Monday, October 15, 2007

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0102Z OCTOBER 16, 2007

Arizona:
A large cluster of fires was evident on satellite imagery this evening
over southern Coconino county.  A large and very dense smoke plume was
associated with this fire activity over southern Coconino county and
extreme northern Gila county and then extending northeast into southwest
Navajo county.  At sunset the smoke plume appeared to be expanding in
all directions.  Other fire activity was scattered from central Yavapai
into southern Navajo county.  Smoke plumes associated with this activity
were mostly drifting north with low to occasionally moderate density
smoke plumes.

Northern Idaho/Western Montana:
Concentrated fire activity continues over portions of northern Idaho from
Idaho county north to Benewah and Shoshone counties.  North of there, fire
activity appears to be more isolated over Bonner and Boundary counties.
Cloud cover from approaching weather system has made smoke detection
difficult this evening but earlier in the day smoke plumes were drifting
northeast into extreme western Montana.  The most noteworthy plumes
appeared to be associated with fire activity over central Idaho county
and also with fire activity over northern Bonner county.  All of the
smoke plumes appeared to be moderately to locally very dense.

North Dakota/Minnesota/Southern Manitoba/Southeast Saskatchewan:
A tremendous amount of fire activity was noted on satellite imagery this
evening over northern North Dakota and northern Minnesota and extending
north towards the southern shores of Lake Manitoba and Lake Winnipeg.
Over southeastern Saskatchewan, the fire activity is mostly east of Route
6 and south of Route 3.  Widespread smoke plumes were noted with the
fire activity with plumes mostly drifting west over southern Manitoba,
North Dakota and Minnesota.  The plumes began to take on a more northerly
trajectory over southeast Saskatchewan.  All of the plumes appear to be
low density to occasionally moderately dense with some extremely isolated
areas of high density smoke.

Southern and Central California:
A large area of particulates was noted over southern and central
California this evening.  It is believed that the particulates was
mostly haze with some remnant smoke from fire activity over central and
northern California.  The haze seemed to be concentrated from southeast
of Sacramento and extending southeast towards Edwards Air Force Base.

Hanna

 


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.