A perspective for the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of America* by the University of South Florida Optical Oceanography Lab – (bbarnes4@usf.edu, yuyuan@usf.edu, huc@usf.edu)
The map above shows the average Sargassum abundance for February 2026, with warm colors representing higher abundance. The highest color (red) indicates that 0.4% of the ocean surface is covered by Sargassum, meaning that clumps and mats are scattered throughout the area. The abundance for each region is compared with historical values for the same month from 2011–2025 in the whisker box plot below. In each vertical box, the horizontal bars represent the minimum, 25th percentile, median (50%), 75th percentile, and maximum historical values.
As predicted last month, Sargassum continued to increase in most regions, including the Western Caribbean, Western Atlantic, and Eastern Atlantic. In the Gulf and Eastern Caribbean, the total amount remained stable. With the exception of the Eastern Atlantic, all regions recorded their highest February Sargassum levels on record. The distribution map continues to show three separate large masses in the Eastern Atlantic, Western Atlantic, and Western Caribbean. Beaching events likely persisted in parts of the Western Caribbean, including Belize, Honduras, and the Mexican Caribbean coast. Some islands in the Lesser Antilles may also have experienced increased Sargassum accumulation along their windward shores.
Looking ahead, Sargassum levels are expected to rise in most regions over the coming month. The Western Caribbean and the windward side of the Lesser Antilles are likely to continue experiencing beaching events, while levels in the Gulf are expected to remain low. Due to continuous growth from November through February and record-high levels in most regions, 2026 is shaping up to be another major Sargassum year (i.e., total abundance exceeding 75% of historical values).
All previous monthly bulletins and daily imagery are available through the Sargassum Watch System (SaWS). We will continue to closely monitor changes in all regions.
