NOAA forecasts moderate to high respiratory irritation risk from red tide in Galveston County, Texas
A Karenia brevis red tide bloom is affecting parts of Galveston County, Texas, on September 16, 2026, after state biologists confirmed moderate to high cell concentrations, fish kills and respiratory irritation along the coast. NOAA forecasts a moderate to high risk of respiratory irritation at some beaches on Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula as the bloom continues.
Respiratory forecast map September 16, 2026. Credit: NOAA/NCCOS
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) said beachgoers had reported respiratory irritation ranging from mild to severe. Fish kills consisted mainly of Gulf menhaden and striped mullet, with smaller numbers of other common species observed.
The department began receiving bloom reports on September 8. Its Kills and Spills Team has been sampling water and monitoring fish mortality along Bolivar Peninsula, from Crystal Beach to the north jetty at Bolivar Roads, and along approximately 19 km (12 miles) of Galveston Island’s coast from the south jetty.
NOAA said the respiratory risk was greatest with winds blowing toward shore or along the coastline and lower with winds blowing offshore. Blooms can be patchy, allowing conditions to vary between beaches and change throughout the day.
A confirmed red tide bloom has been observed off the coast of Galveston.
— Texas Parks & Wildlife (@TPWDnews) September 15, 2026
Red tide is a naturally occurring, higher-than-normal concentration of a microscopic algae that can affect fish and cause respiratory irritation in humans.
MORE at https://t.co/pYmBIEWmDg#TexasCoast pic.twitter.com/CQkVk5gNbQ
K. brevis produces brevetoxins that can kill fish and cause respiratory irritation in people. Wind and breaking waves can carry the toxins in sea spray, exposing people without entering the water, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).
DSHS advises visitors to avoid swimming or wading in waters affected by red tide. TPWD recommends leaving an area if irritation develops and notes that people with existing respiratory illnesses, including asthma, may experience more severe symptoms.
The agencies advise against eating fish or shellfish found sick, dead, or floating belly-up. DSHS says fish, shrimp and crabs caught alive and behaving normally can be eaten, while TPWD specifies that this advice applies to edible fillets or muscle.
Oysters, clams and mussels can accumulate brevetoxins, and cooking does not make contaminated shellfish safe. DSHS says molluscan shellfish legally sold in markets and restaurants should be safe from red tide toxins because they come from unaffected harvest areas.
References:
1 Gulf Coast Harmful Algal Bloom Forecast – NOAA/NCCOS – September 15, 2026
2 Official Media Statement: Red Tide in the Gulf – TPWD – September 14, 2026
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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