Lake Yale algae history from satellite

We read Lake Yale from 422 cloud-free satellite scenes between Apr 14, 2016 – Oct 1, 2026. Here is what the surface water showed.

Clear scenes: 422
Typical (median), index: 51
Highest reading: 632 · Apr 22, 2024
Latest scene: 38 · Oct 1, 2026

Algae signal (red-edge index) over time

Algae signal (red-edge index), index. One dot per cloud-free scene; dates are local to the lake.

When it peaks

Month	Clear scenes	Median, index	Scenes rated high
Jan	19	28	37%
Feb	34	25	41%
Mar	38	22	37%
Apr	39	39	21%
May	39	47	13%
Jun	30	57	17%
Jul	41	54	22%
Aug	35	55	34%
Sep	35	49	34%
Oct	36	51	50%
Nov	42	72	55%
Dec	34	40	41%

By year (median / highest): 2016: 49 / 88 (11 scenes) · 2017: 139 / 206 (19 scenes) · 2018: 55 / 158 (45 scenes) · 2019: 30 / 74 (34 scenes) · 2020: 38 / 104 (43 scenes) · 2021: 53 / 101 (46 scenes) · 2022: 31 / 76 (51 scenes) · 2023: 22 / 56 (37 scenes) · 2024: 68 / 632 (41 scenes) · 2025: 131 / 246 (58 scenes) · 2026: 194 / 265 (37 scenes).

What a satellite can and can’t tell you

Satellites see only the surface layer, only on cloud-free days, and only away from the shoreline. They estimate algae; they do not measure toxins, and they can’t see what the lake bottom is doing. A clear reading is not a safety clearance.

For current conditions and health advisories, check the Florida DEP algal bloom page and the Florida Department of Health. If a person or pet may have been exposed to a bloom, call a doctor, a veterinarian, or Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222.

Source: Sentinel-2 MSI (ESA Copernicus), Red-edge cyanobacteria index (CI-cyano); a scene counts as a bloom when the index is above 50 and stays high relative to turbidity (bloom rule v1 (2026-10)). Snapshot exported Oct 9, 2026.

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Month	Clear scenes	Median, index	Scenes rated high
Jan	19	28	37%
Feb	34	25	41%
Mar	38	22	37%
Apr	39	39	21%
May	39	47	13%
Jun	30	57	17%
Jul	41	54	22%
Aug	35	55	34%
Sep	35	49	34%
Oct	36	51	50%
Nov	42	72	55%
Dec	34	40	41%

Month	Clear scenes	Median, index	Scenes rated high
Jan	19	28	37%
Feb	34	25	41%
Mar	38	22	37%
Apr	39	39	21%
May	39	47	13%
Jun	30	57	17%
Jul	41	54	22%
Aug	35	55	34%
Sep	35	49	34%
Oct	36	51	50%
Nov	42	72	55%
Dec	34	40	41%

Month	Clear scenes	Median, index	Scenes rated high
Jan	19	28	37%
Feb	34	25	41%
Mar	38	22	37%
Apr	39	39	21%
May	39	47	13%
Jun	30	57	17%
Jul	41	54	22%
Aug	35	55	34%
Sep	35	49	34%
Oct	36	51	50%
Nov	42	72	55%
Dec	34	40	41%