Fortuitous winds have kept a large red tide bloom away from Sarasota and Manatee beaches

Oct. 16, 2024 – Red tide may be blooming offshore from coastal communities impacted by Hurricane Milton, but the storm has also caused a lag in official sampling to confirm findings from satellite imagery.

Satellite images by the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science last updated on Tuesday show signs of a large algal bloom along much of the Florida Gulf Coast that spans from an area north of Clearwater down to Manasota Key south of Venice — including large hotspots offshore from Sarasota, Manatee and Pinellas.

However, a red tide bloom has yet to be confirmed because official samples published by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission have not been updated since Oct. 4 due to interruption because of Hurricane Milton.

Local researchers plan to mobilize and collect samples starting Thursday to fill the gap in official sampling and help confirm whether or not red tide is in bloom.