Avoid sargassum seaweed, algal blooms on Florida beaches in spring with water quality maps

Florida boasts a number of spring break destinations, from Miami Beach in the southeast to Panama City Beach in the northwest.

For those living under the gloomy clouds and colder temperatures in the northern states, Florida offers a warm, sunny break.

But the beaches aren't always as hospitable, with various aqua flora phenomena occasionally making beaches intolerable.

Another threat to Florida's waterways is blue-green algal blooms. Sometimes, harmful algal blooms can leaves Florida beaches littered with dead fish.

Later in the season, several metric tons of seaweed could make its way to the Florida coast.

Here is what to know about them and whether your beach getaway could be impacted:

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What is an algal bloom?

Algae are naturally occurring plant-link organisms that contribute to wildlife. But when they bloom disproportionately to their ecosystem, they can take away food sources from other organisms.

The algae also can produce a strong odor that smells like rotting plants and toxins that can make animals and people sick.

When blue-green algae is ingested, it can cause rashes, diarrhea, vomiting and even liver problems. Gastrointestinal effects usually begin within 3 to 5 hours after exposure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

These blooms typically happen in the summer or early fall, according to the Florida Department of Health.

Florida water conditions: Algal bloom map from the last 90 days

Florida beaches: Is it safe to swim or fish in Florida?

The data on the map below shows weekly beach water quality reports from the Florida Department of Health, and red tide and algal blooms data from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Where is the sargassum seaweed blob?

As of February, the swath of seaweed, which reached a record size in December, was still far off the coasts of Florida and the Caribbean.

The University of South Florida monitors, researches and forecasts sargassum blooms in order to eventually be able to predict when it might pile up on beaches.

The most recent report issued Friday showed there is a total of 9 million metric tons of sargassum in the Atlantic, though the researchers predict it won't hit the southeast coast of Florida until late April or May.

Contributing: Kimberly Miller, Dinah Voyles Pulver; USA TODAY Network