DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0100Z April 9, 2017
SMOKE: Gulf of Mexico Residual smoke from the seasonal burning in Mexico and Central America is confined to the southern Gulf of Mexico this afternoon and evening, although the winds over the western Gulf are beginning to swing around to the south which is starting to draw the smoke northward over the western Gulf. Western Great Lakes An area of light smoke was seen mixed with clouds over the western Great Lakes and lifting to the northeast. This smoke originated from the numerous agricultural/prescribed burns over Kansas and Oklahoma the past few days. Central Plains Extensive cloudiness has moved into the prime burning areas of the Flint Hills in eastern Kansas and northeast Oklahoma and is precluding smoke detection this afternoon and evening. However, due to the continued burning there is likely another round of smoke being generated from these fires which would be lifted to the north. DUST: Southwest US from California to West Texas Several areas of blowing dust were detected this afternoon and evening ahead of a strong storm system moving through the northern Rockies and Great Basin. An area of light dust was seen over west Texas near Midland and Seminole and moving to the northeast. Another area of light to moderate dust was seen moving east off of White Sands in south central New Mexico. A plume of moderate to dense blowing dust was moving to the east-northeast off of the Wilcox Playa in southeast Arizona. Several areas of dust were seen over southern Nevada and the deserts of southern California. The more southern areas were moving to the northeast ahead of a frontal zone while a burst of dust was kicked up along the frontal zone and moving to the south as it swept across Death Valley. Finally, an aerosol was seen off the southern California coast and extending inland across southern California and moving into central Arizona. Aerosol models suggest this is long range transport of dust from Asia. Ruminski 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