Here's the current Red Tide conditions from myfwc:
Current Conditions
The red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was detected in Southwest Florida. Over the past week, K. brevis was observed in 94 samples. Bloom concentrations (>100,000 cells/liter) were present in 40 samples: two in Manatee County, 26 in Sarasota County, 11 in and offshore of Charlotte County, and one in Lee County. Additional details are provided below.
- In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background to low concentrations offshore of Hillsborough County. Additionally, background to medium concentrations in Manatee County. Background to high concentrations in Sarasota County. Very low to high concentrations in and offshore of Charlotte County. Very low to high concentrations in Lee County. Finally, low concentrations offshore of Collier County.
- In Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.
- Along the Florida East Coast over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.
Red Tide Fish Kills
Reports of fish kills suspected to be related to red tide were received over the past week in Southwest Florida in Sarasota, Charlotte, and Lee counties. For more details, please visit: https://myfwc.com/research/saltwater/health/fish-kills-hotline/.
Respiratory Irritation
Respiratory irritation suspected to be related to red tide was reported over the past week in Southwest Florida in Sarasota, Charlotte, and Lee counties. For recent and current information at individual beaches, please visit https://visitbeaches.org/ and for forecasts that use FWC and partner data, please visit https://habforecast.gcoos.org/.
Red Tide Forecast
Forecasts by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides for Pinellas County to northern Monroe County predict variable movement of surface and subsurface waters, with net southern transport, in most areas over the next 3.5 days.
Listen to Reel Talk Saturday mornings for more on local fishing conditions.
Tropical Storm Nicole update from Lee County for Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 9
Lee County Government and its local, state and federal partners continue to monitor Tropical Storm Nicole.
Residents should monitor local meteorologists’ reports and updates from the National Hurricane Center as well as www.leegov.com/storm. Follow Lee County Government on Facebook, www.facebook.com/leecountyflbocc.
Lee County offices will be open for regular business Thursday, Nov. 10.
Solid Waste garbage and recycling collections that normally occur on Thursdays will continue but will have a delayed start time of 8 a.m. Do not put out recycling bins or garbage cans tonight. Place them curbside Thursday if that is your regular collection day. The Waste-to-Energy facility in Buckingham will open at 8 a.m.
LeeTran services will run Thursday but with a delayed start of 7 a.m.
Lee County libraries will be open with a few exceptions. The Pine Island Public Library and the Johann Fust Community Library in Boca Grande will be closed. Some libraries impacted by Hurricane Ian remain closed. Check www.leelibrary.net.
Some Lee County Parks & Recreation sites remain impacted by Hurricane Ian and are closed. For a list of open parks, visit www.leeparks.org.
The Emergency Operations Center is activated and staffed. There are no evacuation orders in effect for Tropical Storm Nicole.
The county opened shelters today for residents who are living in damaged homes, RVs or tents because of Hurricane Ian.
The following shelter options are open, and both are pet-friendly. Residents can arrive at any time:
For those who need help getting to shelters, the county has activated its Emergency Transportation Plan, which uses LeeTran. People can go to any of the following designated LeeTran transfer locations today until 7 p.m. for a ride to a shelter. The service is free:
The Lee County Department of Transportation (DOT) asks motorists to proceed with caution throughout this weather event. Motorists may encounter areas of localized flooding and are encouraged to turn around if they encounter areas of standing water. DOT crews are actively monitoring storm drains and roadways to mitigate localized flooding in a timely fashion.
Since Hurricane Ian’s landfall on Sept. 28, DOT diligently has been checking roadway drainage systems and clearing them.
he county asks the public to report blocked ditches, swales, canals and areas of local flooding:
Lee County does not literally “close” bridges during tropical storms or hurricanes with barricades, cones, gates or signs because they can easily blow away, becoming ineffective and hazardous. Lee Department of Transportation strongly advises motorists to stay off bridges – and the roads leading to them— when tropical-storm force winds are sustained.
Motorists may encounter law enforcement officers around and near bridges during weather events. Follow the directions given.
