DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0200Z October 6, 2009
Southwestern Oregon/Northwestern and Central California: The patch of thin aerosol was observed in GOES-West visible satellite imagery earlier this morning moved farther to the south across northwestern and west central California, and offshore over the Pacific. The origin and composition of this detached aerosol is not absolutely certain, but it is believed to be composed of leftover smoke along with some possible blowing dust. The main source for the smoke could be the Preston-Fox fire which continues to burn in Chelan County of north central Washington. Farther inland over the Sacramento Valley, a number of what are believed to be mainly agricultural fires were emitting puffs of thin smoke which spread southward. Southeastern Washington/Northwestern Idaho: More probable agricultural fires over southeastern Washington and northwestern Idaho were producing thin smoke plumes which moved to the south. Arizona/New Mexico: Gusty southwesterly winds were noted in observations across Arizona and New Mexico, but blowing dust was not discernible in satellite imagery due to patchy cloudiness. JS More information on the areas of smoke described above as well as others can be found at the locations listed below. THE FORMAT OF THIS TEXT PRODUCT IS BEING MODIFIED. IT WILL NO LONGER DESCRIBE THE VARIOUS PLUMES THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ACTIVE FIRES. THESE PLUMES ARE DEPICTED IN VARIOUS GRAPHIC FORMATS ON OUR WEB SITE: JPEG: http://www.osdpd.noaa.gov/ml/land/hms.html GIS: http://www.firedetect.noaa.gov/viewer.htm KML: http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/FIRE/kml.html THIS TEXT PRODUCT WILL CONTINUE TO DESCRIBE SIGNIFICANT AREAS OF SMOKE WHICH HAVE BECOME DETACHED FROM AND DRIFTED SOME DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE SOURCE FIRE, TYPICALLY OVER THE COURSE OF ONE OR MORE DAYS. IT WILL ALSO STILL INCLUDE DESCRIPTIONS OF BLOWING DUST. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING THESE CHANGES OR THE SMOKE TEXT PRODUCT IN GENERAL SHOULD BE SENT TO SSDFireTeam@noaa.gov