TAMPA, Fla. — When Hurricane Milton tore through the Tampa Bay area, it brought several inches of rain, more than 100 mph winds and devastating flooding.
Milton caused destruction up and down the land on Florida's Gulf Coast — but what about the water? Could Milton's stirring in the Gulf of Mexico lead to red tide?
As the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission explains, red tide is caused by a naturally occurring organism in the Gulf called Karenia brevis. The red tide outbreaks, plus the stench of dead fish that comes along with them, happen when that organism blooms to toxic levels.
So, because red tide is naturally occurring, hurricanes couldn't start a red tide outbreak. Research shows they could, however, make them worse.
Hurricanes can cause things like gas, sewage and fertilizers from lawns and fields to run off into our local waters — and the nutrients they bring along with them can act like fuel for the red tide organism.
Hurricane Milton could not have created a red tide bloom. But it could have, in theory, caused an existing red tide bloom to be longer-lasting and more intense.
There isn't any evidence linking red tide to Hurricane Helene or Hurricane Milton. However, we do know that low to medium concentrations of red tide were found in Pinellas County less than a week after Helene made landfall.
The FWC's latest red tide report, published on Oct. 4, showed:
- High levels of red tide at Caladesi Island State Park
- Medium levels of red tide at Archibald Beach Park and Dunedin Causeway
- Low levels of red tide at Treasure Island, St. Pete Beach, Johns Pass Park, Coachman Park Marina, Oasis Beach, Belleair Beach, Maximo Park and Indian Shores
- Very low to background levels of red tide at Pass-a-Grille Beach, Boca Ciega Bay, 7th Avenue Pier, Treasure Island Beach, Three Rooker Island and Clearwater Beach Pier
Outside of Pinellas County, red tide was found in background concentrations at Manasota Beach in Sarasota County.
Previous reporting by 10 Tampa Bay Chief Meteorologist Bobby Deskins contributed to this report.
