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A large seaweed bloom will hit U.S. shores over the coming weeks, threatening spring break and summer beach days in Florida and along the Gulf of Mexico.
The seaweed, sargassum, is toxic, releasing hydrogen sulfide gas into the air, which can often cause respiratory issues for beachgoers and nearby residents. A 2018 bloom in the Caribbean sent thousands to the hospital.
A scientist at Florida Atlantic University told 'NBC News' "What we're seeing in the satellite imagery does not bode well for a clean beach year."
A Boynton Beach, Florida ocean rescue officials said their beach could be clean of the toxic seaweed in the morning, "but three to four hours later, a giant mat of sargassum the size of a mall will come in like the blob."
Some beach officials are placing buoys in their waters to protect against the bloom, but experts call it a "force of nature that you can not control." [Read More]