DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 1700Z MAY 5, 2006.

Gulf of Mexico:
A very large area of moderately dense smoke from Mexican/Central American
fires covers much of the southwestern Gulf of Mexico and is moving
northward.  The northernmost edge of the smoke is still well south of
Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, and southeast of the western coast
of Florida but it is possible that some very thin smoke is approaching
the southern tip of Texas.

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.