Friday, May 22, 2015

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0245Z May 23, 2015

Canada/US Northern Plains & Great Lakes:
Large light to moderate dense smoke extends from eastern Alaska southeast
across central Canada, over the U.S. northern Plains and Upper Midwest,
and Great Lakes region in evening satellite imagery.  Some embedded
areas of heavy density smoke is observed across portions of eastern
Alberta and western Saskatchewan.  Large wildfires situated along the
Alberta/Saskatchewan border are producing heavy smoke. Pyrocumulus clouds
have also developed with these intense fires.  The overall area of smoke
is associated with several large wildfires located in northern Yukon,
northern British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Alberta and agricultural fires
across the U.S. Northern Plains.

Western Gulf of Mexico:
An area of light-density remnant smoke continues to drift slowly northwest
from the Yucatan Peninsula and Western Gulf of Mexico this evening.
This area of smoke is mostly a result of seasonal agricultural burning.
There also has been a multi-day wildfire located along the northern
Yucatan Peninsula that has been producing moderate smoke.

Eastern Gulf of Mexico:
Small area of light smoke was seen tracking just west of Cuba and is
believed to be associated with several fires across western Cuba.

Southern California/Southern Arizona:
Blowing dust/sand event has developed once again this evening due to
strong winds across southern California.  This area of dust/sand has
expanded eastward into southwestern Arizona this evening.  A second area
of blowing dust/sand is seen originating from southeastern Arizona and
extends northeast.


Warren

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

 


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.