At a Glance

Lake Erie is expected to experience a harmful algae bloom of cyanobacteria this summer.NOAA says the algae bloom on Lake Erie started earlier this year.

Lake Erie is experiencing an early harmful algae bloom of cyanobacteria that is expected to become larger than a bloom in 2016 but not quite as large as last year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Thursday.

Scientists say this year's bloom is expected to be a 6 on the severity index of 10, which isbased on a bloom’s biomassor the number of harmful algae over a sustained period,according to a press release.

The worst bloom with a severity of 10.5 occurred in 2015. The second-worst bloom, which reached 10 on the index, was reported in 2011.Last year’s bloom had a severity of 8.

The agency says the algae bloom began unusually earlythis year, in mid-June. Typically, the blooms don't happen until late July into early August, when water temperatures reach between 65 and70 degrees Fahrenheit. This year, water temperatures reached 70 degrees in the lake's western basin twoweeks earlier than usual, resulting in a small bloom.

“This early start does not change the forecast severity, because the bloom is determined by the amount of phosphorus that goes into the water,” said Richard Stumpf, Ph.D., NOAA oceanographer. “Close attention to the weekly bulletins will be important through July and August to find the best places to enjoy the lake.”

(MORE:)

NOAA notes that the severity of the bloom also does not indicate itstoxicity, something scientists are unable to predict.

“NOAA continues to develop tools that provide early warning systems for harmful algal blooms which help visitors and the community make better-informed decisions about recreation activities," said W. Russell Callender, assistant NOAA administrator for theNational Ocean Service. “The resources and services the lake provides drive our economy and we’ll keep working with our partners to bring the most accurate forecasts for the region.”

Harmful algal bloomscomefrom the runoff from nearby farms and ordinary neighborhoods that containhuman waste and fertilizers. Nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as other nutrients in the polluted runoff, can act like fertilizer for the algae, creating large and extensive blooms.

If ingested, water contaminated with toxic cyanobacteria can cause nausea, vomiting and, in severe cases, acute liver failure, according to Florida's FWCC. While there have been no documented cases of anyone becoming ill from drinking water containing these toxins, it remains a concern.

The Centers for Disease Control says with the algae can cause a rashand some research indicates a link between long-term inhalation of toxic algae fumes and neurological disorders like Parkinson’s and Lou Gehrig’s diseases.