DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0400 UTC August 4, 2007
Western U.S and southern Canada: In addition to the persistent fires in Idaho/western Montana, increased fires in northern Oregon as well as fires in southeastern British Columbia are contributing to the dense to very dense smoke that covers northern Oregon, most of Idaho, most of Montana, western Wyoming, extreme southern Alberta and extreme southern Saskatchewan. Light to moderate smoke extends further into Alberta and Saskatchewan and also covers extreme southeastern British Columbia and most of eastern Nevada and western Utah. The smoke is moving toward the northeast over most of this area, but turns more easterly as it reaches eastern Montana and Saskatchewan. California: The large fire in Santa Barbara County is producing very dense smoke that extends in all directions from the fire but primarily is moving north northeastward. The smoke just barely crosses the Nevada border into Esmeralda County, Nevada. Areas of light smoke now detached from this fire have been moving northward into central California from time to time today but dissipate before they reach northern California. In addition, a fire in western Siskiyou County is producing mostly light to moderate smoke that extends eastward and then turns southward. Central and Eastern U.S. A very large area of light to moderate smoke mixed with haze covers much of the central and eastern U.S. The smoke is from the past several days of persistent fires in Idaho and western Montana. The smoke/haze covers North Dakota, South Dakota, southwestern Minnesota, Nebraska, western and southern Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, eastern Texas, eastern Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, northern Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois (except extreme northern Illinois), Indiana (except extreme northern Indiana), Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, western North Carolina, northwestern South Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and all of New England. Smoke in the eastern U.S. is moving slowly eastward while smoke in the Central Plains is moving southeastward. Michigan: A vigorous fire in Luce County, Michigan is producing a large smoke plume that extends eastward (or more accurately east southeastward). The smoke is dense near the fire, becomes moderate as it reaches Lake Huron, and then light as it extends farther covering much of northern Lake Huron. Earlier today the smoke went slightly into Ontario, but it no longer seems to do so. In the past few hours it has begun to move more southerly and is likely to soon begin to affect Cheboygan and Emmet Counties. Minnesota, Ontario and Manitoba: Several fires in Minnesota (and one in Ontario) all near the Minnesota/Ontario/Manitoba border are producing dense smoke. The smoke is moving northward or northeastward. The area of the smoke seems small (barely extending into Canada) but cloud cover might be hindering satellite observation of the smoke. In addition, a fire in Manitoba (near 53.4N 96.4W) is producing a small, light smoke plume that extends toward the east.