BUFFALO, N.Y. — Hot weather, rain, and freshwater, are just some of the ingredients to create Harmful Algal Blooms, also known as HABs.

DEC says reports have been consistent. The areas that typically see HABs continue to.  They can’t predict how bad it will be, but summer tends to be peak time. But the conditions for them to grow have been just right and quite common.

What You Need To Know

  • HABs have been consistently reported to the DEC already this year 

  • HABs or harmful algal blooms are actually large clusters of cyanobacteria

  • Lake Erie has already hit 73 degrees

The saying goes ‘it’s all in the name,’ but when it comes to Harmful Algal Blooms, that’s not the case.

“HABs or harmful algal blooms are actually large clusters of cyanobacteria, so they're technically not algae," said Damianos Skaros, P.E. regional water engineer for DEC Region 9. 

Skaros says cyanobacteria has been around for millions of years in small clusters. It’s when they get together in large numbers that catches attention.

“It’s very dense, almost pea soup-like characteristics, shiny in color, “ Skaros said. “It often some people would say it resembles spilled paint.”

And that’s how you tell the difference between algal blooms and HABs. Try to remember it the next time you see anything green floating in the water.

“HABs can actually cause some health issues for people as well as pets,” Skaros said. 

If you come in contact, Skaros says to wash it off as quickly as you can, and then monitor your health. Watch for sore eyes and gastrointestinal issues and call your PCP, the same goes for your pet. If you see one, report it to the NYHABS website.

So far this year, nearly six dozen HABs have been reported. Last year, nearly 1,200 HABs were reported to the DEC. With hot weather being a factor, we went to SN1 Meteorologist Kaylee Wendt to get a better outlook on the summer.

“So the rest of the summer does look like it's going to be above average," Wendt said. "And there's a pretty good likelihood that that means we're going to have more periods of record-breaking heat across the state, similar to what we saw in weeks of June. I expect we'll see moving through both July, August, maybe even September. “

Besides leaving us sweating, the above-average temperatures are warming up area waterways, too. Lake Erie has already hit 73 degrees.

“We get to 70 degrees, but it's usually later in the season," Wendt said. 

Warm water is one of those key ingredients for HABS, and even algae in general. As for preventing HABs, Skaros says there isn’t much we can do, besides hope for a cool-down.

“I think being good stewards of the environment is important in any scenario,” Skaros said.

The DEC is providing $400 million in grants to help with clean water and nutrient reduction throughout our watersheds. The agency is also developing statewide phosphorus guidelines. The mineral and nutrients are also ingredients for HABs. They get into our waterways after rain.