Where is the seaweed blob expected to hit Florida?

Where is the seaweed blob expected to hit Florida? In April, the seaweed set a record, with scientists identifying 3 million tons of sargassum in the Caribbean Sea. Piles of sargassum seaweed are accumulating on the beaches of Florida's Key West. Scientists say the seaweed is expected to increase even more over the next few months.

Which Florida beaches will be affected by sargassum?

Do Miami beaches have sargassum?

Learn about sargassum (seaweed) on Miami-Dade County beaches It provides crucial habitat for many marine species, including endangered sea turtles, which, upon hatching on our beaches, make their way out to the sargassum to spend their juvenile years feeding and growing amongst the seaweed mats.

Will the seaweed blob hit Miami?

Scientists expect Miami Beach to become a hot spot later in the sargassum season, which runs from March through October. This year's sargassum bloom is shaping up to be one of the biggest ever recorded. Since 2011, a combination of human activity and climate change has created a string of unusually large seaweed blobs.

Will the seaweed blob affect the east coast of Florida?

The concern is the belt will leave large amounts of stinky sargassum seaweed on beaches in the Caribbean, Mexico and along the east coast of Florida. The brown seaweed, which can carry flesh-eating bacteria and make you sick, is known for its smell.

What month is sargassum worse?

Sargassum season in the Mexican Caribbean typically runs from May through October, with July and August generally being the worst months for its arrival.

What beaches will be affected by seaweed blob?

But already, sargassum beachings are increasing, with the southern regions of Hispaniola, Jamaica and Puerto Rico looking likely to be the most impacted. The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt is the largest macroalgae bloom in the world, and this year's bloom is the largest recorded, spanning more than 5,000 miles.

What Florida beaches will be affected by seaweed in 2023?

no matter how much Sargassum we'll land on the east coast beaches, the west coast of Florida is largely spared every year [and] this year is no exception, Dr. Hu says. Nevertheless, they still anticipate there will soon be an impact on beaches in South Florida where the brown seaweed washes ashore.

Is the 5000 blob of seaweed heading to Florida?

A 5,000-mile-wide blob of seaweed is headed for Florida, threatening tourism across the Caribbean. “This is an entirely new oceanographic phenomenon that is creating such a problem — really a catastrophic problem — for tourism in the Caribbean region where it piles up on beaches up to 5 or 6 feet deep,” Lapointe added.

Is seaweed going to hit the beaches in Florida?

Florida's seaweed season typically runs from April until October, peaking in June and July. The seaweed comes in waves, depending on currents and wind direction. The seaweed itself is not harmful to humans, but decaying sargassum on beaches releases hydrogen sulfide that can impact people with breathing issues.

Where is there no sargassum in summer?

While exposed eastern shores are most likely to get hit by surges of sargassum, some beaches in Mexico have no sargassum. This includes Playa Norte on Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo and Cozumel's western shore. They're generally seaweed-free. However, much depends on winds and ocean currents.

Will sargassum hit Panama City Beach?

Panama City Beach seaweed and algae sometimes make an appearance as unwelcome guests on the (usually) sugar sand beaches and emerald green waters of PCB. Seaweed, algae blooms, and sargassum can wash up on the beaches across the area.

Is there a sargassum forecast for 2023?

Since 2011, 2023 still ranks in the top half of the worst sargassum seaweed seasons. With the latest data, USF researchers say in June, sargassum will likely decrease in the Gulf of Mexico, meaning beachgoers may not have such a smelly experience. The USF lab forecasts the decrease to continue through August.

What is the best beach to avoid sargassum?

Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres, Mexico Playa Norte is a dazzling beach in the Caribbean without sargassum seaweed. This beach is a perfect white sand haven for vacationers to take a break from their busy lives.