SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla. — After Red Tide disappeared from the entire west side of Florida's coast, it's returned in the South.
Florida Fish & Wildlife released their newest map showing high concentrations of the toxic algae bloom off Lido and Siesta beaches.
→ Red Tide Current Status Map ←
Mote Marine scientists remained skeptical last week, saying they found Red Tide patches about 10 miles off Sarasota's shore.
Meteorologist Greg Dee believes recent on-shore south and southwest winds pushed it back to those beaches. However, Friday's storms could help improve conditions and winds turning out of the North could blow that algae offshore.
Experts believe the majority of the other beaches on our coast are clear because of colder temperatures and December's storms churning up the Gulf. This broke up the algae bloom, essentially starving it.
