Avoid seaweed blobs, red tides on Florida beaches this spring with our water quality maps

Even though some Florida officials want spring breakers to stay away, the school vacations and fatigue of gloomy weather will likely still send people seeking sunshine on the beaches .

But nature doesn't always yield to travelers.

Last year, a blob of sargassum seaweed overtook Florida's beaches "like a Stephen King story."

While forecasters may not know exactly when the seaweed blob will arrive, ecological data compiled USA TODAY show where beaches might be impacted by other natural deterrents.

For example, toxic algae known as red tide can leave the shores littered with dead fish, making a trip to the beach a total stinker.

Whether you're looking ahead to plan beach outings or trying to pick place for a last minute spring break trip, here is what to know about red tide and impacts it might have on Florida's shores:

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What is red tide?

Red tide is a harmful algal bloom. The microscopic species Karenia brevis is responsible for most red tides, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Red tides often taint the water red or brown, hence the name. But the most obvious symptom is the dead fish on the beach.

The organism that causes red tide is toxic and can affect the central nervous system of fish, often killing them. Waves can also release those toxins into the air, causing respiratory irritation in humans.

Map: Red tide on Florida beaches

Is it safe to swim or fish near me?

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 FWC.

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