Lee County, FL · Gulf of Mexico

Sanibel Island Beach

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.

Eats & Drinks 3

Today's Conditions

Skip the beach today.

Thunderstorms · 53% rain · 89°F water

Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon

Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Heat index values as high as 101. South southwest wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Tonight

Scattered showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 80. East wind 7 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Weather

90°F air — hot — hydrate and seek shade
53% rain — rain likely at some point

Water

89°F water — warm — full-day swim weather

Safety

Thunderstorms — stay off the water when storms approach
UV 10 (extreme) — spf 50+ mandatory, limit mid-day exposure

17 /100

skip

16 Swim

35 Sunbathe

8 Walk

12 Fish

26 Photo

Best for sunbathing today

Get Directions View on Google Maps Open in Apple Maps

Atmosphere

Air Temp

90°F

Mostly Clear

Wind

8 mph

SSW

Rain

53%

This Afternoon

UV Peak

10 Very High

High 11 AM–03 PM · burn in ~20m

Burn-free before 09 AM & after 06 PM

Tomorrow

89°F

Mostly Sunny then Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

Water

Water Temp

89°F

Swimming weather

Next Low Tide

10:45 PM

0.5 ft · in 3.5h

Wave Height

1.0 ft

3s · SSE swell

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

NWS SRF · TBW · Issued Sep 9, 4:00 AM

Sun & Moon

Sunrise

7:11 AM

Sunset

7:39 PM

Moon · 5%

Waning Crescent

Spring tides — bigger range

Tides

Time	Type	Height
3:36 AM	High	1.2 ft
8:52 AM	Low	0.7 ft
3:20 PM	High	1.8 ft
10:45 PM	Low	0.5 ft

Time	Type	Height
4:04 AM	High	1.3 ft
9:47 AM	Low	0.6 ft
4:06 PM	High	1.7 ft
11:07 PM	Low	0.6 ft

Time	Type	Height
4:31 AM	High	1.4 ft
10:38 AM	Low	0.5 ft
4:49 PM	High	1.7 ft
11:25 PM	Low	0.7 ft

Time	Type	Height
4:57 AM	High	1.5 ft
11:28 AM	Low	0.5 ft
5:30 PM	High	1.5 ft
11:41 PM	Low	0.7 ft

Time	Type	Height
5:21 AM	High	1.6 ft
12:18 PM	Low	0.5 ft
6:13 PM	High	1.4 ft
11:59 PM	Low	0.7 ft

Time	Type	Height
5:46 AM	High	1.6 ft
1:11 PM	Low	0.5 ft
7:02 PM	High	1.2 ft

Time	Type	Height
12:19 AM	Low	0.7 ft
6:11 AM	High	1.7 ft
2:09 PM	Low	0.5 ft
8:02 PM	High	1.1 ft

High/low predictions from NOAA station 8725520, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.

7-Day Beach Day Forecast

Today Sep 9

90°

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

53%

Thu Sep 10

89°

Mostly Sunny then Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

54%

Fri Sep 11

89°

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

69%

Sat Sep 12

89°

Showers And Thunderstorms

82%

Sun Sep 13

89°

Showers And Thunderstorms

81%

Mon Sep 14

90°

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

68%

Tue Sep 15

90°

Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

62%

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 89°F
optional Light cover-up, watch for pop-ups 53% rain chance
critical Extra water / electrolytes 90°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

11:00 PM - 1:00 AM

Minor

5:10 AM - 6:10 AM

Major

11:20 AM - 1:20 PM

Minor

6:30 PM - 7:30 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

restroomsshowersbike rentalswildlife refuge

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.