade Wilson is facing the death penalty if convicted in the deaths of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz.
FORT MYERS Drivers ticketed for cutting through North Fort Myers parking lot Driver after driver after driver who had no regard for anyone else, got aggressive while trying to get from North Fort Myers to downtown.
AVE MARIA Family of child drowning victim, Ave Maria community mourn loss A family is dealing with a tragedy in Ave Maria after a child drowned in the town’s water park.
NAPLES Local talent featured in The Pole Vault in The Plaza at Mercato Former SWFL high school vaulters, Drew McMichael and Havana Layton, are competing in The Pole Vault in The Plaza at Mercato.
NORTH FORT MYERS Traffic mania on Pondella Road and US-41 following Caloosahatchee Bridge closure Headaches ensue on Pondella Road and US-41 as motorists deal with day two of the Caloosahatchee Bridge closure.
WINK NEWS Gov. DeSantis to hold news conference in Lee County Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to hold a press conference in Lee County.
The Weather Authority Hot afternoon with scattered storms this evening The Weather Authority is tracking hot temperatures with storms expected to develop along the east of I-75 in the afternoon and into the evening.
Lee County to give update on FEMA flood insurance discount Lee County will give an update on the issue at Tuesday’s county commissioners meeting at 9:30 a.m.
NAPLES Lorenzo Walker Technical High School students protest closure Students showed up Monday to the Collier County school board meeting in an effort to save Lorenzo Walker Technical High School.
FORT MYERS Lessons Learned: Day 1 of Caloosahatchee Bridge closures A domino effect of traffic delays, the Caloosahatchee bridge closure had hundreds of drivers searching for a new route on Monday.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Storm Watch 2024: Ensuring Your Safety, Insuring Your Future this hurricane season Protecting your family, your home and yourself. The hurricane season has arrived and WINK News is here to help you prepare.
Safely securing your boat as a storm approaches Whether your boat rides out a storm on land or in the water, there are steps you can take to increase the odds it won’t get damaged.
Hurricane Hunter who flew into Ian shares his story and the team’s critical mission The Hurricane Hunters fly directly into the world’s worst weather. Hurricane Ian is high on that list.
PORT CHARLOTTE As a new hurricane season begins, thousands still have open insurance claims from Ian A family of six has lived in their Port Charlotte driveway since Ian. They are battling Citizens Insurance over their claim.
BONITA SPRINGS 2 dogs, 2 cats rescued from garage fire in Bonita Springs According to the Bonita Springs Fire Department, firefighters received a call about a structure fire in a garage before 11 a.m. Monday.
CAPE CORAL ‘That monster was the last one to talk to her’; victim’s family speaks out against accused murderer Wade Wilson is facing the death penalty if convicted in the deaths of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz.
FORT MYERS Drivers ticketed for cutting through North Fort Myers parking lot Driver after driver after driver who had no regard for anyone else, got aggressive while trying to get from North Fort Myers to downtown.
AVE MARIA Family of child drowning victim, Ave Maria community mourn loss A family is dealing with a tragedy in Ave Maria after a child drowned in the town’s water park.
NAPLES Local talent featured in The Pole Vault in The Plaza at Mercato Former SWFL high school vaulters, Drew McMichael and Havana Layton, are competing in The Pole Vault in The Plaza at Mercato.
Rip current on Florida shore. (Credit: NOAA) As Americans head to the beach this summer, the risk of rip currents may be lurking just offshore. Rip currents are narrow channels of fast-moving water that commonly occur along U.S. coastlines and are the reason for more than 80% of beach rescues. Anywhere there are waves, rip currents can form. And while they can develop during any kind of weather or conditions, they most often occur during low tide when waves are at least 2 feet tall. When waves crash onto shore, they create currents, but sometimes those currents move perpendicular to land and create the rip currents that flow offshore. They are dangerous and can pull swimmers out to sea at rapid speeds. “Rip current” is sometimes incorrectly referred to as a “rip tide.” Rip currents, while influenced by tides, are ultimately created by waves hitting the bottom of the shore. While rip currents are dangerous, it’s how we react to them that can turn them deadly. Why are rip currents so dangerous? According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, rip currents kill 100 people every year in the U.S. They can occur on any of the coasts, including along the Great Lakes. To compare, sharks killed one person in the U.S. in 2022. In North Carolina, researchers found that 25% to 30% of all rip current drownings were individuals going in to rescue someone else, Greg Dusek, a senior scientist at NOAA’s National Ocean Service, told CBS News. That’s what happened when New York City firefighter Mark Batista jumped in to try to save his daughter from a rip current on the Jersey Shore. Rescuers managed to pull the girl to safety, but Batista drowned. There was no lifeguard on duty at the time. What causes rip currents? Lifeguards rescue 30,000 swimmers from rip currents every year in the U.S. While many believe rip currents only occur during storms or bad weather, that’s a misconception: They can occur in any weather, at any time and can be difficult to spot. Dusek said three primary sources influence rip currents: waves, the tide or water level, and the shape of the bottom of the coastline. Rip currents often form in shallow waters where there are breaks in sandbars or along structures such as jetties and piers. How can you spot a rip current? Keep an eye out for rip currents by looking for breaks in waves where foam, seaweed or sand is being pulled away from shore. The safest way to prepare for a day at the beach is to go to a beach with a lifeguard, American Lifeguard Association national spokesperson Wyatt Werneth told CBS News. If a beach’s website does not mention lifeguard hours, Werneth said, it most likely doesn’t have one. According to the U.S. Lifesaving Association, the chance of drowning at a beach with a lifeguard is 1 in 18 million. Werneth and Dusek said beachgoers should adopt a “know before you go” policy. Before visiting a beach, check local forecasts for any beach warnings. Check NOAA’s Nearshore Wave Prediction System, which predicts rip current conditions, or visit weather.gov/beach for beach forecasts across the country. How can you escape a rip current? Rip currents can move as quickly as 8 feet per second. The conventional wisdom for what to do if you’re caught in a rip current is to swim parallel to shore to try and escape it. But Werneth warned that isn’t always best — rip currents can be up to 50 feet wide and you can easily swim out of one and into another. It doesn’t matter how strong of a swimmer you are, Werneth said, if caught in a rip the best thing to do is to stay calm, try to float on the surface and call for help. Rip currents sit on the water’s surface and won’t pull you under. Trying to play tug-of-war with the rip and swimming straight to shore will only tire a swimmer out and increase the chance of drowning. If you see someone struggling, never go in to help them without a floatation device. If a lifeguard is not present, call 911.