Sargassum Blob Heads to Beaches for Spring Break

A massive sargassum seaweed surge builds in the Atlantic, threatening popular Caribbean, Mexico, and Florida beaches right as spring break 2026 kicks off. Record levels, estimated at 9.5 million tons, form earlier than ever, with blooms already hitting the western Caribbean like Belize, Honduras, and Mexico's coast. Scientists at the University of South Florida warn of high risk for southern Cuba, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Lesser Antilles, eastern Yucatan, Miami Beach, and the Florida Keys.