Hurricane Michael & More Red Tide?

but no turtle signs!

4th October we learn the red tide, formerly 23 miles offshore, is creeping back and now only 3 miles from us! I share this only so you will get an idea of what it is like to be here with the uncertainty. For the moment the pelicans and our local heron have returned to our shores and are fishing for dinner.  Dolphins have been harder to spot., although we saw one pod a few days back.

<-- Shrimp boat, Desperado, offshore Madeira Beach catching dead red tide fish before hitting shoreline on 15 September.

On October 5th the County Contractor for monitoring red tide said East winds were keeping the red tide bloom offshore, whilst the water currents were trying to bring it back in -- resulting in a stalemate.  No dead fish were seen 3-4 miles out, with speculation the red tide had already killed off the weak and most fish killing damage was already done.

21 miles of beach re-nourishment was started last April in the south and is now at its most northerly points planned to finish this month.  Right is a picture of the Commander tug (Louisiana based) and barge with crane going by on the 5th October.

Yesterday afternoon (9th October), we started to feel the effects of Category 4 (almost Cat 5 at 155 mph) Hurricane Michael with storm surge of circa 2 feet on top of  high astronomical or King tides. Wave height out at sea is 19 feet.

Bay News 9 - St Pete Beach floods

By 2:30 pm the tide was in the dunes and approaching our building.

Couldn't believe people were still running around the beach. Local low lying streets began to flood with sea water coming up the drains.

tide in parking spaces under our
building as seen from leaning out our
balcony at 11:30 pm 9th Oct

We've rolled down our hurricane shutters , so feel a bit shut in and it s a bit dark in the condo. Brought in the lighter weight stuff on our balcony. The shutters clang and bang in the wind.

At 11:|30 pm  water came up to and then just over our 'sea wall' protecting the parking under our building.  The 'eye wall' passed us in the night and today we are getting circa 40 mph wind blasts from the outer bands of this large storm.

Our car is out front and so far not impacted. Here you can see it left a little sand behind and by noon today Michael brought in red tide and a few medium -sized dead fish - now I can feel irritation in my throat.

Below's high tide at 2:34 pm - not as dramatic as last night, but very foaming and wiffy.  Tonight's high tide is forecast to be 'the worst,' but not much more severe than last night.  We are so fortunate and still have power too!!!

Here's the view from my balcony
Just to give a feel of what it is actually like