Thursday July 24, 2008

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0140Z JULY 25, 2008


Northern California:
Wildfires in the northern third of the state are producing moderately
dense to dense smoke plumes in the upper San Joaquin and Napa
Valleys. Most of this smoke is drifting north and east into southwestern
Oregon. In addition, the extent of the smoke appears to parallel 123
degrees West, from just north of San Francisco, north to Portland,
Oregon. Also, lighter smoke has drifted into northern Nevada, eastern
Oregon, southern Idaho, southern Montana, and northern Wyoming. Lastly,
a moderately dense to dense smoke plume in Monterey County is moving to
the east, and extends into San Benito County.

Kansas:
A few agricultural fires in the south-central region of the state were
producing very light smoke. These smoke plumes were moving to the north
earlier this evening.

Washington:
Earlier this evening, a moderately dense smoke plume in Grant County,
and another one in Okanogan County were moving to the west and northwest.

Canada:
Numerous large fires in northern Saskatchewan are producing moderately
dense to dense smoke plumes. Most of the smoke originates around Lake
Athabasca and extends south and east between 450-500km. Because of
clouds obscuring some of the smoke, it is unknown how far east the smoke
extends. Also, around Great Slave Lake, in the southern region of the
Northwest Territories, moderately dense to dense smoke extends east, to
just north of the Alberta/Saskatchewan border. In addition, earlier this
afternoon, light smoke was covering northern Ontario, and over Hudson Bay.



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.