Beach Hazards Statement

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL
919 PM EST WED FEB 13 2013

FLZ062-065-150500-
/O.CON.KTBW.BH.S.0003.000000T0000Z-130215T0500Z/
CHARLOTTE-LEE-
919 PM EST WED FEB 13 2013

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY
EVENING FOR FLORIDA RED TIDE...

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT FOR A MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS
HAS BEEN CANCELLED...

WINDS HAVE DIMINISHED SOME AS THEY BECOME NORTHWEST AND NORTH
TONIGHT...REDUCING THE THREAT OF RIPS CURRENTS.


* FLORIDA RED TIDE...A PATCHY HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM OF KARENIA
  BREVIS...ALSO KNOWN AS FLORIDA RED TIDE...HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED
  ALONG PORTIONS OF THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COAST. OVER THE PAST
  FEW DAYS...REPORTS OF RESPIRATORY IRRITATION HAVE BEEN
  RECEIVED FROM SARASOTA AND LEE COUNTIES AND REPORTS OF DEAD
  FISH HAVE BEEN RECEIVED FROM LEE COUNTY.

NOAA RESPIRATORY IMPACT FORECAST:

CHARLOTTE AND LEE COUNTIES: ALONGSHORE/GULF SIDE...PATCHY HIGH
RESPIRATORY IMPACTS ARE POSSIBLE TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. BAY
REGIONS OF SOUTHERN CHARLOTTE AND NORTHERN/CENTRAL LEE...PATCHY
HIGH RESPIRATORY IMPACTS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH THURSDAY.

ALGAL BLOOMS SUCH AS RED TIDE ARE TYPICALLY PATCHY IN NATURE. AS
A RESULT...IMPACTS WILL BE PERIODIC AND WILL NOT AFFECT THE ENTIRE
REGION CONTINUOUSLY FOR THE DURATION OF THE EVENT.

HUMANS AND OTHER MAMMALS MAY EXPERIENCE RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS WHEN
AN ALGAL BLOOM OF THE RED TIDE ORGANISM IS PRESENT ALONG THE
COAST AND WINDS BLOW THE AEROSOL IT PRODUCES ON SHORE. SYMPTOMS
ARE GENERALLY TEMPORARY...BUT CAN INCLUDE COUGHING...SNEEZING...
AND ITCHING AND TEARING EYES.

A HIGH RESPIRATORY IMPACT FORECAST MEANS THAT MOST PEOPLE AT THE
BEACH MAY NOTICE THESE RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS. PEOPLE WITH SEVERE
OR CHRONIC RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS WILL LIKELY BE AFFECTED.

PEOPLE WITH SEVERE OR CHRONIC RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS ARE
TYPICALLY MORE SENSITIVE TO RED TIDE AEROSOLS. PEOPLE WHO
EXPERIENCE UNCOMFORTABLE SYMPTOMS...SHOULD CONSIDER LEAVING THE
SURROUNDING AREA IN FAVOR OF NEARBY BEACHES THAT ARE NOT IMPACTED
BY THIS RED TIDE.

FOR MORE HEALTH INFORMATION...PLEASE VISIT
HTTP://TIDESANDCURRENTS.NOAA.GOV/HAB/FAQ.HTML#5 OR SPEAK TO A
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL 24/7 VIA THE FLORIDA POISON INFORMATION
CENTERS TOLL FREE HOTLINE AT 1-800-222-1222. IF SYMPTOMS ARE
SEVERE...CONSULT YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER.

DO NOT HARVEST DISTRESSED OR DEAD FISH. ALWAYS CHECK ON THE
STATUS OF SHELLFISH HARVESTING AREAS BEFORE RECREATIONAL
HARVESTING BY CONTACTING THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
AND CONSUMER SERVICES:
HTTP://TIDESANDCURRENTS.NOAA.GOV/HAB/FAQ.HTML#5.

INFORMATION SOURCES...HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM (HAB) FORECAST
INFORMATION IS PROVIDED BY THE NATIONAL OCEAN SERVICE CENTER FOR
OPERATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PRODUCTS AND SERVICES... WITH DATA
PROVIDED BY THE FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
(FWC) FISH AND WILDLIFE RESEARCH INSTITUTE AND MOTE MARINE
LABORATORY.

FOR DETAILED INFORMATION ON THIS HAB... PLEASE VISIT THE
FOLLOWING WEBSITES: HTTP://TIDESANDCURRENTS.NOAA.GOV/HAB
HTTP://WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/TBW/?N=TAMPABAYMARINEWEATHER

PLEASE VISIT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE
NEW BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT...

HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/SURVEY/NWS-SURVEY.PHP?CODE=CHMBHS

$$


HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/TAMPA