Red tide status

Any of you Florida locals have an opinion on what the red tide situation will be around February 2019? Considering a Ft Meyers & Keys visit around that time. Thanks, Don

It’s a summer phenomenon and requires warner water. Will be fine in February.

From the Mote Marine Website:
Red tides can last as little as a few weeks or longer than a year. They can even subside and then reoccur. The duration of a bloom in nearshore Florida waters depends on physical, chemical, biological and ecological conditions that influence its growth and persistence, including sunlight, nutrients and salinity, as well as the speed and direction of wind and water currents.

In the Puget Sound Area there is a hot line people can call before digging clams. Check to see if the area you are talking about has one.

Red Tide situations here have lasted as long as 18 months in past years, although with varied intensity. We’ve also had pretty bad intensity last September through March. This years crop began before June in the Ft. Myers area and we found fish kills on the Gulf Coast ICW by the 18th from Venice to Cayo Costa. Hurricane Michael gave us a couple of weeks of relief here in Sarasota, and clear air in Ft. Mires for a change. It’s back in this area again and seems to be drifting south little by little with each week’s report. Unless we really do get some cold winds and more storm activity, it could be back in Ft. Myers when you visit. Here is the most recent Mote Labs Red Tide distribution map, red being the worst followed by orange, yellow, white and gray.