Cancun Sargassum season 2026 – photos, forecasts, MAP, etc.
In 2026, the sargassum seaweed season in the Cancun area appears to start earlier than previously predicted.
Facebook photo reports and satellite data analyzed by researchers at Florida Atlantic University indicate that Sargassum concentrations in the Atlantic Ocean are already increasing, raising concerns that this year’s influx could match the severity of last season.
Although the exact timing of landfall remains uncertain, Early indicators suggest that coastal areas in the Mexican Caribbean could again face significant environmental and economic challenges in the coming months.
In general, these are the beaches most affected by high algae concentrations Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Akumaland certain areas in between Cancun and Puerto Morelos.
However, it is extremely difficult to accurately predict which beaches will be affected and to what extent, as conditions change almost daily and often without notice.
Read on for the latest information on the sargassum situation on Mexico’s beaches.
What is the seaweed sargassum and what causes it?
Sargassum is a floating brown seaweed distinguished by its leaf structure and small, air-filled bladders that allow it to remain afloat at the ocean’s surface.
In recent years, large-scale sargassum blooms in the Caribbean and across the Atlantic have been increasingly linked to a combination of nutrient pollution from agricultural runoff and wastewater, rising ocean temperatures due to climate change, and changing ocean currents. Together, these factors accelerate sargassum growth, resulting in significant environmental disruption and economic pressure for affected coastal communities.
When does seaweed season start in Cancun (Mexican Caribbean)?
According to the data of the past 2 years, the seaweed season in Cancun starts in February and peaks between April and August. In some areas near Cancun, such as Playa del Carmen, Cozumel and Puerto Morelos, the peak starts as early as February.
Sargassum forecast 2026
Satellite images of the Laboratory of Optical Oceanography at the University of Florida is used as an important tool to monitor and estimate the progress of the sargassum season.
However, Accurate predictions remain difficult because the movement of sargassum is influenced by a range of dynamic variables. Ocean currents and sea surface temperatures play a particularly important role in determining how and where sargassum mats travel and ultimately reach coastal areas.
Based on the satellite images below, Current indicators point to another potentially severe sargassum season, with concentrations expected to start increasing as early as February.
Sargassum seaweed in the Cancun region now: updates for 2026
January 20, 2026: Visitors report early arrival of sargassum in Tulum, Cancun, Playa del Carmen and other areas
Our traveling lifestyle sargassum reporting FB group has already been flooded with photos of the arrival of large sargassoes at the beginning of January.
ARCHIVES and PHOTOGRAPHS of the 2025 Sargassum seaweed season
June 20: Mexican beaches overwhelmed by worst arrival in Sargassum ever
Satellite images show the ongoing invasion of sargassum seaweed entering the Caribbean
April 2: Latest images of the Sargassum seaweed situation from FB reporting group + MAP + Satellite image
Latest images and videos of sargassum seaweed arrival along the Mexican Caribbean coast.
Latest MAP of the distribution of sargassum seaweed along the Mexican Caribbean coast.
Latest satellite images of the spread of sargassum across the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea
Based on the images below, we can expect a huge arrival of seaweed in April.
March 4: Latest images of the Sargassum seaweed situation from FB Reporting Group
February 27: Sargassum seaweed map of the Mexican Caribbean coast and satellite images
March 1: Third wave of Sargassum reaches Yucatán and Quintana Roo coasts expected 30,000 – 40,000 tons from Sargassum in 2025
Following the passage of seven meteorological systems this year, including Cold Front 28, the Yucatán coastline has been hit by a third wave of sargassum. The most affected area is the northern municipality of Yobaín, especially the port of Chabihau, where local fishermen, such as Rubén, report serious disruptions to their work due to the accumulation of seaweed in their nets. This influx of sargassum has hit twelve beaches along a 110-kilometer stretch from Puerto Chuburná to Dzilam de Bravo. Javier Medina, a representative of the Fishermen’s Association of Yucatán, explained that heavy rains have loosened sediment from the seabed, exacerbating the problem. Authorities report that 12,000 tons of sargassum have been collected in the Yucatán so far this year – 5,000 more than the same period in 2024.
In neighboring Quintana Roo, sargassum deposits are also increasing, with forecasts indicating this year could see the highest influx in four years. According to the state’s Sargassum Monitoring Network, NASA satellite images show huge swathes of sargassum in the Atlantic Ocean moving toward the region. Esteban Amaro, of the monitoring network, estimates that between 30,000 and 40,000 additional tons of sargassum could arrive in the Mexican Caribbean.
February 24, 2025 – Sargassum Seaweed Update (Cancun, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, etc.
The Mexican Caribbean saw a huge arrival of sargassum last week, marking the start of the 2025 sargassum seaweed season. With temperatures rising in the region, we can expect an influx of daily sargassum seaweed arrivals.
Latest images from the FB reporting group between February 19 – 24, 2025:
Latest satellite images from the University of South Florida’s Optical Oceanography Laboratory (between February 16 and February 22, 2025)
Latest news: Could South Florida experience a major seaweed event in the spring of 2025? Satellite images suggest so (NBCMiami.com)
Dr. Dennis McGillicuddy remembers fishing with his grandfather near Miami, looking for sargassum because it was a sign of abundant marine life. Sargassum provides habitat for several species, including young mahi-mahi, but excessive flowering can cause problems.
Satellite images from the University of South Florida (USF) show unusually high levels of sargassum in the central and eastern Atlantic Ocean in December 2024 – above the 75th percentile for the past 15 years. Although it is still far offshore, some of it is expected to reach Florida.
Sargassum thrives on sunlight and nutrients, doubling in size every 10 days. Experts predict that 2025 could be another major boom year, depending on nutrient availability.
Latest satellite images from the University of South Florida’s Optical Oceanography Laboratory
Satellite images from January 20 to 26 show a huge sargassum mass floating in the Atlantic Ocean and expected to reach the Mexican Caribbean in March or April 2025.
ARCHIVES and PHOTOGRAPHS of the 2024 Sargassum seaweed season
May 22 – June 7
