DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0200Z August 20, 2020
SMOKE:
California/Northern Nevada/Southern Oregon/Idaho/Montana/Wyoming...
The latest GOES visible imagery observed a large region of moderate to
heavy density smoke over a large part of Central and Northern California
from widespread wildfire activity observed in the region. The smoke from
fire complexes near and to the South of the San Francisco Bay region are
progressing Southeastward and Eastward while smoke from fire complexes to
the North of the San Francisco Bay region are progressing Northeastward
and Eastward in satellite imagery. Moderate to heavy density smoke was
observed well offshore over the Eastern Pacific Ocean several hundred
miles to the Southwest of California. Smoke continues to be observed
from the Lake Fire in Southern California as well progressing Eastward
in satellite imagery. Light density smoke was observed over most of the
state with the exception of far Northwestern California. Moderate to
heavy density smoke was also observed progressing around a strong high
pressure system towards the Northeast away from the large fire complexes
towards Northern Nevada, Southern Oregon, Idaho, and progressing towards
Southwestern Montana and Western Wyoming this evening.
Colorado/Arizona/Utah/New Mexico/Northwestern Mexico...
Moderate to heavy density smoke continues to be observed in satellite
imagery from the Pine Gulch Fire and three other large fire complexes
across Northwestern Colorado. The smoke is progressing Southeastward
around a strong high pressure system in the region towards Southern
Colorado, Eastern Utah, Northern and Central New Mexico, and Eastern
Arizona. Light density smoke was observed over most of the region as
well as over Northwestern Mexico and over the Eastern Pacific Ocean
this evening.
Washington/Southern British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan
Provinces...
The latest GOES visible imagery observed several wildfires in
Southern British Columbia Province and another in Northern Washington
State. Moderate to heavy density smoke was observed from the fire activity
progressing Northeastward around a strong high pressure system in the
region and light to moderate density smoke from the fire activity was
observed over a large part of Southern Saskatchewan and Southern Alberta
Province over Southern Canada in satellite imagery.
Southwestern Gulf of Mexico/Southern Mexico...
The latest GOES visible imagery observed moderate to heavy density smoke
from offshore platforms over the Southwestern Gulf of Mexico progressing
Southward and Southwestward towards Southern Mexico, where light to
moderate density smoke was observed in satellite imagery this evening.
SAHARAN DUST:
Southern Bahamas/Caribbean Sea/Tropical Atlantic Ocean...
A large region of light density Saharan dust was observed over parts of
the Southern Bahamas, the Central and Eastern Caribbean Sea, over Cuba,
Hispaniola, and over most of the tropical Atlantic Ocean in evening
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