Yes, Hurricane Ian likely made red tide worse in Florida. The storm churned up the ocean water and resuspended sediments that contain red tide algae blooms. This caused the blooms to spread and become more concentrated, leading to higher levels of red tide in the area.

In addition, the storm surge from Hurricane Ian also caused flooding in coastal areas, which washed nutrients into the water. These nutrients can further fuel the growth of red tide algae blooms.

As a result of these factors, red tide has been reported in several coastal areas of Florida following Hurricane Ian. This has caused respiratory irritation and other health problems for people who have come into contact with the water.

Red tide is a naturally occurring phenomenon, but it can be exacerbated by human activities, such as pollution and climate change. Hurricane Ian is an example of how extreme weather events can worsen red tide and its impacts on human health and the environment.