91°
Mostly Sunny
8%
77
Lee County, FL · Gulf of Mexico
Sanibel Island Beach
110 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL 33957
The shelling capital of the world — Sanibel's east-west orientation collects shells from the Gulf onto every tide. The "Sanibel Stoop" is a real local affliction. Bike-friendly across the entire island, J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge covers 6,400 acres of mangrove and bay habitat.
Today's Conditions
Great day for a beach walk.
90°F water
Full NWS forecast for Today
Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Heat index values as high as 103. South southwest wind 5 to 9 mph.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 83. Heat index values as high as 103. North northeast wind 6 to 9 mph.
Weather
- 91°F air — hot — hydrate and seek shade
- Sunny skies — mostly sunny
Water
- 90°F water — warm — full-day swim weather
Safety
- UV 10 (extreme) — spf 50+ mandatory, limit mid-day exposure
77 /100
great
76 Swim
69 Sunbathe
80 Walk
79 Fish
78 Photo
Best for walking today
Water level 0.6 ft above predicted
Observed water level is running higher than the astronomical tide prediction. Expect a narrower beach, faster-rising water, and stronger near-shore currents than the tide chart suggests.
Atmosphere
Air Temp
91°F
Clear
Wind
5 to 9 mph
SSW
Rain
8%
Today
UV Peak
10 Very High
High 12 PM–04 PM · burn in ~20m
Burn-free before 09 AM & after 06 PM
Tomorrow
90°F
Sunny
Water
Water Temp
90°F
Swimming weather
Next Low Tide
11:16 PM
0.0 ft · in 8.0h
Wave Height
1.6 ft
5s · WSW swell
Water Quality
Clean
10 MPN/100mL · Enterococcus
USGS · sampled 6mo ago
Rip Current Risk · Regional Reference
No zone-specific NWS forecast for this beach (GMZ836)
The TBW office's Surf Zone Forecast doesn't cover this beach's forecast zone directly. Nearby coastal zones it does cover are listed below — regional reference only, not a substitute for the conditions at this specific beach.
- FLZ139 Coastal Levy-Coastal Citrus-Coastal Hernando-Coastal Pasco — Cedar Key, Yankeetown, Crystal River, n/a
- FLZ050 Pinellas-Coastal Hillsborough-Coastal Manatee-Coastal Sarasota — Clearwater Beach, Saint Pete Beach, n/a
- FLZ162 Coastal Charlotte-Coastal Lee — Manasota Key, Palm Island, Captiva, Sanibel, n/a
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
6:43 AM
Sunset
8:23 PM
Moon · 5%
Waning Crescent
Spring tides — bigger range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4:03 AM | High | 0.8 ft |
| 7:04 AM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| 2:05 PM | High | 1.8 ft |
| 11:16 PM | Low | 0.0 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4:55 AM | High | 0.8 ft |
| 8:09 AM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| 3:01 PM | High | 1.9 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:01 AM | Low | 0.1 ft |
| 5:34 AM | High | 0.8 ft |
| 9:19 AM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| 3:57 PM | High | 1.9 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:42 AM | Low | 0.1 ft |
| 6:09 AM | High | 0.9 ft |
| 10:25 AM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| 4:53 PM | High | 1.8 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:17 AM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| 6:42 AM | High | 0.9 ft |
| 11:28 AM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| 5:47 PM | High | 1.7 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:48 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 7:17 AM | High | 1.0 ft |
| 12:28 PM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| 6:39 PM | High | 1.6 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:14 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 7:53 AM | High | 1.0 ft |
| 1:29 PM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| 7:32 PM | High | 1.4 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 8725520, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
90°
Sunny
4%
77
91°
Sunny
10%
75
92°
Sunny
7%
74
92°
Mostly Sunny
3%
73
92°
Sunny
8%
72
90°
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
21%
38
What to Bring Today
- critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 10 — very high
- recommended Umbrella or shade warm day, light wind
- optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 90°F
- critical Extra water / electrolytes 91°F - heat risk
- recommended Cooling towel or hat sustained heat
Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).
Best Fishing Times Today
Solunar theory: fish activity peaks at moon transits (major) and moonrise/moonset (minor). All times local.
Major
10:20 PM - 12:20 AM
Minor
4:10 AM - 5:10 AM
Major
10:50 AM - 12:50 PM
Minor
6:50 PM - 7:50 PM
Beach Info
Parking
Paid public lots at Bowman's Beach, Lighthouse Beach, Tarpon Bay Beach, and Gulfside City Park. Cash or app.
Dogs
Dogs allowed leashed on most Sanibel beaches.
Entry Fee
Free
Address
110 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL 33957
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Sanibel Island Beach today?
Sanibel Island Beach shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. No lifeguards are on duty, so check the day's conditions and swim with caution. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.
Is Sanibel Island Beach dog-friendly?
Dogs allowed leashed on most Sanibel beaches.
Is there an entry fee at Sanibel Island Beach?
Entry to Sanibel Island Beach is free.
Are there lifeguards at Sanibel Island Beach?
No lifeguards are stationed at Sanibel Island Beach. Swim at your own risk and keep close watch on children.
What amenities are at Sanibel Island Beach?
Amenities at Sanibel Island Beach include restrooms, showers, bike rentals, wildlife refuge.
When is the water warmest at Sanibel Island Beach?
The Gulf of Mexico is bathwater-warm by mid-summer — 84-88°F is typical from July through September on the FL Gulf, TX coast, and AL/MS coast. Swimming comfortable from April through October on most of the Gulf.
Where is Sanibel Island Beach located?
Sanibel Island Beach is in Lee County, FL, at 110 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL 33957.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS