⚠️(RED TIDE – MARCH 8)⚠️ Red tide is having a big impact on the west coast of Florida. Spring break hotspots in Siesta Key, Clearwater Beach, & Anna Maria Island have turned into fish graveyards. Check out the details below:
WORST HIT AREAS THIS WEEK:
➡️ Northern Pinellas: Clearwater Beach & nearby areas are seeing dead fish wash ashore & coughing beachgoers.
➡️ Manatee & Sarasota County: Tons of reports of dead fish, respiratory irritation, & discolored water from Anna Maria Island to Siesta Key. Two dead manatees just washed ashore near Boca Grande.
WHERE HAVE CONDITIONS IMPROVED:
➡️ Southern Pinellas: water samples are still showing low to medium levels of karenia brevis. Beachgoers are still reporting slight respiratory irritation. Though, conditions aren’t as bad as they were a week or two ago.
➡️ Lee & Collier Counties: Still reports of patchy red tide. But the sightings of dead fish and respiratory irritation have decreased over the past week.
CURRENT BEACH CONDITIONS: Provided by Mote Marine BCRS. I’d love to hear how the conditions are in your area. Feel free to leave your report in the comments section.
➡️ Clearwater Beach (Mar 8): Many dead fish, Slight respiratory irritation
➡️ Indian Shores (Mar 6): Some dead fish, Slight respiratory irritation
➡️ Madeira (Mar 7): Good
➡️ Anna Maria (Mar 8): Many dead fish, Moderate respiratory irritation
➡️ Manatee Beach (Mar 8): Many dead fish, Slight respiratory irritation
➡️ Bradenton Beach (Mar 8): Many dead fish, Slight respiratory irritation
➡️ Longboat Key (Mar 8): Some dead fish, Slight respiratory irritation
➡️ Lido Key Beach (Mar 8): Many dead fish, Moderate respiratory irritation
➡️ Siesta Key (Mar 8): Many dead fish, Slight respiratory irritation
➡️ Turtle Beach (Mar 8): Many dead fish, Slight respiratory irritation
➡️ Nokomis (Mar 8): Many dead fish, Slight respiratory irritation
➡️ Venice (Mar 8): Some dead fish, Slight respiratory irritation
➡️ Manasota Key - Englewood (Mar 8): Good
➡️ Sanibel, Fort Myers: Limited reports due to effects from Ian
➡️ Naples (Mar 8): Good
➡️ Marco Island (Mar 8): Good
➡️ Islamorada (Mar 8): Good
➡️ Miami (Mar 8): Good
WIND FORECAST: Wind direction & intensity is important as it assists in the direction that red tide drifts, controls levels of respiratory irritation, & influences how many dead fish wash ashore. A strong onshore wind brings the worst conditions to the beaches.
➡️ Thu: Offshore (E 15 mph)
➡️ Fri: Onshore (WSW 15 mph)
➡️ Sat: Neutral (NNW 8 mph)
➡️ Sun: Onshore (SW 15 mph)
➡️ Mon: Onshore (SW to NW 15 mph)
➡️ Tue: Neutral (N 18 mph)
➡️ Wed: Offshore (E 8 mph)
➡️ Thu: Neutral (S 15 mph)
➡️ Fri: Onshore (W 15 mph)
SHORT TERM OUTLOOK:
The two main blooms, the one near Clearwater and the one impacting Manatee/Sarasota beaches, are drifting slowly north. I anticipate the one near Clearwater to slowly dissolve as it moves north.
The worst conditions over the next week will occur when winds are blowing onshore. Expect decent onshore winds on Friday which will increase fish kill washing ashore (mainly in northern Pinellas, Manatee, & Sarasota).
Onshore winds will also increase respiratory irritation at most beaches from Clearwater all the way down to Fort Myers. When the karenia brevis dinoflagellates break in the crashing waves they release brevetoxins which can irritate our throats.
LONG TERM: OUTLOOK
This red tide mess persisting into Spring and Summer is NOT a definite. This bloom is more narrow than blooms that I have watched in previous years. If we can get a few days or a week of persistent easterly winds, this will greatly help improve beach conditions.
Where rain occurs will also impact red tide.
Heavy inland rain will decrease salinity near the beaches, but it will also increase nutrient discharge. The net result would likely be worsened red tide. Heavy rain & turbid water near the coast could help lessen red tide.
So, we'll have to watch this bloom. I'm optimistic (hopefully not overly) that the bloom will decrease in overall coverage in the coming weeks. But, stay tuned!
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