DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 1530Z May 20, 2008

Gulf of Mexico/Florida:
An area of haze extends from the Bay of Campeche northeastward across
the south central Gulf of Mexico and the central portion of the Florida
peninsula to the northern Bahamas.  This region of haze is believed
to be mainly smoke from the large number of seasonal fires continuing
to burn across portions of southeastern Mexico and Central America.
The smoke becomes at least moderately dense farther to the south in the
Bay of Campeche and over the Yucatan Peninsula.  Dense smoke resides
even farther to the southeast of there over the northeastern portion of
Central America.

Smoke from the ongoing fires across southern Florida was not visible
this morning in satellite imagery.  The hot spots associated with the
fires in satellite imagery do not appear as intense as in recent days.
Cloudiness has also developed over the area during the late morning
which may be hindering detection of any smoke which is present.

JS

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.