Tropical Storm Isaac blew through Sanibel last night and today without doing too much damage that I could see… thank goodness. Whew, we got lucky. Very lucky.
Through sporadic rain and north east wind gusts, we headed to a few different beaches to see the effects of Isaac. The morning’s high tide brought waves crashing on to the sea oats and up on to the beach access boardwalks. Wow!
Then by the late afternoon at low tide, the water receded a bit to let us hunt for shells. Nothing yet but a few PEN SHELLS and a few areas of “shell crush” which is just bits and pieces of broken shells coating the sand.
We ran out to the Sanibel Pier yesterday to check the beach condition and met Joe (a meteorologist!) and Joanne from Las Vegas looking for any signs of shells. They weren’t finding so many whole shells yet but it was so much fun to meet y’all!
Okay, this is interesting… Look at the beach erosion at the pier in the background of the photo with Joe and Joanne and remember that was yesterday. If you’ve ever been to this beach before, you’ve probably walked under the pier to get to the other side to look for shells. Now take a look at the photo I took today of the pier. Look at the difference with the sand! No way to walk under it now!
We did not find any shells today but I will be at the beaches tomorrow to check the conditions. We still have high east winds so I’m still not expecting any good shelling until the winds change directions and start coming from the west. Of course I will keep you informed but my thoughts are now with the folks in Louisiana and surrounding areas that are now in Tropical Storm Isaac’s path. Please be safe!
Until I can give you more shelling news and updates for Sanibel and Captiva, I filmed a few areas of the beach today with my good friend Diane so you could come along with us on our check-up of TS Isaac. You won’t need a raincoat to join us but earplugs might help because that wind was howling!
The next week is going to be interesting that’s for sure. I think you are right about the winds shifting. I can’t get over all the sand under the pier. I just walked under it a few weeks back & I’m 5’10.
Very thankful Sanibel was spared any serious damage. We were planning on coming over with images in my mind of shells galore because of the waves. It will be a south wind the next few days. Will that help bring in the shells? We live on the east coast and had 15 inches of rain. Not even sure I can drive out of my neighborhood yet because of extreme flooding.
Thanks for posting the info and the videos are wonderful…. And, I would still love to be able to live on the island…I just love your website…..
Thanks!
I agree with you!! I just love SANIBEL and would love to live there too!!
Me too, storms and all!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your videos and information! As I wait up here in the north for my next opportunity to visit, I worry about my favorite place. To be able to see it is always thrilling to me and it is so comforting to know that it is still there. Much appreciated, as always!!
I’m so glad there wasn’t any damage! My family is coming to Sanibel this weekend. I hope there are some shells for us :)
Thoroughly enjoying the updates and watching the changes. I’m going to come down this weekend (from Atlanta) hoping for good shelling but the winds don’t look like they’re going to change a whole lot. I’m bringing my niece who’s a Marine Biology student at Auburn with me also – so we’re hoping for good wildlife too!! Keep safe – but keep the updates coming as much as possible as you’re my “eyes” for what’s going to be down there! :) Thanks so very much for this website – I love reading and watching your finds and others you see!!
Hopefully everyone on the island is safe. Could have been much worse. Can’t wait till mother nature rakes up the bottom onto ur beaches for ya!! Plz send lots of pics. Thx Pam, u r the best!!!
Go get those SEA PRESENTS!!
Mary Ann
I’m glad to see the island wasn’t hit too hard. I really enjoy seeing the pictures and video. I admit that I am fascinated by storms and wIsh I could see it for myself. Happy shelling to everyone fortunate enough to be there the end of the week. And of course my thoughts go out to everyone who is in Isaac”s path now.
I so wish I were there! Great video, thanks for braving the wind for us! Interesting to see all the ARK shells, of all things, on the boardwalk to the beach. Did you pick up the pretty pink scallop I see in the photo?
Thanks for the update! The waves look quite angry yet – not the peaceful beach and water I am used to seeing. It was also neat to see the new trees that had to be planted after the last storm; it made me realize how much damage was done. Glad you missed a lot of it this time around.
Pam,
I’ve been watching and wondering how things were on Sanibel, so a big THANK YOU to you for the videos and postings…..Sanibel is such a special place, so glad it was spared! Love the blog! How the shelling gets better! Now praying for the people in Louisiana and surrounding areas!
Arrived at Sanibel this morning. Ended up at Lighthouse Beach. Lots of shells but many were broken. It isn’t like the photo from TS Debby, yet. We found some pretty Lightning Whelks, Tulips, Murexes and little worn out cones. A lady found a beautiful big Lightning Whelk. We arrived at Lighthouse around 2, a few hours after high tide and had our best luck from 2-4. Low tide was murky and not very productive.