ORLANDO, Fla. — If you’re heading to the beach this spring break season, you may want to double-check that dead fish and murky waters won’t greet you when you get there.
Red tide conditions, caused by a harmful algal bloom, have been reported along Florida’s Gulf Coast this month.
FWC offers several ways to track red tide before you head to the beach:
The map below contains information from the last eight days of sampling for the algae that cause red tide, Karenia brevis. The map is updated daily at 5 p.m. You can click on each dot for individual sample details.
You can call 866-300-9399 at any time from anywhere in Florida to hear a recording about red tide conditions throughout the state. Or callers from outside of Florida can dial 727-502-4956 to check conditions.
If you’re headed to Florida’s Gulf Coast beaches, Mote Marine Laboratory’s Beach Conditions Report also provides up-to-date information about the effects of red tide, including reports of dead fish, respiratory irritation among beachgoers, water color, and wind direction.
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Red tide facts Here are 9 things you need to know about red tide, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. (WFTV Staff)
Red tide facts Here are 9 things you need to know about red tide, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. (WFTV Staff)
Red tide facts Here are 9 things you need to know about red tide, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. (WFTV Staff)
Red tide facts Here are 9 things you need to know about red tide, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. (WFTV Staff)
Red tide facts Here are 9 things you need to know about red tide, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. (WFTV Staff)
Red tide facts Here are 9 things you need to know about red tide, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. (WFTV Staff)
Red tide facts Here are 9 things you need to know about red tide, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. (WFTV Staff)
Red tide facts Here are 9 things you need to know about red tide, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. (WFTV Staff)
Red tide facts Here are 9 things you need to know about red tide, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. (WFTV Staff)
Red tide facts Here are 9 things you need to know about red tide, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. (WFTV Staff)
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Sarah Wilson joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2018 as a digital producer after working as an award-winning newspaper reporter for nearly a decade in various communities across Central Florida.
