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