Is the seaweed blob hitting Florida?

Florida's monthslong hit from a giant blob of seaweed that smells like rotten eggs may be over sooner than what was previously thought. Researchers have found that the massive clumps of sargassum that have been washing up on beaches in the state and other areas for months has suddenly shrunk beyond expectation.



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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.

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Sargassum seaweed washing up on Florida beaches has ebbed to levels normally seen in early fall, even below normal in some areas. The once-anticipated 5,000-mile-wide bog in the Atlantic and Caribbean has rapidly — and mysteriously — disappeared.

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Are experts sure sargassum seaweed will affect Florida? Sargassum seaweed around the Caribbean, along the ocean side of Florida Keys and east coast of Florida are inevitable.

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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.

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USF reports it remains difficult to predict exact timing and location for individual beaching events but substantial amounts of the seaweed are expected in May in both the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. June is forecast to be the likely peak of the 2023 season, but impacts are expected to continue into July.

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

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Playa Porto Mari on Curacao, Dutch Caribbean One of the most beautiful beaches in Curacao also happens to be one of the best Caribbean beaches without sargassum. Located on the west coast of the island of Curacao, Playa Porto Mari is a private beach which means there is an entrance fee.

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At this time, red tide is not present on St. Pete/Clearwater's beaches. Although many national news outlets reported about a massive seaweed or sargassum blob coming to Florida this summer, this is not affecting the beaches of St. Pete/Clearwater in any way.

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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.

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Popular resort hubs, including Playa del Carmen and Tulum, have ramped up efforts to deter sargassum from affecting travelers. What is this? Both destinations have set up temporary barriers and hired more cleaners in an effort to attract more travelers.

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However due to ocean currents, the amount of seaweed landing on beaches in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico in June and July 2023 was lower than expected. There's more good news! The sargassum seaweed forecast for September 2023 is minimal seaweed in the Caribbean Sea.

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As of mid March 2023, satellite observations indicate that some of this Sargassum has already reached the northern coast of Cuba.

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Massive seaweed bloom is largest seen And this year's bloom is the largest on record. As of April 2023, this year's sargassum bloom is headed for the Caribbean and east coast of Florida. While some areas are already seeing the sargassum come ashore, the bulk of it is expected to arrive in June or July.

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As summer is now in full swing, however, scientists with the University of South Florida Optical Oceanography Lab found a drop in the amount of sargassum blooms. Sargassum seaweed on a Fort Lauderdale beach. May 2023. They noted that the amount of seaweed dropped by about 9 million metric tons between May and June.

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