Wednesday, August 21, 2019

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 1700Z August 21, 2019

SMOKE:
Southern Alaska/Gulf of Alaska...
The latest GOES17 West Visible Imagery observed several large complex
fires burning across portions of Southern Alaska. A large complex fire
South of Anchorage on the Kenai Peninsula was observed with moderate to
heavy density smoke in the vicinity of the fire and light density smoke
further from the fire. The smoke from this fire complex is progressing
eastward towards the city of Anchorage and southward over the Gulf of
Alaska this morning.

Southwestern U.S...
The latest GOES Visible imagery observed several large complex fires
in the Grand Canyon region in Northwestern Arizona as well as several
smaller complex fires in Southern/Central Utah, Western Colorado,
Central Arizona, and Northern New Mexico. A large region of light to
moderate density smoke was observed over Central/Eastern Colorado as
well as Eastern Utah. A large region of moderate to heavy density smoke
was observed over Northwestern Arizona and in Southwestern Utah. The
smoke from the large complex fire activity in Northwestern Arizona is
progressing Northwestward this morning.

Southern Canada/Northern Plains/Upper Midwest/Ohio River Valley...
A large region of light density smoke was observed over most of
Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Southern Ontario Province. Light density
smoke was also observed portions of the Northern Plains over Eastern
North Dakota as well as in the Upper Midwest and Northern Great Lakes
region. Moderate density smoke was observed as well in portions of the
region. Light to moderate density smoke was also observed over portions of
Central/Southern Ohio River Valley progressing southeastward this morning.

Dust:
A region of Saharan dust was observed south of Hispaniola over the Central
and Southeastern Caribbean Sea this morning. The dust is progressing
westward towards Jamaica today.

Sambucci


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/data/land/fire/currenthms.jpg
GIS:    ftp://satpsanone.nesdis.noaa.gov/FIRE/HMS/GIS/
KML:    http://www.ospo.noaa.gov/data/land/fire/fire.kml (fire)
        http://www.ospo.noaa.gov/data/land/fire/smoke.kml (smoke)

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.