The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s latest water sampling reveals the region’s red tide continuing to move southward in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Experts suggest seasonal weather conditions largely influence the shifting pattern.

Professor emeritus Bob Weisberg from the University of South Florida, a leading researcher in red tide dynamics, explains that recent strong northerly winds have been instrumental in displacing the harmful algal bloom. “For the past several weeks, we have been under strong northerly winds,” Weisberg noted, “and so the red tide that was here has been moved further south.”

With winter approaching, Weisberg anticipates this trend will continue. “It’s now December,” he said, “we’re probably beyond the peak of the red tide season.” Models from USF’s College of Marine Science currently show a low presence of red tide in Tampa Bay, with an approaching cold front potentially providing additional assistance in dispersing the bloom.

The ongoing monitoring and movement of red tide underscore the dynamic nature of marine ecosystems and the significant role weather patterns play in their transformation.

Detailed information and real-time tracking can be found on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s website.

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(Image credit: FWC website)