Sargassum at Anne's Beach, Islamorada: today's conditions
First bulletin for this beach lands with tomorrow morning’s update.
Anne's Beach runs along the Overseas Highway on Lower Matecumbe Key, at the southern end of Islamorada. On the ocean side it strings together small sandy pockets and a wooden boardwalk through the mangroves, in front of flats so shallow you can wade a long way before the water reaches your waist.
This page reports sargassum at Anne's Beach day by day: the 0 to 5 rating, what is showing along the shore, and the FanGass map placing the beach among other Keys stops. The update goes out each morning, before the first cars pull off the highway.
Anne's Beach on the sargassum map
What to know about this beach
A southeast aspect points Anne's Beach straight into the winds that dominate from spring through summer, the same stretch of the year when sargassum rafts move most freely across the basin. That heading separates it from neighboring beaches that look east or northeast: for the same wind, it takes arrivals more directly.
The shape of the shore then amplifies things. Grassy shallows reach far out in front of the sand and slow anything drifting in, the very gentle slope leaves almost no wave energy to push weed back offshore, and the mangrove fringe holds whatever the tide tucks into it. An equal volume stays visible here longer than on a steep, wave-worked beach, which is part of what the daily rating reflects.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Anne's Beach sensitive to sargassum?
It faces southeast, the prevailing wind direction through spring and summer, when rafts circulate most. The flat, grassy shallows in front of the sand then slow and hold whatever drifts in.
How do I know whether swimming will be pleasant today?
FanGass posts a 0 to 5 rating and the observed condition for Anne's Beach every morning. That matters here, where a few inches of water is enough to make a mat very noticeable underfoot.
Does the shallow water change how it feels?
It does. Without waves to stir things up, weed lingers in the first few meters and mixes with seagrass. The experience underfoot differs from a steep beach even when the amount is similar.
Where can I go if the beach is loaded that day?
Founders Park on the bay side of Islamorada is usually less affected, and the Key Largo beaches are within reach to the north. Compare them on the map before you get back in the car.