Hurricane Michael brings waves, possible beach erosion to Collier County

As Hurricane Michael made landfall Wednesday along the Florida Panhandle, higher tides and stronger waves persisted along Collier County’s coastline.

Although the hurricane strengthened into a Category 4 storm before slamming into the state, local effects seem to be superficial by comparison. During some of the highest tides in the past days, Naples Harbormaster Roger Jacobsen said, water has overtopped sand dunes at the Naples Pier, but he hasn’t seen any damage yet. 

Normal high tides reach between 1 and 2 feet, but Tuesday's tide went to about 3.4 feet, Jacobsen said.

More:Hurricane Michael slams into Florida as Category 4 storm; early reports show devastation

More:Food bank mobilizes to help Hurricane Michael victims in Panhandle

If there's any damage, he said, it’s difficult to know the extent yet.

“We’ll know when this all settles down,” Jacobsen said.

High tides washing over Collier’s shores could cause damage to the few sea turtle nests left on the beach, either by flooding them or washing them away

“We are at the very end of nesting season right now,” Collier County sea turtle monitoring program director Maura Kraus said, adding she won't know the extent of any damage for at least another week.

At the Naples Pier, a few surfers tried to ride the larger-than-normal waves. Dozens of people milled about on the Pier, taking in the sight below them. A smattering of people sat at the beach and enjoyed the breeze.

Suzanne Scott, vacationing from Scotland, was one of the beachgoers.

“We’re pleasantly surprised it’s not as bad as we thought it would be,” she said.

More:Hurricane Michael falls short of a Category 5 – by just 2 mph

More:Hurricane Michael: New information on landfall, storm surge, more

Scott, who said she lived on the west coast of Scotland, said the waves and wind are similar to what she finds on Scotland’s shores. The water was wilder Tuesday, Scott said, as she and her family had to leave Vanderbilt Beach when the waves washed too far inland.

Scott’s nephew Jay Maloney, whom Scott described as a surfer, said the people trying to surf may face difficulties.

“The surf’s not very good out here,” he said.

Justin Sanders, an employee at Cosmos at the Pier, said he noticed many people who were out getting a look at the unusual conditions, but business was slow.

“It’s been quiet with the weather,” Sanders said.

Photos:Hurricane Michael's storm surge in Naples

More:Subtropical Storm Alberto causes erosion, sea turtle nest losses on Collier beaches

Gaea Marshall, a Naples resident who said she recently moved from Kentucky, was fishing at the end of the Pier.

She’d been out for a few hours but hadn’t caught any fish, she said, and the weather did not bother her.

“I’m just trying to have fun,” Marshall said.

More:This is what Hurricane Michael looks like from space

More:Michael heads toward areas of Florida most vulnerable to hurricanes