DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0200Z October 20, 2009

Southern U.S.
Numerous smoke producing fires were evident in satellite imagery this
afternoon extending from the Southeastern U.S. to Arizona and New
Mexico. Most of the plumes were of thin density. Graphical information
on these smoke plumes can be found on the websites listed below.

Southern Nevada/Southern California:
Streaks of blowing dust were visible late this afternoon through sunset
from source regions in southern California, southern Nevada, and northern
Baja just south of the U.S. and Mexico border. Blowing dust from dry
lake beds along the border of Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties was
moving eastward toward the common border of CA/AZ/NV. Another prominent
area of blowing dust was spreading northeastward from dry lake beds along
the border of Clark County of southern Nevada and San Bernardino County
of southeastern California. The blowing dust appeared to move across
portions of the Las Vegas metro area toward southwestern Utah. More
blowing dust was moving eastward over San Diego County of far southern
California and northern Baja in northwestern Mexico. Some of this blowing
dust was also moving into southwestern Arizona just prior to sunset.

JS



More information on 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

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.