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.

Today's Conditions

Decent day for sunbathing.

Thunderstorms · 87°F water · 86°F air

Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon

Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. Heat index values as high as 98. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Tonight

Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 82. Heat index values as high as 97. South southeast wind around 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Weather

86°F air — ideal beach weather
30% rain — pop-up showers possible

Water

87°F water — warm — full-day swim weather

Safety

Thunderstorms — stay off the water when storms approach

35 /100

24 Swim

55 Sunbathe

25 Walk

41 Fish

30 Photo

Best for sunbathing 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.

NOAA station 8725520 · Observed 1.66 ft · Predicted 1.06 ft

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Atmosphere

Air Temp

86°F

Clear

Wind

15 mph

Rain

30%

This Afternoon

UV Peak

5 Moderate

Peaks 11 AM · burn in ~40m

Burn-free before 09 AM & after 06 PM

Tomorrow

87°F

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

Water

Water Temp

87°F

Swimming weather

Wave Height

3.3 ft

5s · SSE 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

NWS SRF · TBW · Issued Jul 18, 7:19 AM

Sun & Moon

Sunrise

6:45 AM

Sunset

8:22 PM

Moon · 18%

Waxing Crescent

Neap tides — smaller range

Tides

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

Time	Type	Height
2:39 AM	Low	0.3 ft
8:32 AM	High	1.1 ft
2:36 PM	Low	0.5 ft
8:29 PM	High	1.2 ft

Time	Type	Height
3:04 AM	Low	0.4 ft
9:13 AM	High	1.2 ft
3:53 PM	Low	0.5 ft
9:37 PM	High	1.0 ft

Time	Type	Height
3:32 AM	Low	0.4 ft
9:58 AM	High	1.2 ft
5:29 PM	Low	0.4 ft
11:01 PM	High	0.8 ft

Time	Type	Height
4:03 AM	Low	0.5 ft
10:44 AM	High	1.3 ft
7:20 PM	Low	0.3 ft

Time	Type	Height
12:33 AM	High	0.7 ft
4:40 AM	Low	0.5 ft
11:31 AM	High	1.4 ft
8:38 PM	Low	0.2 ft

Time	Type	Height
1:58 AM	High	0.7 ft
5:26 AM	Low	0.6 ft
12:18 PM	High	1.4 ft
9:31 PM	Low	0.1 ft

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

7-Day Beach Day Forecast

Today Jul 18

86°

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

30%

Sun Jul 19

87°

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

51%

Mon Jul 20

87°

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

55%

Tue Jul 21

89°

Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms

17%

Wed Jul 22

89°

Sunny

13%

Thu Jul 23

89°

Sunny then Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms

17%

Fri Jul 24

90°

Sunny then Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

31%

What to Bring Today

recommended Sturdy umbrella + sand anchor 15 mph wind
optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 87°F
optional Light cover-up, watch for pop-ups 30% rain chance

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.

Minor

10:30 PM - 11:30 PM

Major

4:00 AM - 6:00 AM

Minor

10:40 AM - 11:40 AM

Major

4:20 PM - 6:20 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.