DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0300Z August 2, 2014
Central Canada/U.S: An extensive area of light to heavy density smoke continues to remain over much of central Canada, descending into the U.S. extending from wildfires still burning throughout Northwest Territories surrounding Great Slave Lake and northern Saskatchewan. The most recently emitted smoke is drifting southeastward over NW Territories, Alberta, Saskatchewan, into the U.S. over the northern Plains. Most of this smoke is moderate to heavy density, with light density smoke reaching over southern Alberta, southern Saskatchewan, and Montana. Central/Eastern Canada, U.S: An elongated ribbon of light to heavy density smoke is seen extending from the far northern latitudes over Hudson Bay and Nunavut, southward over Manitoba and western Ontario, into the U.S. over the northern Plains, Upper Mississippi Valley, and Great Lakes region. Light to moderate density smoke extends further into the U.S. over the central Plains, Ohio Valley, and through northern portions of New England, into southern Quebec and western New Brunswick. Light to moderate density smoke is also seen further north over northern portions of Quebec, northern Labrador, over the Labrador Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. British Columbia: Numerous wildfires occurring in British Columbia are producing light to heavy density smoke, moving eastward over Alberta. This smoke is converging with the smoke originating from NW Territories. British Columbia/Alberta/Saskatchewan/Montana: Multiple light to heavy density smoke plumes are moving eastward from wildfires occurring in southern British Columbia. These plumes currently reach as far as southern Saskatchewan and northern Montana. Pacific Northwest: An area of light to heavy density smoke is visible moving northward over California, Oregon, Washington, and into western Idaho. This area of smoke originates from multiple wildfires occurring in Washington, Oregon and northern California. Central California/Nevada: Multiple named wildfires (specifically the “French” and “El Portal” wildfires) are emitting light smoke, persisting over California and moving into western Nevada. DUST: Gulf of Mexico/Southern Texas: An area of Saharan dust is visible over western portions of the Gulf of Mexico, moving northwestward over southern Texas. Heeps 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.ospo.noaa.gov/Products/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