Seasonal· Anguilla· Leeward Islands
Sargassum Season (Anguilla)
18° 15.5′ N · 63° 0.0′ W · approximate
Mats of brown sargassum seaweed drift onto Anguilla's beaches in some years, rotting into smelly piles. Anguilla gets less than the windward islands, but north-coast pockets such as Island Harbour have been hit hard.
Practical
Coordinate approx: Island Harbour (representative; the same point as the Island Harbour anchorage). A 2026 travel guide rates Anguilla low-to-moderate risk, peaking July-September in north-coast pockets, with spring the best window. In September 2024 a buildup at Island Harbour beach caused mould in the nearby primary school. The Department of Natural Resources got a Barber Surf Rake beach cleaner in February 2025 (UK Blue Belt funding), and in June 2026 the tourism sector raised concerns about timely access to it. For sailors: dense mats can clog raw-water intakes and foul props, and rotting weed can make an anchorage smell. Check a current sargassum outlook before heading to a north-coast bay.
Best for
Choosing beaches and anchorages in summer
Season
Roughly March–October; peak July–September