Lake Okeechobee almost completely covered in algae, sparking summer concerns

PORT MAYACA – Buckle up: it could be a rough summer.

At least, that's what Mark Perry, the executive director of the Florida Oceanographic Society is forecasting.

According to the latest report from South Florida Water Management (SFWM), 85-90% of Lake Okeechobee is covered with blue-green algae blooms, with 13 of the 22 samples testing positive for microcystin toxins.

"It's very, very concerning that we're already into this, and it's only the beginning of June," Perry said.

The blooms come while South Florida was under a heat advisory Wednesday with the WPTV First Alert Weather team forecasting triple-digit temperatures.

Perry said the heat, along with the excess nutrients funneling into the lake, will likely increase the level of algae.

"This blue-green algae is gonna bloom and grow. We're seeing big blooms, over 400 square miles," Perry said. "We'll see it sooner and have longer duration, probably. That's unfortunate because, as you said, we're in the triple digits with the heat index and as the water's getting warmer, the warm water and sunlight conditions, those nutrients being in there is just going to continue to promote that algae to continue to bloom."