Wednesday, August 8, 2007

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 1630Z UTC August 8, 2007

Northwestern US/Southern Canada/North Central US:
A large mass of smoke from the ongoing wildfires burning in central and
eastern Oregon, central Idaho, and western Montana was visible this
morning moving to the east across the remainder of Montana, northern
Wyoming, the Dakotas, Minnesota, western Wisconsin, and the extreme
western portion of Lake Superior. The smoke, which was believed to
be of at least a moderate density with localized dense patches, also
extended north of the US-Canadian border and over the southern portions
of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario provinces. Cloud cover across
areas of the northern and central Plains interfered with the detection
and attributes of some of the smoke there.

California:
An are of thin to locally moderately dense smoke was observed fanning out
to the south and east from the persistent Zaca fire burning in eastern
Santa Barbara County of southern California. The smoke covered portions
of Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, and southern Kern Counties as
well as a number of the offshore islands.

Middle Atlantic Region/Southeast:
An extensive area of haze covers the region stretching from the Middle
Atlantic coast and offshore waters southwestward through the Carolinas,
Georgia, and eastern Alabama to Florida and the western Bahamas. The haze
appeared to be of at least moderate density with restrictions in surface
visibility noted in weather observations from across the region. Some
residual smoke from the western US wildfires along with other atmospheric
pollutants are likely responsible for this haze which has become trapped
under a large sprawling high pressure ridge.

JS

 


Unless otherwise indicated:
  • Areas of smoke are analyzed using GOES-EAST and GOES-WEST Visible satellite imagery.
  • Only a general description of areas of smoke or significant smoke plumes will be analyzed.
  • A quantitative assessment of the density/amount of particulate or the vertical distribution is not included.
  • Widespread cloudiness may prevent the detection of smoke even from significant fires.