DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0115Z May 20 2013
Smoke: Western Gulf of Mexico to Southern Plains: Extremely strong and large Cyclone over the Central Rockies is leading to a very strong southerly flow across the Western Gulf of Mexico into TX and OK. As such thin to moderately dense smoke from the Mexican and Central American fires is pouring into central TX and has pooled along the dry line from from Del Rio to Junction to Brownwood to Wichita Falls to Oklahoma City to Ponca City...with highest density from Laredo to San Antonio to Dallas/Fort Worth. Of course this is mixed with some pollutants and dust/sand but the bulk of the aerosol is smoke and extends. The eastern edge is a bit more diffuse and can be seen around 92W from the Yucatan to LA coastline... the density is much less over far east TX and LA...but it can still be seen due to severe sun angle reflection. Dust/Sand: Of course with the large cyclone, typical areas over TX and Northern Mexico are kicking up moderately dense sand and soils. TX Panhandle: The western edge/sources extend eastward from Clovis NM across the southern Cap Rock between Amarillo and Lubbock out to the OK state line. This plume is moderately dense to dense and will eventually cover Altus and Hobart as sun sets. Northern Chihuahua: The Salt beds and Dry Lakes of Northern Chihuahua are kicking up into a thin to moderately dense and extend into the western TX panhandle covering El Paso and El Paso county just entering Hudspeth county. Gallina THIS TEXT PRODUCT IS PRIMARILY INTENDED TO DESCRIBE SIGNIFICANT AREAS OF SMOKE ASSOCIATED WITH ACTIVE FIRES AND SMOKE WHICH HAS BECOME DETACHED FROM THE FIRES AND DRIFTED SOME DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE SOURCE FIRE..TYPICALLY OVER THE COURSE OF ONE OR MORE DAYS. AREAS OF BLOWING DUST ARE ALSO DESCRIBED. USERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO VIEW A GRAPHIC DEPICTION OF THESE AND OTHER PLUMES WHICH ARE LESS EXTENSIVE AND STILL ATTACHED TO THE SOURCE FIRE IN VARIOUS GRAPHIC FORMATS ON OUR WEB SITE: JPEG: http://www.osdpd.noaa.gov/ml/land/hms.html GIS: http://www.firedetect.noaa.gov/viewer.htm KML: http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/FIRE/kml.html ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING THIS PRODUCT SHOULD BE SENT TO SSDFireTeam@noaa.gov