Monitoring an area of low pressure in the western Caribbean

Happy Monday, Southwest Florida! Expect a hot and mainly dry start to the work week, with only a stray storm possible this afternoon, and highs soaring into the mid-90s! Rain chances look to stay low through Thursday, however, higher rain chances will return by Friday, which should knock our highs back down to near 90 […]

WINK News Special: Hurricane 2021 – Bracing for Activity

Weather experts are predicting another active and above-average Atlantic Hurricane Season with NOAA forecasting 13 – 20 named storms. Are you prepared? Watch the full 2021 WINK News hurricane special above. MORE: For Complete Coverage visit Hurricane Central MORE: WINK News Hurricane Guide 2021

Sales tax

Stock up on hurricane supplies without paying taxes

Starting today, you can stock up on hurricane supplies (before store shelves go empty) without paying taxes, due to the 2021 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday starting Friday and ending June 6. Some hardware stores say things like batteries, flashlights and gas cans are typically the most in-demand. You can put the same items in […]

Biden doubling spending to prepare for hurricanes, storms

President Joe Biden announced Monday that he’s doubling U.S. emergency spending to help communities prepare for hurricanes and other extreme weather events, while launching a new effort at NASA to better understand and track the impact of climate change. The $1 billion in spending is a small fraction of what the U.S. spends on weather-related […]

Ana becomes a tropical storm as it moves away from Bermuda

Tropical Storm Ana was moving away from Bermuda early Sunday after bringing rain and wind to the island in the Atlantic Ocean, forecasters said. Ana was located about 340 miles (545 kilometers) northeast of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 kph), the National Hurricane Center in Miami said in a 5 a.m. […]

Subtropical Storm Ana forms in the Atlantic, fire alert for SWFL

Subtropical Storm Ana has formed overnight in the Atlantic to the NE of Bermuda. As of 11 P.M. Saturday, Ana packs winds of 45 mph, and is slowly moving NE at 5 mph. Ana marks the 7th season in a row of the first named storm forming before the official start of hurricane season. Ana […]

Tracking two disturbances in the Atlantic Basin

A non-tropical low pressure system located about 450 miles east-northeast of Bermuda is producing tropical storm-force wind and more organized storm activity. The system is expected to move over warmer waters today and will likely become a short-lived subtropical cyclone. Advisories could be issued as early as today or tonight. By this weekend, the low […]

NOAA predicts above-average 2021 Atlantic hurricane season

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting another above-normal Atlantic hurricane season. Forecasters predict a 60% chance of an above-normal season, a 30% chance of a near-normal season and a 10% chance of a below-normal season. A likely 13 to 20 named storms, including three to five major hurricanes, are expected during the 2021 […]

Development potential increasing for our first tropical disturbance

A non-tropical area of low pressure has developed about 600 miles east-southeast of Bermuda. The system is expected to move over warmer waters on Friday and will likely become a short-lived subtropical cyclone. By this weekend, the low will push out to sea and is no threat to the state of Florida. The National Hurricane […]

Preparing for the unexpected as hurricane season approaches

A last-minute shift of Hurricane Charley in 2004 forever changed Southwest Florida, and it’s proof that you should be prepared for the unexpected. “I sat in my recliner here and I’m looking out the window watching trees blow by,” said Edward LaSota, who lives in a Deep Creek, just a few miles from where Charley […]