Red Tide - seasonal?
 

Hi

I know that there have been a lot of previous posts on this but have yet to find an answer to my question. I am in the process of planning a trip for Oct / Nov. However my sister in law who will be accompanying us has asthma quite badly - she has been hospitalised in the past. I was wondering whether red tides only occur at certain times of year or can they happen at any time?
Thanks
Cathy

Sorry I should have said we were planning on going to the West Coast of Floirda

red tide is always present when it comes. it does, however, go away. you only hear about it in beach season when people want to be at places that might have it. i'm in newburyport, ma. plum island sound and parker river sound clam flats have been closed to clammers for years now, but is reassessed every year, all season, for potential abatement.
didn't know red tide and asthma had ANY connection. fill me in.
corwin

Red tide is more prevalent in summer months when the gulf waters are very warm. It comes and goes and there is no way of predicting it. There are some serious studies being done for the last few years as it does have an effect on SW Florida tourism, so maybe one day we will be able to at least predict.

Usually it's not that much of an issue in Oct/Nov, but again, there is no guarantee.

Last summer was one of the worst in few years.

AA is right, the red tide usually is a summer thing, however last year it started sometime around January and stayed around almost the entire year. I also have a history with asthma and find that even if the red tide is present, it depends on how bad it is as to whether it affects my breathing. It will definitely burn your eyes and nose on a bad day. As of now, there is no red tide in the west coast of FL, and historically it's unusual for it to be here in the fall, but there's no guarantees.

Thanks I appreciate there are no guarantees but if there is less of a risk at that time of year then I feel happier about it

Cathy

I would not take the chance. Why not go to the East Coast instead? Ft Lauderdale/ West Palm are beautiful in October/November. ( but remember, hurricane season is a threat in Oct/Nov on either coast.....I guess you already know that & are prepared to take that risk.)

Here's a link you can use to keep up to date on the red tide. Maybe check it as your travel dates get closer. http://www.floridamarine.org/feature...e.asp?id=12373

Ok so now I'm confused again!
I thought that the hurricane risk would be significantly reduced by Nov?

You thought right. The season ends Nov 30th, technically, but seldom are there storms after October. It can happen, but rarely. Then the rarer storm comes along with hurricane force winds AFTER the season is technically over too--it doesn't get named because it's out of season (such as the No Name Storm in northern Tampa Bay area with hurricane force winds in March, 1993). I wouldn't worry about a hurricane in November...or March, either. :)

When does hurricane season officially begin? End of June?

Officially it is June 1 to November 30.

Unofficially it is January 1 to December 31 these days!!!

Are you serious? You are scaring me! We will be in West Palm the 2nd week in January & then for 2 more weeks in mid March. It never occurred to me that we may be hit by a hurricane @ those times of the year!

He was joking, wow! that's what it feels like..

Whew!