This year will be another major sargassum year, possibly surpassing 2022. Sargassum's winter growth spurt is unusualĪccording to scientists at the University of South Florida, January was the second consecutive month the amount of seaweed doubled, reaching 8.7 million tons, or enough to fill about 3,000 Olympic size pools.Īccording to the Palm Beach Post, sargassum reached a peak of 22 million tons in July, a record-breaking year.

It looks at current wind forecasts combined with Karenia brevis cell counts along Florida's west coast. The National Weather Service keeps track of red tide through the Red Tide Respiratory Forecast. In Florida, red tide is designated as a 'harmful algal bloom.' It can also attack the central nervous systems of fish and other wildlife. Most dinoflagellates are harmless, but some can produce neurotoxins that can cause respiratory problems in humans. Red tide is caused by the accumulation of Karenia brevis, a single-celled organism called a dinoflagellate, according to the University of Florida Thompson Earth Systems Institute. For people with lung disease, avoid the area. High: A high risk of irritation for people without lung disease.Moderate: Moderate risk of irritation for people without lung disease.For people with lung disease, leave the beach if you begin to feel the effects. Low: Low risk of irritation for people without lung disease.Absent/Very low: No risk or very low risk of irritation for people without lung disease.

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