DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 1600Z August 1, 2020
SMOKE:
Eastern Alaska and Northern Canada...
A large region of moderate to thick density smoke was observed over
most of Northern Canada including the Northwest Territories and Nunavut
Provinces. Light density smoke was also observed over the Yukon and
parts of Eastern Alaska. The smoke is present due to widespread wildfire
smoke transport from Siberian wildfire activity in parts of Russia. The
smoke is progressing Southeastward towards South Central Canada and the
Northern US in satellite imagery.
Northern US/Southern Canada...
A large region of light to moderate density smoke was observed over most
of South Central Canada including Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and
Western Ontario Provinces. Light density smoke was also observed over
Southeastern Ontario Provinces into Northern New York and Northern New
England this morning. Moderate density smoke from Northern Canada has
progressed into South Central Canada and is now also present over the
Northern Plains including Eastern Montana, North and South Dakota, and
Northwestern Minnesota. The smoke is continuing to progress Southeastward
in satellite imagery.
Northern California/Northwestern US/Southwestern Canada...
Smoke analysis was difficult over the Northwestern US with cloud cover
from a weather system present in the region. Light density smoke was
observed over most of British Columbia Province. A large complex fire was
observed in the mountains to the Southeast of Orleans, California where
moderate to thick density smoke was observed progressing Northeastward
towards Southern Oregon in satellite imagery.
Southwestern US...
Light to moderate density smoke was observed over parts of Northeastern
Arizona and far Western New Mexico and a fire complex was observed
along the Arizona/Utah border, however due to cloud cover in parts of
the region smoke analysis was difficult. The smoke appears to be moving
slowly and remaining present in the region.
SAHARAN DUST:
A layer of light density Saharan dust was observed over parts of the
Southwestern Atlantic Ocean to the North of the Bahamas offshore from the
Southeast US coast as well as over parts of the Southern Gulf of Mexico
offshore North of the Yucatan Peninsula. A new region of Saharan dust is
present in the Central Atlantic progressing into the Eastern Caribbean
Lesser Antilles region. Saharan dust was also observed offshore from
West Africa this morning in satellite imagery.
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