DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0200Z August 14, 2020
SMOKE:
Western Colorado/Central and Northern Plains/Upper Midwest/South
Texas/Northern Mexico..
The Pine Gulch and the Grizzly Creek fire complexes in Garfield County,
Colorado were observed emitting moderate to heavy density smoke this
evening progressing to the East and Northeast in Western Colorado. A
large region of moderate to heavy density smoke from these large fire
complexes was visible in satellite imagery over the Northern and Central
Plains to as far Southeast over Missouri and Arkansas. Smoke analysis
with the Bear Creek fire complex over Montana was difficult due to
cloud cover from a weather system in the region. Heavy density smoke
from the Colorado wildfires was observed over most of Kansas, Northern
Plains, and Upper Midwest including Eastern Nebraska, Eastern South
Dakota, Western Iowa, and Western Minnesota. Light density smoke from
the Western Colorado wildfires was also observed over the Great Lakes
region and light density smoke was seen moving to the Southwestward over
Southern/Southwestern Texas and Northern Mexico.
Northern California/Northwestern Nevada/Pacific Northwestern/Northern
Rockies...
The Red Salmon fire Complex in Humboldt County of Northwestern California
was observed this evening emitting moderate to heavy density smoke
progressing Northward towards Southern Oregon. Light density smoke from
this fire complex was observed over Southern Oregon and off the Northern
California coast over the Pacific Ocean. A fire complex was also observed
in Northwestern Nevada where moderate to heavy density smoke was observed
progressing Northeastward towards Central Nevada and Southern Idaho.
Southern California/Southern Nevada/Southern Utah...
The Lake Fire in Southern California was observed emitting moderate
to heavy density smoke this evening progressing Northeastward towards
Nevada, however cloud cover from a weather system made part of the smoke
analysis with extent of the smoke plume difficult to determine in the
region. A region of moderate to heavy density smoke was also observed
over Southern Nevada and Southern Utah.
Canada/North Central and Northeastern United States...
Light to moderate density smoke was observed over a good portion of
South Central and Southeastern Canada from Manitoba across Ontario and
over southern Quebec and parts of the Canadian Maritime. The relatively
thinner density smoke also appeared to graze the North Central U.S. from
Minnesota to the northern part of the Great Lakes Region and northern
New England. The smoke was likely due to a combination of wildfires
in Siberia and in Central Ontario. Heavy density smoke was seen over
central Ontario closer to the wildfires in the region. A curved band
of light density smoke likely from the wildfires in Siberia was visible
over the southern part of the Northwest Territories, northeastern British
Columbia, central Alberta, and western and northern Saskatchewan earlier
in the day. The smoke was wrapping around a large low pressure system
in the region. A band of light density smoke likely from the wildfires
in Siberia could be seen over northeastern Quebec and extending to the
northeast offshore over the Labrador Sea and Southern Greenland.
Alaska...
Light to moderate density smoke from Siberian wildfires could be seen
over most of Alaska with the exception of Southeastern Alaska. Moderate
density smoke was observed over Northwestern Alaska. The smoke also was
visible over portions of the Arctic Ocean, the Bering Sea, and the Gulf
of Alaska 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