DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0307Z April 17, 2020
SMOKE:
Southern Mexico/Central America/Gulf of Mexico/Florida…
An enormous amount of fire activity throughout southern Mexico,
the Yucatan peninsula and into Honduras and Guatemala were observed
producing heavy density smoke covering the region and spilling into
the Gulf of Mexico. Additional areas of light-to-moderate density
smoke were reaching farther into central Mexico, extending throughout
the Gulf and into Central America. Light smoke reached as far east as
central Florida. Additional plumes of light density smoke were also
observed in south-central Mexico moving primarily northeast.
Central Plains…
Widespread agricultural fires were producing numerous light density plumes
of smoke extending northward prior to being obscured by the winter storm
crossing the region.
Southeastern U.S…
Widespread agricultural fires were producing numerous light density plumes
of smoke moving primarily westward from Mississippi through Alabama,
Georgia and northern Florida.
Pacific NW…
Scattered fire activity in northern California, Washington, Oregon and
northern Idaho was producing primarily light smoke plumes. A fire
complex in northern Idaho was emitting an area of moderate-to-heavy
density smoke moving north into Canada.
EARLIER THIS MORNING AND AFTERNOON...
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.
Levine
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