DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 1600Z April 16, 2020
SMOKE: Southern Mexico/Central America/Gulf of Mexico/Eastern Pacific/Florida... A large region of moderate to thick density smoke was observed this morning over most of South Mexico and parts of Central America including the Southern Yucatan Peninsula, Guatemala, and Honduras. Smoke transport from the widespread fire activity was observed over the Eastern Pacific with light to moderate density smoke observed to the West of Guatemala and to the South offshore from Southern Mexico. A large region of light to moderate density smoke from smoke transport due to widespread fire activity across Southern Mexico was observed over the Southwestern/South Central/ and Southeastern Gulf of Mexico ahead of a weather system in the region. Light density smoke was observed as well over Florida from smoke transport from fire activity in Mexico as well as agricultural burning in the Lake Okeechobee region. Light density smoke was also observed over the Atlantic offshore from Eastern Florida. The smoke is progressing Northwestward over portions of Southern Mexico and Central America and is progressing Northeastward over the Gulf of Mexico and Florida this morning. Cuba... Seasonal fire activity was observed this morning across most of Cuba with smoke observed from several fires this morning. Central Plains... Agricultural burning was observed across portions of Eastern Kansas and Northeastern Oklahoma this morning. The smoke analysis however was difficult due to cloud cover from a weather system in the region. 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