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This page will be updated weekly to share information on thermal stress
This page will be updated weekly to share information on thermal stress
and potential coral bleaching along Florida's Coral Reef during 2026.
and potential coral bleaching along Florida's Coral Reef during 2026.
Over the past two decades, coral bleaching has been occurring more intensely and frequently on Florida’s Coral Reef. During summer 2023, extreme ocean temperatures driven by El Niño–Southern Oscillation caused widespread coral bleaching and mortality on some coral species. Ocean temperatures remained globally elevated throughout 2024 and we experienced the 4th recorded global coral bleaching event, which likely ended mid-2025.
Since 2023, the FCRRP has collected lessons learned from practitioners, managers, researchers, and partners on effective and ineffective bleaching response strategies. These insights are being used to strengthen preparedness, coordination, and response planning across the region. In an effort to provide a more coordinated and proactive approach to thermal stress preparedness, communication, operational readiness, and response support ahead of anticipated El Niño conditions, the FCRRP has drafted a Thermal Stress Preparedness and Response Plan, linked below.
CURRENT CONDITIONS
CURRENT CONDITIONS
El Niño continues and will strengthen through the end of the year, with a 97% chance it will persist through early spring 2027.
Although the above link shows there is currently a Bleaching Alert Level 2 in the Keys, that is the highest alert available for that graph.
The current Alert Level 2 is expected to remain over the next one to 12 weeks (August-November)
With Alert Level 2, there is risk of reef-wide bleaching with mortality of heat-sensitive corals
The below image of the Bleaching Alert Level 7-Day Maximum shows some areas in the back country and Florida Bay in a Bleaching Alert Level 3.
There is a risk of multi-species mortality.
There is currently a Bleaching Alert Level 2 in Southeast Florida, that is the highest alert available for that graph.
The current Alert Level 2 is expected to remain over the next one to 12 weeks (August-November)
With Alert Level 2, there is risk of reef-wide bleaching with mortality of heat-sensitive corals
A key metric used by NOAA Coral Reef Watch is Degree Heating Week (DHW). DHW measures the accumulation of thermal stress on corals over time, and recognizes that coral bleaching is driven not only by the intensity of ocean warming, but also by the duration of that heat stress.
Some areas in the back country and Florida Bay are experiencing 14-15 DHW, which come with a risk of multi-species mortality.
WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS REPORTING
As the end of July:
In John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in July, mortality was seen on fire corals, sea fans and other gorgonians, as well as hard corals.
Community reports and observations are noting paling, partial bleaching, and bleaching from Monroe all the way to Palm Beach County.
At Rainbow Reef in Miami-Dade County, there is paling in some more hardy species (PSTR, MCAV) and bleaching with more susceptible species (SSID, ACER).
In the North Miami and Hallandale area, the water temperature was 86° at 60 feet. No paling or bleaching was observed.
However, at 16 feet there was paling and bleaching of Porites as well as some tissue loss disease. Overall, less than 30% of live coral was bleached across the site.
At Newfound Harbor in the Keys, there are reports of paling and bleaching of star coral, bouldering coral, branching coral, sea fans, and fire coral. Overall, ~75% of live coral was bleached in this area.
Caulerpa mats have been reportedly reforming near Miami Beach! Should anyone come across them, please contact Brian Walker (walkerb@nova.edu).
Brian Walker and his team are setting up an experiment with non-antibiotic disease treatments.
If you or anyone you know comes across sites with disease, please let Brian Walker (walkerb@nova.edu) know!
As of the beginning of August:
Folks diving at 90 feet in North Miami noticed a strong south flowing current, with a thermocline at 75 feet at 81°.
Fish kills have been reported in the Keys, as well as low dissolved oxygen in some areas.
The lower and middle Keys are experience the highest thermal stress so far.
RESOURCE LINKS
RESOURCE LINKS
To See Real-Time and Projected Ocean Conditions (some summarized and linked above)
To See Real-Time and Projected Ocean Conditions (some summarized and linked above)
NOAA Coral Reef Watch Home Page - A dashboard where you can find Bleaching Alerts, status of degree heating weeks, current sea surface temperatures, etc., by region and specific area.
Specific information for the Florida Keys
Specific information for Southeast Florida.
Subscribe to Satellite Bleaching Alert Email List Regional Virtual Stations
NOAA Coral Reef Watch Florida Specific Single Pixel Virtual Stations - A dashboard where you can find information on 19 specific reefs along Florida's Coral Reef.
