Monday, August 31, 2015

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0300Z September 1, 2015

SMOKE:
Central U.S/Central Canada:
A large swath of smoke extends across the entire central U.S and into
south-central Canada due to the large number of wildfires occurring in
the western U.S. The large amount of smoke stretches from Texas towards
the north-northeast across much of the southern and central Plains as
well as the entire Mississippi valley and into the Midwestern region
of the U.S. The smoke is also seen extending across the Ohio Valley, to
the north into southern Ontario/southwestern Quebec, as well as through
southern portions of New England and out over the Atlantic Ocean and into
portions of Nova Scotia as well. Much of this smoke is light to moderate
in density, with the heaviest density smoke seen across north-central U.S,
from eastern North Dakota/South Dakota and eastern Nebraska towards the
northeast into portions of southern Ontario and far western New York.

Western U.S:
The 'Rough' fire continues to burn in central California, producing
light to heavy density smoke over California that is slowly drifting
out and away from the fire in all directions, mostly towards northern
California and into western Nevada.

Alaska:
A thin ribbon of light density smoke is seen moving southward from
Kodiak Island and over the Gulf of Alaska. This smoke is likely due to
the “Twin Creeks” fire burning on the island.

DUST:
An area of blowing dust is seen moving across portions of northern
Nevada towards the northeast. The full extent of the dust is difficult
to discern due to the nearby wildfire occurring in central California.

Heeps

From earlier today...


SMOKE:
Western/Central US and Canada:
Large concentrations of light to heavy smoke is visible throughout the
US due to the raging wildfires in the western US. The heaviest smoke is
visible in the central US and Canada, affecting Ontario, Minnesota, South
Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma,
Arkansas, and Texas. Medium-density smoke is visible in Saskatchewan,
Manitoba, Ontario, California, Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, Minnesota,
South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois,
Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas, moving east and
south. Light smoke is visible in California, South Dakota, Nebraska,
Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. This
smoke originates from the wildfires burning in California, Oregon,
Washington, Idaho, British Columbia, Alberta, and Montana.

Eastern US/Canada/Atlantic Ocean:
An area of light to medium-density smoke is visible moving NE off the
New England and Eastern Canada coast into the Atlantic Ocean. This smoke
ranges from New England (New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode
Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine) north as far as St. Pierre
and Miquelon, and originates from wildfires continuing to rage in the
US Pacific NW.

Oegerle

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.