DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0330Z August 9, 2014
SMOKE: Canada/U.S: An extensive area of smoke is visible over much of Canada, extending southward into the north-central and eastern U.S. This smoke is originating from persistent large wildfire complexes that have been burning throughout the Northwest Territories, northern Saskatchewan, and northwestern Manitoba. Smoke can be seen across most of central and eastern Canada, and over the U.S. across the northern Plains and the upper Mississippi Valley. Smoke is currently being wrapped up in an upper level low pressure system located to the northeast of Maine, which is also bringing smoke southward over the Great Lakes region, Mid-Atlantic, and western portions of the Northeast. Moderate density smoke is visible in Canada over NW Territories, Nunavut, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Hudson Bay, and northern Labrador, and in the U.S. over the northern Plains, Great Lakes region, Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic, and the Northeast. The heaviest density smoke is generally focused within the upper level trough, descending southward over Hudson Bay, eastern Ontario, western Quebec, the Great Lakes, northern Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic and southern portions of the Northeast. Northwestern U.S: An area of light to heavy density smoke is visible over the Pacific Northwest, moving eastward into southern Canada and into the Plains region. Moderate density smoke is visible over Washington, moving into northern Idaho, and the thickest smoke is visible through eastern Oregon, Idaho, and extreme western Montana. Much of the extent of the smoke is difficult to discern due to the clouds throughout the region. This smoke originates from wildfires occurring throughout Washington, Oregon, northern California, and Idaho. British Columbia: Multiple wildfires are producing light to moderate smoke, currently moving eastward into Alberta. This smoke is combining with the much broader plume of smoke associated with the NW Territories wildfires. Heeps 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.ospo.noaa.gov/Products/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