# Marco Island Red Tide Status
Canonical HTML: https://themarcoislandguide.com/marco-island-red-tide-status

Summary: Official Southwest Florida red tide updates and fast-read beach planning context.

## Current Status
- Southwest Florida summary: In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background concentrations in one offshore Lee County sample. For additional information, view the Southwest Coast report and map .
- Current read: Low-level observations reported. Treat this as a yellow light and verify the official map before committing to the beach.
- FWC report date: April 17, 2026
- Next scheduled update: Friday, April 24
- Statewide summary: Over the past week, the red tide organism, Karenia brevis , was observed at background concentrations in three samples from Northwest Florida and one offshore sample from Southwest Florida. We continue to use satellite imagery (USF and NOAA NCCOS) to help track nearshore and offshore conditions.
- Short-term forecast: Short-term (3.5 day) forecasts provided by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides predict predominantly southwestern to southern movement of surface waters and southern to southeastern transport of subsurface waters from Pinellas to northern Monroe counties.

## Official Sources
- [Southwest Coast report](https://myfwc.com/media/m2whrzkt/swtable0417.pdf): The official weekly PDF report covering the Southwest Florida region.
- [Southwest Coast map](https://myfwc.com/media/stwjai12/swmap0417.jpg): The FWC image map tied to the Southwest Florida summary.
- [Daily sampling map](https://gis.myfwc.com/redtidecurrentstatus/): The daily FWC sampling map for the last eight days of observations.
- [Statewide status map](https://myfwc.com/media/vd5c5yvw/statewidemap0417.jpg): The statewide image map associated with the current official report.

## FAQs
### Is this red tide status page using an official source?
Yes. It is built from the public Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission status page, and every key section links back to the official report or map.

### What should I check right before going to the beach?
Check the daily sampling map last. It is the fastest way to see whether the broader weekly summary still lines up with what is happening right now.

### Does no observation in Southwest Florida guarantee a perfect beach day?
No. It is a favorable sign, but beach comfort can still shift with wind, surf, weather, and how sensitive your group is to irritation.

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