New tool detects red tide concentrations in the air

On Tuesday, the most recent red tide results will be released and SWFL is hoping the red dots in the previous one that showed high levels are no longer there.

Now, there is also a new tool that can help gauge the amount of red tide concentration in the air.

Delving deeper into our red tide concerns, more like waist-deep. The online tool brings locals and visitors real-time information about red tide.

“I’d definitely look at it if I was going to the beach or bringing little kids,” said Ron Garlit from Estero.

And not just what’s in the water, what’s in the air that could reach well inland. A red tide respiratory forecast.

“The abundance of it is tabulated and sent to a database where it’s coupled with a wind forecast model to provide a respiratory irritation forecast for each beach,” said Dr. Eric Milbrandt, the Marine Lab director with Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCFF).