DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0300Z May 27, 2012
Smoke: US: A large area of light to moderately dense smoke from the Baldy-Whitewater complex extends from western Colorado and New Mexico, across the rest of the country and to the Atlantic. It extends up to Ohio and Pennsylvania in the north and covers the northern half of the Gulf of Mexico. The Baldy-Whitewater complex continues to emit dense smoke. The smoke is moving to the NE, through Colorado and into SE Nebraska. Blowing Dust/Sand: Arizona: Blowing dust/sand originates in northeast Coconino County at 2000Z and continues until sunset. Blowing dust/sand can also be seen originating in northern Apache County near 1900Z and continuing until sunset. The dust/sand from these areas is moving NE. New Mexico: Blowing dust/sand, which is moving to the NE and originates in McKinley and San Juan counties, is observed starting at 1900Z and continuing through sunset. Blowing dust/sand also originates from White Sands and moves to the NE. Utah: Southeastern San Juan County is the origin of blowing dust/sand that begins near 1900Z, continues to sunset and moves NE. Colorado: Saguache and Alamosa counties appear to be the origin of the blowing dust/sand that moves to the NE, originates at 1800Z and continues through sunset. Canada: The area of unknown aerosols noted earlier today(see below) persisted throughout the day. In evening imagery, it can be seen extending from southern British Columbia, northeast through Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The area also extends north into southern Northwest Territories and Nunavut. This area is likely remnant smoke from the Baldy/Whitewater fire mixed with Siberian smoke and blowing dust/sand. Earlier: Southeastern United States/Mid-Atlantic: Smoke, likely from the Whitewater-Baldy fire in New Mexico, is rotating around an area of high pressure centered over Tennessee and North Carolina. Smoke extends from Missouri to Pennsylvania on the northern side and from Pennsylvania to Florida on the eastern side. Subtropical Storm Beryl is possibly blocking the smoke from moving further east off of the Carolina coast. Ontario/Quebec/New England: Remnant smoke from the Duck Lake fire in Michigan likely moved east into eastern Ontario, southern Quebec and northern New England. The recent fires in Ontario likely contributed smoke as well. Canada: An area of unknown aerosols runs along the Northwest Territories/Nunavut border south into the northern portions of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. This is likely a mix of remnant smoke and blowing dust/sand transported from Siberia. A large area of remnant smoke from the Baldy-Whitewater complex is now located off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador. New Mexico: Smoke from the Whitewater-Baldy fire complex continues to move to the northeast and extends to the Colorado/Wyoming border. This fire is the likely source of the remnant smoke across the eastern half of the country. Myrga THIS TEXT PRODUCT IS PRIMARILY INTENDED TO DESCRIBE SIGNIFICANT AREAS SMOKE ASSOCIATED WITH ACTIVE FIRES AND SMOKE WHICH HAS BECOME DETACHED FROM THE FIRES AND DRIFTED SOME DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE SOURCE FIRE..TYPICALLY OVER THE COURSE OF ONE OR MORE DAYS. AREAS OF BLOWING DUST ARE ALSO DESCRIBED. USERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO VIEW A GRAPHIC DEPICTION OF THESE AND OTHER PLUMES WHICH ARE LESS EXTENSIVE AND STILL ATTACHED TO THE SOURCE FIRE 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 ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING THIS PRODUCT SHOULD BE SENT TO SSDFireTeam@noaa.gov