DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0215Z September 14, 2007
Washington/Oregon/Idaho: Moderately dense to dense smoke continues to spread southward and fanning out to the east and west from the Manilla Creek complex in Ferry County (Okanogan National Forest) in northeastern Washington. The most dense portion of the area of smoke extends across the eastern/central part of Washington with moderately dense smoke spreading as far south as north central Oregon and east into a small portion of central Idaho and combining with smoke from wildfires in northern/central Idaho. Light smoke extends over a large portion of western Washington and most of northern Oregon except for the northwest region of the state. Smaller fires are also burning across the state in the counties of Snohomishand and Chelan. The smoke from these fire are mostly light, but with some small pockets of moderately dense. Smoke is staying within county borders and is moving east. Southern California/Arizona: Smoke is currently not seen from the Pine Fire in southeastern San Diego County. The fires just over the border in northwestern Baja are only producing light to moderately dense smoke moving eastward. But these fires are also slowly decreasing in smoke intensity. Northern California/Northern Nevada: Light smoke from the Moonlight Fire (Plumas National Forest) in northeastern California is producing only light smoke towards the northeast and extends into northwest Nevada. Very light smoke mixed with haze continues to linger over parts of northern California and southeast Oregon. This wildfire has decreased in smoke intensity over the last couple of days. Some smaller fires are burning in Glenn, Colusa, Sutter and Butte counties around the interstate 5 corridor producing light to moderately dense smoke. The plumes of smoke are moving east NE and reaching the counties of Tehama and Plumas. Idaho/Montana to the Great Lakes Region: The swath of moderately dense to dense smoke visible this morning stretching from the ongoing wildfires in western Montana and primarily central Idaho eastward over extreme southern Montana and much of Wyoming to southern North Dakota, much of South Dakota, and central Minnesota continues to push southeastward along the frontal boundary. Currently the wildfires in central Idaho are producing very heavy smoke moving east into southwest Montana. Moderately dense smoke extends across southern Montana and northern Wyoming. Multiple fires burning in northern Idaho along the Washington State border and the numerous fires in western Montana continue to contribute to the overall smoke problem across most of northern/central Idaho and western Montana. Combine that with the smoke moving east from the Manilla Creek Complex in northeast Washington. Arizona: Multiple fires continue to burn in Yavapai and Coconino counties in western Arizona producing mostly light smoke moving east, but staying within county borders. Southeast Missouri/Southern Illinois: Numerous prescribed/agricultural fires continue to produce an overall moderately dense plume of smoke swirling around southeast Missouri and southern Illinois. The smoke is moving in a general northerly direction and is pushing into southern Illinois. Alaska: The large wildfire burning in the Phillip Smith Mountains (not confirmed) in northeastern to north central Alaska continues to produce very thick smoke moving northeast. The wildfire has been burning for weeks now. J Kibler