Persistent offshore winds have decreased red tide’s stain on Florida’s southwest coast and scientists hope a swipe from Tropical Storm Gordon could further weaken the unusually tenacious scourge.
NOAA researchers said there is no historical evidence of a tropical cyclone erasing a red tide in the Gulf of Mexico, but Gordon’s spin could push it farther away from popular beaches, alleviating the scratchy throats and watery eyes that are symptoms of a Karenia brevis bloom.
Beyond winds moving the harmful algae around, experts were wary about speculating too much on Gordon’s eventual impact on the bloom that started in November and never left.
Read more at the Palm Beach Post.
