The Microcystis cyanobacteria bloom now covers 220 square miles of western Lake Erie, an increase from last week, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Cloud cover is obscuring the satellite image, so the bloom may be larger. Also, winds are promoting mixing.
The bloom extends from Stony Point, Michigan, to Port Clinton, Ohio and extends into the western basin.
Sandusky Bay has a local bloom of mixed cyanobacteria.
Toxins have been detected below the recreational limit, but they can be highly concentrated in scums. Anyone seeing scum should keep their pets and themselves out of the water.
In the satellite imagery or bloom forecast position products, any areas that are orange or red are likely to have scum, especially during calm winds.
