Tuesday, October 22, 2019

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0100Z October 23, 2019

SMOKE:
Northern California...
about a dozen smoke plumes were observed this afternoon throughout
northern California and southern Oregon. The smoke was mainly light to
moderate, with one or two fires producing thick smoke. Much of the smoke
from these fires, both in and above the Sacramento Valley, was moving
off to the south.

Southern California and northern Baja California...
A further dozen or so fires across southern California and northern Baja
California were seen emitting mainly light smoke with a couple producing
moderate density smoke. Much of the smoke was moving off towards the
west out over the Pacific.

Arizona...
Wildfire activity was again observed across the Mogollon Rim this
afternoon. One larger wildfire exists in north-central Arizona while
5-6 were noted in east-central Arizona. Much of the smoke emitted from
these wildfires was moderate to thick. The smoke was moving off toward
the south and east.

Central/Southern Plains...
A dozen and a half smoke producing agricultural burns were noted from
eastern Colorado to eastern Arkansas and central Texas. A vast majority
of the smoke was light in nature, with some  more dense smoke noted
earlier this afternoon across northern Texas. Smoke across Texas was
moving counter-clockwise around high pressure at the surface centered
over central Texas while smoke across Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas
was moving east to east-southeast.

Southern Mexico/Southwestern Gulf of Mexico...
Light density smoke was visible over the Southwestern Gulf of Mexico
mainly from gas flaring from the oil production/refinery facilities
in the Southern Bay of Campeche and the region of Tabasco and northern
Chiapas. The smoke is progressing northward into a frontal system across
the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, where the smoke turns northeastward
this morning/early afternoon.

British Columbia/Pacific Northwest....
Widespread seasonal fire activity was observed throughout British
Columbia and the Pacific Northwest. A few light smoke plumes were
noted...however, more smoke is likely present given the volume of fire
activity observed. Cloud cover contaminated the visible satellite imagery,
hampering the ability to discern smoke emissions throughout many portions
of the region. Much of the smoke that was observed was moving off towards
the southeast.

Hosley


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.