DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0215Z May 3, 2013

Smoke:
California:
A large area of light remnant smoke was visible encompassing the majority
of California with the thickest smoke mainly over northern California. A
wildfire located in eastern Tehama county has produced copious amounts of
smoke this afternoon and has been mainly spreading eastward. Remnant areas
of moderate to dense smoke has been moving across northern California as
well as dropping a bit southward along the coastline. A second wildfire,
located in southern Ventura county, grew rapidly today, producing immense
amounts of dense smoke that extended west-southwest through the Channel
Islands, shifting south along the coastline.

Gulf of Mexico:
Due to the numerous fires in Mexico/Central America, an area of light
remnant smoke has extended northward to about latitude 26N (southeast
Texas coastline). The thickest smoke remains centered over the southern
half of Mexico and the northern portions of Central America.

Dust:
Northern Mexico/Arizona/New Mexico/Texas:
An area of dust/aerosols was visible across western Texas. southern
New Mexico, southern Arizona, and northern portions of Mexico. This
area of dust appeared to be moderate-to-thick in density and is moving
west-northwest into Arizona, wrapping around the high pressure in place
over the Rockies.

Vogt

THIS TEXT PRODUCT IS PRIMARILY INTENDED TO DESCRIBE SIGNIFICANT AREAS
OF 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

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.