Sunday June 29, 2008

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0200Z JUNE 30, 2008


North Carolina/Virginia:

The South 1 wildfire is emitting a narrow, dense smoke plume as it moves
northeast across the Dismal Swamp along the border of North Carolina
and Virginia. The Evans Road wildfire is producing lighter smoke, but
is also moving to the northeast, over the Outer Banks and the Atlantic
Ocean. Light smoke from both of these fires extend  roughly 650 km,
ending at the coastline of southern New England.

Northern/Central Plains/Southern Canada:

An area of light to moderately dense smoke from wildfires burning in
northern Saskatchewan and far western Manitoba has been advancing south
across central Saskatchewan, in Canada, and into the Northern/Central
Plains in the US, specifically into North Dakota, South Dakota, central
Nebraska, central Kansas, eastern Montana, eastern Wyoming, eastern
Colorado, western Minnesota, western Iowa, western Missouri, and northern
Oklahoma, before wrapping up into a low pressure system across the Upper
Great Lakes. The most dense smoke is situated in central North and South
Dakota, and also in southern Saskatchewan.

California/Oregon/Washington/British Columbia:

An extensive area of light to moderately dense smoke extends north from
35N, all the up into central and northern California, most of Oregon,
western Nevada, most of Washington State, and southwesten Brtish Columbia
in Canada.  Within this enormous area of smoke, in northern California,
lies several large wildfires emitting dense smoke. Furthermore, this
dense smoke is moving off to the north. In addition, the Basin Complex
fires in Monterrey County California, near Big Sur, are producing an
area of moderately dense to dense smoke moving north along the coast
and reaching the Bay Area. However, full coverage of this smoke cannot
be determined due to the marine layer. Lastly, the Alps Complex fire
in central California is currently emitting heavy smoke and extends at
least 300km to the north, ending in Mineral County, Nevada.

Canada:
Earlier this evening, a dense smoke plume in western Alberta near 50N
115W, began fanning out to the east and currently extends out at least
150km from the source. Also, in northern Saskatchewan, a dense smoke
plume just north of Lake Athabasca near the town of Uranium City, is
moving to the east and extends out 350km from the source across the
northern tier of Saskatchewan.


RCE










 


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.