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