Thursday August 14, 2008

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0230Z AUGUST 15, 2008


California/Western US:
Earlier this afternoon, several fires began producing moderately dense
to dense smoke in the northwestern regions of California, advancing to
the north and northwest. However, clouds started moving in from the
west and obscured some of the smoke. Also, residual light smoke from
last evening's fires is now situated over western Oregon, however,
the narrow plume of SO2 is mixing in with the smoke in that area. In
addition, the SO2 plume is currently paralleling the Pacific coastline
from British Columbia south to Oregon, and then heads more easterly
through northeastern California, central Nevada, and southern Utah.

Idaho:
A few fires popped up earlier this evening producing moderately dense
smoke plumes in Elmore and Valley counties in the central part of the
state. These plumes are heading off to the south. Lighter smoke plumes
are found in Idaho and Lewis counties, and these plumes are generally
moving off to the southwest.

Washington State:
A moderately dense smoke plume in western Chelan County is currently
moving to the northwest into eastern Snohomish County.

Nevada:
A moderately dense smoke plume earlier this evening was heading off to
the southeast, however, light smoke only remains from it as the plume
moves off into far eastern Elko County.

Canada/Northern Plains:
Residual light smoke situated over southern Manitoba and southern
Saskatchewan is being circulated around a low pressure system over eastern
Montana. In addition, a few fires that could be seen through the cloud
cover this evening were producing moderately dense to dense smoke. These
plumes were moving off to the northeast over northern Manitoba, just to
the east of Reindeer Lake.


RCE



 


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.