A swath of red tide stretching for more than 200 miles has emerged from Tampa Bay to Key West, affecting much of Southwest Florida's coastline. The bloom, caused by the organism Karenia brevis, presents varying concentrations; some areas exhibit weak presence, whereas others display strong blooms, coloring the seawater burnt orange for extensive distances. This bloom, which began its development near Tampa Bay shortly after Hurricane Milton's landfall, has been evident from satellite images for months.
According to David Tomasko, director of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, there is a strong correlation between the current red tide dynamics and excess nitrogen pollution levels from agricultural runoff. Tomasko explained, "The key thing here is discharges of nitrogen-rich water coming down the Caloosahatchee River draining Lake Okeechobee don't create red tide, but they make red tides worse." Over the past two months, the Army Corps of Engineers has been releasing about one billion gallons daily from Lake Okeechobee, where pollutants, combined with drainage from the Orlando area, have led to elevated nutrient concentrations fueling the red tide.
Hurricane Milton, which made landfall near Siesta Key with wind gusts reaching up to 120 mph, dumped 20 inches of rain, washing urban debris—such as oils, fertilizers, and various pollutants—into the Gulf, providing additional nutrients to the red tide organisms. Tomasko reflected, “We’ve taken about 80 billion gallons of water from Lake Okeechobee out to the eastern Gulf of Mexico, which is significant.”
Soon after the hurricane, marine scientists detected the red tide growing. The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported impacts on local islands, which were worsened by red tide organisms mixing with nutrient pollution from the Caloosahatchee River. Local health departments have since issued warnings for multiple beaches, including Turner Beach and Bowman’s Beach, urging visitors to avoid contact with affected water.
Recent samples collected at Algiers Beach indicated dangerously high levels of Karenia brevis, with concentrations hitting 22 million cells per liter, far exceeding the level considered harmful. Mark Thompson from the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation noted, “The runoff from recent rain events has provided additional nutrients which help sustain the bloom near the barrier islands.” With the region’s current weather conditions promoting the concentration of red tide along shorelines, the risks to both human health and local ecosystems are substantial.
On top of the environmental concerns, the economic impact of Hurricane Milton has been staggering. A report from insurance broker Aon highlighted economic damages from such disasters reached $217.8 billion for the last year, with Hurricane Milton accounting for about $25 billion of this total. Liz Henderson, global head of climate risk advisory at Aon, commented, “When significant U.S. hurricane events happen, they affect large areas with substantial property values. Hence, the losses from those events tend to be significantly higher.”
Hurricane Milton’s predecessor, Hurricane Helene, had already devastated parts of the southeast, costing roughly $75 billion—an ominous backdrop for Milton's landfall. The pattern reflects continuing challenges wrought by climate change, as severe weather events grow increasingly commonplace across the globe.
The political narratives also emerge from these devastating events, particularly between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Vice President Kamala Harris. Amid the cleanup efforts following these hurricanes, Harris criticized DeSantis for what she deemed unresponsiveness, claiming he was playing political games by not accepting her offers to help coordinate relief efforts. DeSantis, defending his approach, stated, "I didn’t even know she was trying to reach me, but she has no role in this process... So, what she’s doing is she’s trying to inject herself..." Distancing himself from Harris, DeSantis asserted he has maintained communication with President Biden and FEMA, productive dialogues he emphasized remain focused on recovery, criticizing the politicization of disaster response.
President Biden, during the same news discussions, underscored the cooperation between federal and state levels, expressing optimism concerning the collaborative efforts to address the fallout from Hurricane Milton, stating, "He’s been very gracious. He’s thanked me for all we’ve done. He knows what we are doing, and I think that's important.”
The uncertainties of the red tide duration continue to pose health risks to beachgoers, emphasizing the importance of staying updated with local advisories. Citizens are advised to check health department updates before heading to the coast, and, if the unmistakable odor or signs of red tide are evident, reconsider plans to enjoy the beaches. Avoiding the beaches may be prudent, as warned by environmental officials, who scientists predict this currently enormous bloom won’t dissipate easily.
Meanwhile, forecasts indicate environmental factors like nutrient availability and ocean currents will be significant determinants for the coming days and weeks. While the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is expected to update red tide status, the immediate future remains uncertain for the affected coastal communities as they grapple with both the ecological and economic aftermath of Hurricane Milton.