DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0250Z December 30, 2020

SMOKE…
Southeastern U.S…
Across the Southeastern U.S. numerous light density smoke plumes, with
the exception of areas of moderate density smoke near their sources, due
to seasonal burning were observed moving in a westerly and northwesterly
direction at sunset.

California…
In northern California several fires due to seasonal burning were
producing a small area of light density smoke that was moving in a
westerly direction.

Texas, North-central Mexico, Northwest Mexico, and the Gulf of Mexico...
In Northwest Mexico a number of thin density smoke plumes with the
exception of areas of moderate density smoke near their sources (most
likely due to seasonal burning) were observed combining to form a larger
area of light smoke that was moving in a southeasterly direction. In
North-central Mexico a number of thin density smoke plumes due to seasonal
burning were observed combining with industrial smoke to form a larger
area of light smoke that was moving in a northeasterly direction into
the southwest portion of Texas. Additionally, light smoke due to gas
flaring activity from oil rigs in the Bay of Campeche was also seen
spreading for approximately 240 miles northwest over the Gulf of Mexico.

Eglin


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

Unless otherwise indicated:

Areas of smoke are analyzed using GOES-EAST and GOES-WEST Visible satellite imagery.

Only a general description of areas of smoke or significant smoke plumes will be analyzed.

A quantitative assessment of the density/amount of particulate or the vertical distribution is not included.

Widespread cloudiness may prevent the detection of smoke even from significant fires.