Sunday, May 19th, 2013

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0115Z May 20 2013

Smoke:
Western Gulf of Mexico to Southern Plains:
Extremely strong and large Cyclone over the Central Rockies is leading
to a very strong southerly flow across the Western Gulf of Mexico into
TX and OK.  As such thin to moderately dense smoke from the Mexican
and Central American fires is pouring into central TX and has pooled
along the dry line from from Del Rio to Junction to Brownwood to Wichita
Falls to Oklahoma City to Ponca City...with highest density from Laredo
to San Antonio to Dallas/Fort Worth.   Of course this is mixed with some
pollutants and dust/sand but the bulk of the aerosol is smoke and extends.
The eastern edge is a bit more diffuse and can be seen around 92W from
the Yucatan to LA coastline... the density is much less over far east
TX and LA...but it can still be seen due to severe sun angle reflection.

Dust/Sand:
Of course with the large cyclone, typical areas over TX and Northern
Mexico are kicking up moderately dense sand and soils.

TX Panhandle:
The western edge/sources extend eastward from Clovis NM across the
southern Cap Rock between Amarillo and Lubbock out to the OK state
line. This plume is moderately dense to dense and will eventually cover
Altus and Hobart as sun sets.

Northern Chihuahua:
The Salt beds and Dry Lakes of Northern Chihuahua are kicking up into
a thin to moderately dense and extend into the western TX panhandle
covering El Paso and El Paso county just entering Hudspeth county.

Gallina

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.