Newnans Lake algae history from satellite

We read Newnans Lake from 365 cloud-free satellite scenes between Feb 14, 2016 – Oct 1, 2026. Here is what the surface water showed.

Clear scenes: 365
Typical (median), index: 137
Highest reading: 370 · Feb 8, 2017
Latest scene: 292 · 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	25	61	60%
Feb	32	111	75%
Mar	31	113	84%
Apr	33	110	76%
May	34	174	85%
Jun	28	191	93%
Jul	31	224	90%
Aug	25	170	76%
Sep	34	77	62%
Oct	34	131	74%
Nov	32	109	72%
Dec	26	123	77%

By year (median / highest): 2016: 200 / 278 (10 scenes) · 2017: 10 / 370 (13 scenes) · 2018: 76 / 212 (39 scenes) · 2019: 97 / 218 (42 scenes) · 2020: 148 / 286 (34 scenes) · 2021: 78 / 269 (38 scenes) · 2022: 88 / 266 (40 scenes) · 2023: 195 / 348 (40 scenes) · 2024: 74 / 254 (30 scenes) · 2025: 217 / 322 (52 scenes) · 2026: 281 / 364 (27 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	25	61	60%
Feb	32	111	75%
Mar	31	113	84%
Apr	33	110	76%
May	34	174	85%
Jun	28	191	93%
Jul	31	224	90%
Aug	25	170	76%
Sep	34	77	62%
Oct	34	131	74%
Nov	32	109	72%
Dec	26	123	77%

Month	Clear scenes	Median, index	Scenes rated high
Jan	25	61	60%
Feb	32	111	75%
Mar	31	113	84%
Apr	33	110	76%
May	34	174	85%
Jun	28	191	93%
Jul	31	224	90%
Aug	25	170	76%
Sep	34	77	62%
Oct	34	131	74%
Nov	32	109	72%
Dec	26	123	77%

Month	Clear scenes	Median, index	Scenes rated high
Jan	25	61	60%
Feb	32	111	75%
Mar	31	113	84%
Apr	33	110	76%
May	34	174	85%
Jun	28	191	93%
Jul	31	224	90%
Aug	25	170	76%
Sep	34	77	62%
Oct	34	131	74%
Nov	32	109	72%
Dec	26	123	77%