Red Tide

Red tide conditions have improved the past couple of days, but anyone heading out to the water should check a red tide report before choosing a beach.

Spring breakers may be exposed to another outbreak of red tide, which is being pushed by southerly winds to some of the region's most heavily visited beaches.

The toxic Karenia brevis algae has returned to the Gulf Coast for another year, killing fish and causing health problems in people.

Red tide is now affecting beaches along the central Pinellas coast. Winds from the south are expected to continue pushing the blooms northward.

Southerly winds are pushing the red tide blooms northward into Pinellas County.

Southerly winds are pushing red tide north along the beaches in Sarasota, Manatee and Pinellas counties.

The worst outbreak of red tide in weeks is being reported along much of the Gulf coast.

The toxin continues to be found in an arc ranging from Fort De Soto to south of Venice, and into Lee and Charlotte counties.

While red tide is no longer being found along the Pinellas beaches, it is still found along Sarasota beaches and to the south.

Red tide has been reported at Buck Key by Blind Pass, Gasparilla Island State Park by Boca Grande Pass, and Tarpon Bay Road Beach and Lighthouse Beach, both on Sanibel.