DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0000Z August 28, 2020
SMOKE:
Much of the CONUS outside of the southeastern CONUS and Washington
State…
Ongoing widespread wildfire activity throughout California and Oregon
(concentrated in northern California) was observed producing copious
amounts of smoke this afternoon and evening. The smoke from the fires
in northern California (the most prolific smoke producers) was observed
initially heading out over the Pacific and then moving northeastward
over southwestern Oregon, Idaho, and Montana into southern Saskatchewan
and Manitoba. From there, the smoke was moving east-southeast across
the Dakotas, Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, and southern New England out
into the Atlantic. A small portion was becoming incorporated into a
low over Maritime Canada with a higher concentration observed within
a high pressure area just offshore of the Mid-Atlantic. Some of this
smoke was also being transported south across The Plains, along the Rio
Grande Valley, and into the Gulf of Mexico around now TD Laura. Some
concentration of smoke was observed along the northwestern periphery of
TD Laura over Kansas and Iowa.
Plains…
A dozen or so agricultural burns were observed emitting smoke this
afternoon across Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. The most prolific smoke
producer of the bunch was in northeastern Oklahoma, which produced thick
smoke by late in the afternoon. Another fire in Texas was producing
moderate density smoke as well. Much of the light smoke was moving north,
but the smoke from the Texas fire was moving southeast while the thick
smoke over northeastern Oklahoma was occurring under light and variable
winds.
Oregon…
At least two wildfires were observed emitting thick smoke in northern
Oregon. The smoke from these fires was mainly moving west with a slight
southerly component at times.
SAHARAN DUST:
Atlantic Ocean/West Africa/Eastern Caribbean Sea...
A large region of light to moderate density Saharan dust was observed
over most of the Central and Eastern Atlantic Ocean progressing westward
towards the Lesser Antilles and Eastern Caribbean Sea. A region of
moderate to heavy density Saharan dust was observed off the West African
coast over the Eastern Atlantic this morning in satellite imagery.
Konon/Hosley
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