Marine forecast
Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound, FL
- current wind
- 4 kt ENE
- Gusts
- 5 kt
- Air
- 85°F
- Water
- 85°F
- 72-hr peak
- 15 kt
Observed Tue 2:54 PM | GMZ836
- Gusts now
- 5 kt
- Air
- 85°F
- Water
- 85°F
- 72-hr peak
- 15 kt
- Peak seas
- 1 ft
In brief
At 2:54 pm EDT on Oct 13, 2026, NDBC station FMRF1 (Fort Myers, FL, 19 miles away) measured wind from the ENE at 4 kt, gusting to 5 kt. The NWS forecast for Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound, FL issued at 3:17 pm EDT on Oct 13, 2026 reads, for tonight: “Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop.”
Source: National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL forecast; NDBC observations
Wind forecast · ktPeak 15 kt
Seas forecast · ftPeak 1 ft
NWS marine forecast
| Period | Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tonight | Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. |
| Wednesday | Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay and inland waters light chop. |
| Wednesday Night | East winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. |
| Thursday | East winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay and inland waters light chop. Numerous showers and scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. |
| Thursday Night | East winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay and inland waters light chop. Numerous showers and scattered thunderstorms in the evening, then isolated showers after midnight. |
| Friday | East winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming south in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters light chop. Numerous showers and scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. |
| Friday Night | Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming northeast after midnight. Bay and inland waters light chop. Isolated showers. Scattered thunderstorms, mainly in the evening. |
| Saturday | Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots, increasing to 15 to 20 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters choppy. Scattered showers and thunderstorms. |
| Saturday Night | Northeast winds 20 to 25 knots, diminishing to 15 to 20 knots after midnight. Bay and inland waters rough. Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly in the evening. |
| Sunday | Northeast winds 20 to 25 knots. Bay and inland waters rough. Isolated showers in the morning, then scattered showers with isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon. Winds and waves higher in and near thunderstorms. |
Issued Tue 3:17 PM by Tampa Bay Ruskin FL (product CWFTBW).
Synopsis
High pressure will remain over the waters through Wednesday, keeping northeast winds 15 knots or below. Wind speeds will increase near cautionary levels for Wednesday night before returning below headlines through the rest of the week. A cold front will then move across the area Friday night into Saturday with winds becoming more northeasterly and increasing to advisory and possibly gale force for the weekend. Shower and storm chances will also increase starting Thursday mainly for the central and southern waters and continue each day through the weekend.
Recent buoy conditions
| Time | Wind | Gust | Seas | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 2:54 PM | 4 kt ENE | 5 kt | — | 85°F |
| Tue 1:54 PM | 5 kt NE | 6 kt | — | 85°F |
| Tue 12:54 PM | 4 kt NNE | 7 kt | — | 85°F |
| Tue 11:54 AM | 6 kt NNE | 7 kt | — | 84°F |
| Tue 10:54 AM | 4 kt NNE | 5 kt | — | 84°F |
| Tue 9:54 AM | 3 kt NE | 5 kt | — | 83°F |
| Tue 8:54 AM | 3 kt NNE | 4 kt | — | 84°F |
| Tue 7:54 AM | 4 kt NNE | 5 kt | — | 84°F |
| Tue 6:54 AM | 5 kt NNE | 5 kt | — | 84°F |
| Tue 5:54 AM | 3 kt NNE | 4 kt | — | 85°F |
| Tue 4:54 AM | 4 kt N | 5 kt | — | 85°F |
| Tue 3:54 AM | 5 kt NNE | 6 kt | — | 85°F |
Observed Tue 2:54 PM at NDBC buoy FMRF1 (Fort Myers, FL), 19.1 miles away.
Frequently asked questions
What is the marine forecast for Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound today?
Tonight: Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop.
Is there a small craft advisory for Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound?
No advisories, warnings or watches are in effect for NWS zone GMZ836 as of the last update on this page. Advisories can be issued at any time; check the current bulletin before leaving the dock.
What is the water temperature at Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound?
The nearest buoy read 85°F (29°C) at Tue 2:54 PM. Sea surface temperature at a single buoy can differ by several degrees from the water at a beach or in a shallow bay nearby.
What do the wind speeds in knots mean?
One knot is 1.15 mph. The National Weather Service issues a small craft advisory for sustained winds of roughly 22–33 knots or hazardous seas, a gale warning at 34–47 knots, and a storm warning at 48 knots and above. Exact advisory thresholds vary by forecast office and by water body — a bay reaches dangerous chop at a lower wind speed than open ocean.
Where does this forecast come from?
The forecast text is the National Weather Service's own marine bulletin for zone GMZ836, issued by Tampa Bay Ruskin FL, reproduced in full. The wind and seas charts are drawn from the NWS gridded forecast for a point inside the zone. Observations come from the nearest reporting NDBC buoy. We are not affiliated with NOAA or the National Weather Service.
Forecast: NOAA/NWS product CWFTBW, issued Tue 3:17 PM. Observations: NOAA National Data Buoy Center station FMRF1, read Tue 2:54 PM. Retrieved Oct 13, 3:42 PM. Conditions offshore change faster than any page can be rebuilt, so check the current NWS bulletin and your own instruments before going out.