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Aqualink - A free, open-source platform that provides a real-time data for sites in the Florida Keys.
SEAFAN BleachWatch Dashboard (Southeast Florida Action Network) - BleachWatch is an early warning network for coral bleaching and disease in southeast Florida. This dashboard let's you peruse a map of where observations have been reported, read the reports, and review report photos.
To Report Marine Incidents and Observations (coral bleaching, disease, anchor damage, invasive species, fish kills, marine debris, etc.)
To Report Marine Incidents and Observations (coral bleaching, disease, anchor damage, invasive species, fish kills, marine debris, etc.)
Need assistance deciding where to report? Check out this flow chart! (Credit: Eva Laxo)
Members of the public and community scientists with no specific training can report a variety a of marine incidents, including healthy, diseased, or bleaching corals, using the Southeast Florida Action Network - SEAFAN Report Form. Folks can also call the SEAFAN hotline at 866-770-SEFL (7335).
View the SEAFAN Dashboard to see reports.
Learn more at SEAFAN.net
Trained reporters in Southeast Florida (Martin County, Palm Beach County, Broward County, Miami-Dade County) can report healthy, diseased, or bleaching corals to SEAFAN BleachWatch using this form.
View the Southeast Florida BleachWatch Dashboard to see reports.
Trained reporters in the Florida Keys (Monroe County) can report healthy, diseased, or bleaching corals to Mote Marine Lab BleachWatch using this form.
View the Mote Marine Lab BleachWatch Dashboard to see reports.
If you would rather report from a guided charter, join Reef Guardians for a guided BleachWatch and Reef Monitoring Experience with Mission: Iconic Reefs in the Florida Keys.
To Learn More About Marine Environmental Monitoring
FWC's Disturbance Response Monitoring Program (DRM) - annual surveys conducted during peak bleaching months (Aug-Oct) on randomly selected sites along Florida’s Coral Reef. Collects data on coral density, diversity, size, and condition of stony corals, including capturing disease and bleaching prevalence. This is the predominant source of data for bleaching corals in Florida.
FWC's Coral Reef Evaluation and Monitoring Project (CREMP) and Nova Southeastern University's Southeast Coral Reef Evaluation and Monitoring Project (SECREMP) - SECREMP annually surveys 22 sites in Southeast Florida and CREMP surveys 51 permanent monitoring sites in the Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas. Collects data on coral population demographics and health, including diversity, size, and condition of stony corals.
NOAA's National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) - biennial surveys to monitor coral populations, benthic communities, and fish populations.
RESOURCE DOCUMENTS
RESOURCE DOCUMENTS
7.20.26 FL Thermal Stress Preparedness and Response Plan.pdfFlorida's Thermal Stress Preparedness and Response Plan (7/20/2026)
USCRTF-StandardizedBleachingMonitoringProtocols_May-2026_508.pdfU.S. Coral Reef Task Force Guidance for Monitoring the Impacts of Heat Stress and Coral Bleaching Events SOP (2026)
DRM_Post_Bleaching_Survey_Criteria.pdfDisturbance Response Monitoring Post Bleaching Survey Criteria
7.10.26 - Practitioner Support_Summer 2026 Reporting Resources.pdfPractitioner Support - 2026 Reporting Resources
2025 FL Bleaching Summary - 9.12.25.pdf2025 FL Bleaching Summary
2024 Bleaching Two-Pager_05.08.24.pdf2024 Thermal Stress Preparation
CONDITION REPORTS
CONDITION REPORTS
NWF August 10 Keys CCR.pdfFlorida Keys - August 10, 2026 National Weather Service Update
Summer Reef Check report_July 2026.pdfJohn Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park - Summer Reef Check Status Report July 2026
Summer Reef Check report_June 2026.pdfJohn Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park - Summer Reef Check Status Report June 2026
NWF August 3 Keys CCRFlorida Keys - August 3, 2026 National Weather Service Update
Mote July 29 CCRMote Marine Lab - July 29, 2026 Current Conditions Report
NWF July 27 Keys CCRFlorida Keys - July 28, 2026 National Weather Service Update
NWF July 20 Keys CCRFlorida Keys - July 20, 2026 National Weather Service Update
NOAA NWS FL Keys-Marine-Heat-13-July-2026-Update.pdfFlorida Keys - July 13, 2026 National Weather Service Update
Mote July CCRMote Marine Lab - July 13, 2026 Current Conditions Report
may 27 cc.pdfMote Marine Lab - May 27, 2026 Current Conditions Report
Header photo: FWC FWRI
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