Anyone have any info about red tide in the Clearwater/St. Pete area? We were down there 2 weeks ago and it was awful. We want to go back this weekend. What about any effects from Dennis in the area? Thanks!

You didn't like the replies to your first post? It's still on the first page:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...1&tid=34648987

Why ask again? The question has been asked & answered today.

I apologize for asking twice. My computer locked up while sending and when I reentered onto Fodors I didn't see the message and reposted. Once again, apologies for monopolizing the board.

Hi, I need you local folks to keep me posted also. We are going down to Siesta Key on July 27. If it is really bad or causing respiratory problems of any sort I really need to know -- being that I am asthmatic. Thanks.

didijo,

I'm somewhat sensative to red tide so if nothing else I know when the irritant level is above average. My friend, her 1.5 year old son and I went to the beach on Sunday afternoon. We were there for about 3 hours. I did see few dead fish but I had no problems. Neither did the young child and his mom. It's very possible that Sunday afternoon was not a good time to test the "red tide" factor as hurricane Dennis effect was still going on with ~20mph winds and the rough, but amazing looking , waves(we don't get to see this very often). I live about 1/2 city block from the beach, and I admit, I'm not much of a beach person, but I still have to walk around, do the normal things and I'm being very honest when I tell you that the red tide has not been a factor for me for about a week now.
How it is going to be on 7/27? I don't think anybody can make that prediction. It comes and goes. I will be around till the 19th and I will try to post again here just before I leave, but again, it will still be a week before you arrive so I'm not sure if my post will be of any help. I'm coming home on the 27th so it will be too late to let you know what's going on, but if I were you, I would just not think about it too much. Come down, enjoy our little paradise and don't let mother nature spoil it for you. Personally I'm more worried about this hurricane season. At this rate we will be under hurricane warnings about once a week, and that's one mother nature play I take very seriously.

Thanks AAFrequentFlyer, I look forward to learning the status of the red tide
before you leave. The place we are booked at is a beachfont property so it would be a shame if we can't enjoy the sand and surf for fear of getting sick. This is our family's first trip to the west coast of Florida and we were really looking forward to it until we learned about the red tide. Looking forward to your update(s) and any other advice you may want to share about Siesta Key



c