DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 2345Z February 15, 2006
Southeast US: Numerous fires were producing smoke plumes over North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida this afternoon and evening. Most of the plumes were moving to the north or northeast and were of thin to moderate density. Some of the larger plumes, up to 100 km in length, were seen emanting from the following locations: in South Carolina along the southern Aiken/Barnwell county border, over Jasper and southeast McCormick counties and along the Union/Chester border; in North Carolina over northern Brunswick county and in Alabama over southwest Calhoun. Mexico: A fire near Monterey Mexico has produced a large smoke plume which extends to the east-northeast and fans out. The plume is moderately dense near the source and becomes thinner downstream. At sunset the plume reached nearly to McAllen Texas 225 km away. Northern California: A couple of small plumes were seen from several fires. The plumes were mainly over Colusa and Yolo counties and moving to the south. New Mexico: A fire over northern Lea county had a very narrow smoke plume extending about 100 km to the northeast reaching into Cochran county Texas. Blowing Dust: Strong winds have kicked up a broad area of blowing dust over much of the Southwest. One of the most dense areas was over Nye county in Nevada over the Sarcobatus Flat near Scotty's Junction and extended into much of Inyo county California in and around Death Valley National PArk. Additional areas were around the Salton Sea in southern California. Blowing dust was also seen in parts of central and northeast Arizona moving into northwest New Mexico. Additional areas in New Mexico were coming from White Sands and central Torrance county. An area of blowing dust was also over parts of west Texas. Ruminski