DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0230Z March 14, 2008
Mid Atlantic through the Southeast: A tremendous amount of fire activity was detected on satellite imagery this afternoon and evening from the Carolinas to Mississippi. Numerous fires were also detected from Virginia through the Chesapeake Bay region and extending into central New Jersey. High clouds from approaching weather system helped to hinder the smoke analysis somewhat over the entire region this evening. The smoke plumes that were detected were mostly low to locally moderate density and were mostly moving in a northeastward direction. Some of the more noteworthy smoke plumes are as follows: Offshore Carolinas and Georgia: Earlier this afternoon remnant smoke from widespread fire activity yesterday was located approximately from just offshore Cape Fear and extended southwest towards the Intracoastal Waterway of SC and then further to the southwest to just offshore the St. Simons Island region of GA. More than likely the smoke did extend inland over some locations but it was rather difficult to detect on afternoon satellite imagery. Florida Panhandle: A fire over western Franklin county earlier produced a large and dense smoke plume that was lifting rapidly north into southern Liberty county. High clouds obscured further detection of the smoke plume as it moved into southern Liberty county late this afternoon. Alabama: Several long distance smoke plumes were produced by fires in Escambia and Geneva counties. The smoke plumes were mostly low density with some isolated locations with moderate density. The plumes extended anywhere between 50-100 miles northeastward from their respective point sources. Mississippi: A group of what appears to be rather intense fires over Stone county combined to form a large and locally dense smoke plume over southern Mississippi. The plume was lifting rapidly towards the northeast with its furthest extent being along a line from northern Forrest to central Greene county as cloud cover began to obscure the plume early this evening. Another group of fires over Scott county was producing a large and moderately dense smoke plume that was lifting off to the northeast into Leake/Neshoba/Winston/Attala counties. Texas: Isolated fire activity over the area was producing mostly low density and isolated long distance smoke plumes that were moving rapidly off to the east. Montana: A cluster of fires was located just northeast of Great Falls in north/northeast Cascade and southern Chouteau counties. The most significant fire appeared to be about 15 miles north of GTF and this fire was producing a localized moderately dense smoke plume that was seen moving east into central Chouteau county around the time cloud cover moved over the region late this afternoon. Hanna