Deerfield Beach Anxiously Awaiting Red Tide Results

Red Tide Mid-Week Update for October 3, 2018

Current Conditions
A bloom of the Florida red tide organism, Karenia brevis, persists in Southwest Florida and extends along ~135 miles of coastline, from northern Pinellas to northern Collier counties, and offshore (10 miles or more). A patchy bloom of K. brevis continues in Northwest Florida. A bloom of K. brevis was also observed on Florida’s East Coast for the first time this past week. Additional details are provided below.

Over the past week in Southwest Florida, K. brevis concentrations generally decreased in areas of Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties, creating patchier bloom conditions along the coast. Observations of >1,000,000 K. brevis cells per liter (“high” concentrations) occurred in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Sarasota, and Lee counties and >10 miles offshore of Hillsborough County, but at fewer sites relative to last week. In Northwest Florida, K. brevis was observed in or offshore of Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Gulf, and Pasco counties, with up to “medium” concentrations observed in Bay County and offshore of Walton County.  On the East Coast, K. brevis was observed in St. Lucie, Martin and Palm Beach counties; up to “medium” concentrations occurred only in and offshore of Palm Beach County.

In Southwest Florida, reports of fish kills were received for multiple locations in Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties. In Northwest Florida, reports of fish kills were received for areas in and/or offshore of Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Gulf and Franklin counties. Along the East Coast of Florida, reports of fish kills were received for St. Lucie and Palm Beach counties. Respiratory irritation was reported in Southwest Florida (in Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, Lee and Collier counties) and along the East Coast of Florida (in Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties) over the past week.

Forecasts by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides for Pinellas to northern Monroe counties predict northwestern transport of surface waters and net southeastern movement of subsurface waters for most areas over the next three days. Three-day forecasts for Northwest Florida predict minimal net transport of surface waters and northeastern movement of subsurface waters from Escambia to western Gulf counties. Forecasts for Pasco County predict northwestern transport of surface waters and eastern movement of subsurface waters over the next 3 days.

The next complete red tide status report will be posted on Friday, October 5th.

Red Tide Status Map (October 3, 2018)

View a larger map  (October 3, 2018)

To see detailed information on this week’s samples, view the current Statewide Google Earth map for October 3, 2018. 

By using Google Earth, you can zoom in to specific locations and click on stations to see detailed information, including sample date and cell concentration. You must have Google Earth installed on your computer to view this map; the software can be downloaded from the Google Earth website.

Red Tide Status Update for September 28, 2018

Current Conditions
A bloom of the Florida red tide organism, Karenia brevis, persists in Southwest Florida and extends along ~130 miles of coastline, from northern Pinellas to southern Lee counties, and extends offshore (10 miles or more). A patchy bloom of K. brevis also continues in Northwest Florida. Additional details are provided below.

Over the past week in Southwest Florida, K. brevis concentrations generally decreased in areas of Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte and Collier counties, creating patchier bloom conditions along the coast. Observations of >1,000,000 K. brevis cells per liter (“high” concentrations) occurred in Manatee, Sarasota, and Lee counties and >10 miles offshore of Hillsborough County, but at fewer sites relative to last week. In Northwest Florida, K. brevis was observed in or offshore of Walton, Bay, Gulf, and Pasco counties, with up to “medium” concentrations observed in Bay and Gulf counties. Relative to last week, cell counts increased in areas of Bay County and decreased in Okaloosa County.

• In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background to medium concentrations in or offshore of Pinellas County, low to high concentrations offshore of Hillsborough County, background to high concentrations in Manatee County, background to high concentrations in or offshore of Sarasota County, background to medium concentrations in Charlotte County, background to high concentrations in or offshore of Lee County, and low concentrations in Collier County. For additional information, view the southwest coast report  and map .
• In Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at very low concentrations offshore of Walton County, low to medium concentrations in Bay County, background to medium concentrations in Gulf County, and background to very low concentrations in or offshore of Pasco County. For additional information, view the northwest coast report  and map .
• Samples collected along the east coast of Florida over the past week did not contain K. brevis. For additional information, view the East Coast report  and map .

Fish Kills
In Southwest Florida, reports of fish kills were received for multiple locations in and/or offshore of Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties. In Northwest Florida, reports of fish kills were received for Walton, Bay and Gulf counties. More detailed information is available at http://myfwc.com/fishkill.

Respiratory Irritation
Respiratory irritation was reported in Southwest Florida (in Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, Lee, and Collier counties). Respiratory irritation was not reported in Northwest Florida over the past week. For additional information, view the Southwest Coast report .

Forecast
Forecasts by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides for Pinellas to northern Monroe counties predict net northwestern movement of surface waters and southeastern transport of subsurface waters for most areas over the next three days. Three-day forecasts for Northwest Florida predict net southeastern transport of surface waters and northeastern movement of subsurface waters from Escambia to western Gulf counties. Forecasts for Pasco County predict net northwestern transport at the surface and eastern movement of subsurface waters over the next 3 days.

Red Tide Status Map (September 28, 2018)

View a larger map  (September 28, 2018)

To see detailed information on this week’s samples, view the current Statewide Google Earth map for September 28, 2018. 

By using Google Earth, you can zoom in to specific locations and click on stations to see detailed information, including sample date and cell concentration. You must have Google Earth installed on your computer to view this map; the software can be downloaded from the Google Earth website.

Archived status maps can be found in our Flickr gallery.

Latest Red Tide Status Report Available by Phone
Call 866-300-9399 at any time from anywhere in Florida to hear a recording about red tide conditions throughout the state. Callers outside of Florida can dial 727-552-2448. Standard calling charges apply.

Reports are updated on Friday afternoon except during holidays, in which case the report will be released on the closest day. Additional information, if available, is provided on Wednesday afternoon. To receive an e-mail when the current status has been updated, visit our subscription area.

Additional Information
For additional information about red tide and the current red tide bloom, including information on how to report a fish kill or other wildlife effects, consult health authorities about human exposure, or locate other resources, visit our Red Tide-Related Hotlines and Information Sources article.

Blue-Green Algae Bloom Information
Additional information regarding the current status of algal blooms in South Florida is being consolidated and posted on the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s website: https://floridadep.gov/dear/algal-bloom.