The good news: The always bustling Chick-fil-A in Cape Coral is about to get a makeover.

The bad news: It will be temporarily closed for a few months beginning Friday, April 4.

Billy Cossette, the owner/operator of the Pine Island Road location recently made the announcement on the fastest-of-fast drive-thru restaurant’s social media pages.

“We know we’re going to be super sad to not serve you on a regular basis while we’re completing that project but we are so excited to welcome you back in as we reopen,” he said in the recording.

“In the meantime, we invite you to come in. We hope to see you a few more times between now and April 3 as you come in to get your Chick-fil-A.”

The fast food go-to, on the corner of Pine Island and Pondella roads, will be 16 years old in May.

“It’s been awesome to have a front-row seat of all the growth that the city has seen over the years,” Cossette continued. “In fact, we’ve had the honor and the privilege to serve more and more guests every single year.”

Significant renovations and upgrades will be made to the building, facility and parking lot layout, according to Cossette. No specific plans for the indoor playground were mentioned.

“(Those improvements will be done) not only to increase the capacity but also to enhance the overall experience of our guests as we move forward,” Cossette said.

So hurry on in through Thursday, April 3, for your last look at the familiar location.

“We appreciate you and will see you on the other side,” Cossette concluded.

In the meantime, there are two Fort Myers locations — 13610 S. Tamiami Trail and 4752 Colonial Boulevard.

Chick-fil-A, 1790 Pine Island Road, Cape Coral; (239) 242-8748; follow on Facebook and Instagram for updates.

Robyn George is a food and dining reporter for The News-Press. Connect at rhgeorge@fortmyer.gannett.com

/Pine Island News

As Mother Nature has shown this week, the Southwest Florida rainy season is officially upon us.

According to the National Weather Service, rainy season in Southwest Florida officially runs from May 15 to Oct.15. Being located in what is referred to as the Subtropics, during the late spring and summer months, the tropical climate shifts north. NWS officials state that when combined with the influence of surrounding oceans and daily sea breezes, thunderstorm season is about.

According to NWS officials, “The rainy season can begin abruptly in some years and the onset can take weeks to develop in other years. There are several factors that need to come together for daily thunderstorms to occur. Therefore, the beginning of the rainy season is usually a transition period rather than a single date. Similar to hurricane season, the rainy season may occur before or after the aforementioned dates.”

NWS officials state that rainy season usually has three phases:

• Late May through June is the period when severe storms are most likely. Hail, damaging winds, and waterspouts are common, in addition to heavy rainfall and frequent lightning.

• July through early September is when rainy season peaks. While the overall threat for severe weather diminishes, heavy rainfall and seasonal river flooding remain significant hazards, along with frequent lightning.

Rainy season is typically accompanied by an increase in humidity with persistent dew point values above 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The location and timing favored for thunderstorm development on any given day changes based on the position and strength of the Bermuda High. Thunderstorm season is also most active when sea surface temperatures surpass 82 degrees offshore, and not just along the coast, and when moisture aloft increases. Officials state 55 to 70% of annual rainfall occurs during June through September.

• Mid-September through early October is the “wind down” phase and tends to have higher rainfall variability due to potential tropical systems and early-fall cold fronts.

For more information on rain season, visit www.weather.gov/tbw/rainyseason.

To reach CJ HADDAD / cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com, please email